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Spiteful: Dricus du Plessis looking to knock out Israel Adesanya standing

Spiteful: Dricus du Plessis looking to knock out Israel Adesanya standing Dricus Du Plessis plans to beat Israel Adesanya on his feet. On Saturday, August 17 (Sunday for those in…

Dricus Du Plessis plans to beat Israel Adesanya on his feet.

On Saturday, August 17 (Sunday for those in Australia), ‘Stillknocks’ will head to The Land Down Under to defend the middleweight crown against two-time champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

It will be Du Plessis’ first time competing since his title-winning performance against Sean Strickland—the same man who handed ‘The Last Stylebender’ a five-round shellacking nearly a year ago.

With fight night a few short weeks away, Du Plessis’ coach at the CIT Performance Institute, Morne Visser, recently offered some insight into how his fighter plans to approach their long-awaited clash and dispelled any rumors that ‘DDP’ may rely on a wrestle-heavy approach against the New Zealander.

“We’ll fight Izzy wherever it is that Izzy wants to take it,” Visser said during an appearance on EFC Engaged. “We are 100% where we need to be. They think that Dricus is going to shoot and take him down. No way. We want to beat him on the feet.”

Finishing 19 of his 21 career wins, Du Plessis has 10 submissions and nine knockouts to his credit, proving without a shadow of a doubt that no matter where the fight goes, he’s capable of scoring a highlight-reel stoppage.

‘Poatan’ backs Adesanya to defeat Dricus Du Plessis

Of course, that’ll be much easier said than done against the ‘Stylebender’ who’s only been stopped once in his mixed martial arts career, that coming against current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

But despite their multi-promotional rivalry, ‘Poatan’ is still backing Adesanya to come out on top and reclaim the middleweight strap for a history-making third time in Perth.

“I don’t see Adesanya losing,” Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “Just because he said that about me, doesn’t mean I’ll say it back. It’s what I think. I don’t think he loses this fight. I hope he wins because he has a beautiful story. I think he has to continue his story. He isn’t a young guy.”

Dricus Du Plessis Feels He Would Have Knocked Israel Adesanya Out If He Were In Sean Strickland’s Shoes: ‘If I Catch Him With That Shot…’

Israel Adesanya returns to the Octagon at UFC 305 after taking some time off to put bad memories of his most recent outing behind him. Adesanya lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland in one of the biggest title fight upsets in UFC history last year at UFC 293. Whilst the challenger had a great […]

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Israel Adesanya returns to the Octagon at UFC 305 after taking some time off to put bad memories of his most recent outing behind him.

Adesanya lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland in one of the biggest title fight upsets in UFC history last year at UFC 293.

Whilst the challenger had a great night in general, the defining moment of the fight was when he caught and dropped “The Last Stylebender” in the first round but was unable to get the finish.

This came as such a shock to many fans who felt like Strickland simply wouldn’t be on the same level as the champion, when it came to the striking exchanges.

Adesanya’s next opponent and the current champion paid special interest to this.

Dricus Du Plessis Says He Would’ve Finished Israel Adesanya With The Same Strike

Dricus Du Plessis is much more of a power striker than Strickland, who he defeated earlier this year to become the middleweight champion.

Whilst the former champ may be very accurate and defensively sound, “Stillknocks” has the momentum and force to stop any opponent and that gives him confidence ahead of August 17.

Du Plessis believes that he can close the show on Adesanya in their heated grudge match in Perth, especially if he’s able to land something similar to the strike Strickland landed last year.

He spoke in a recent interview with mainevent on Fox Sports about how “The Last Stylebender” wouldn’t have made it out of the first round if it was him in there that night.

“If I land that shot that Sean Strickland landed, the fight is over right there, 100%. We know that Strickland’s not a power puncher. I’ve felt, and Strickland’s a great boxer, his boxing is really really good. Very awkward and amazing jab, he throws that 1-2 and he does it great but he doesn’t have that starch power and he put him down. I honestly thought the fight was over but if I catch him with that shot then it’s over.”

Continue Reading Dricus Du Plessis Feels He Would Have Knocked Israel Adesanya Out If He Were In Sean Strickland’s Shoes: ‘If I Catch Him With That Shot…’ at MMA News.

Dana White says the UFC is ‘definitely’ going to Spain and Africa

Dana White still plans on bringing the UFC to both Spain and Africa. Following Saturday’s lackluster card in Manchester,…

Dana White still plans on bringing the UFC to both Spain and Africa.

Following Saturday’s lackluster card in Manchester, the outspoken CEO offered an update on his tentative plans to promote events in both Spain and Africa. White revealed that while he’s still working out details for an event in Africa, they’ve hit a bit of a snag when trying to book a venue in Ilia Topuria’s home country.

Dana White: The problem with Topuria and Spain is Spain's venues are so back up since Covid. They have so many events going on, it's hard to get a venue there.pic.twitter.com/Cx1r1LXblY

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) July 26, 2024

“The problem with Topuria and Spain is Spain’s venues are so backed up since COVID,” White told TNT Sports.”They have so many events going on. It’s hard to get a venue there. But when we can, we will definitely do that” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Immediately following Topuria’s second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, Dana White expressed interest in running an event at the 80,000-seat Santiago Bernabéu, home of Spain’s Real Madrid football team.

Dana White details plans to run shows in Africa

Dana White isn’t stopping there. He also plans to take the UFC to South Africa, home of current middleweight world champion Dricus Du Plessis. White also made it clear that he plans on bringing the promotion to the rest of Africa as well.

“I wanna go to Africa. We’re still working on an Africa fight; not just South Africa, but Africa,” White added. “You know, ’cause everybody will make the argument, ‘If you go to South Africa, that’s not really Africa.’ That’s Africa to me. But we’ll still look to go to other parts of Africa. It’s important to me.”

Du Plessis will put his 185-pound title on the line for the first time on Saturday, August 17 when the promotion heads back to Perth, Australia for UFC 305. In the main event of the evening, ‘Stillknocks’ will try to fend off former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya who will be looking to make history as the division’s first-ever three-division champion.

DDP’ took the title home following a closely-contested split decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 296 in January. Their clash in The Land Down Under will be Adesanya’s first fight since coming up short against Strickland nearly a year ago.

Dricus Du Plessis On How UFC Title Win Has Improved His Team: ‘Everybody Wants To Land A Shot On The World Champion’

It would appear that UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis’ entire team has been reaping the benefits of his title crowning. Du Plessis completed his rise to glory in mixed martial arts’ premier promotion as an undefeated fighter inside the Octagon this past January in Canada, where he headlined the UFC 297 pay-per-view in competition […]

Continue Reading Dricus Du Plessis On How UFC Title Win Has Improved His Team: ‘Everybody Wants To Land A Shot On The World Champion’ at MMA News.

It would appear that UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis’ entire team has been reaping the benefits of his title crowning.

Du Plessis completed his rise to glory in mixed martial arts’ premier promotion as an undefeated fighter inside the Octagon this past January in Canada, where he headlined the UFC 297 pay-per-view in competition for Sean Strickland’s belt.

The pair went the distance in a competitive and back-and-forth affair, which “Stillknocks” ultimately won by way of split decision, extending his promotional record to 7-0 and ascending him to the middleweight mountaintop.

In addition to achieving his own title ambitions, Du Plessis became the first South African to bring UFC gold back to his nation. And that fact has evidently encouraged his teammates to raise their game now that they have the chance to share a gym with the 185-pound kingpin…

Du Plessis: Team CIT Has Found ‘Another Level’ After UFC Title Win

During an interview with Fox West Texas, Du Plessis spoke about how he’s been enjoying life as a champion thus far.

After noting that his crowning in Toronto earlier this year has only increased his personal drive for more success on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, “Stillknocks” pointed to the positive impact it’s also had on his team as a whole.

“It’s been great. It’s been everything that I expected, everything that I hoped for, and better,” Du Plessis said. “And training-wise, once I got that belt, I got a fire under me. A lot of people might think once you win that belt, you lose some of that hunger. I always said it, becoming UFC champion is not my end goal, not at all. … There’s a new hunger. There’s that championship hunger because now I’m defending my throne, and I’ll do anything to defend that throne.

“In training, the team, everybody’s stepped it up because now they’re going up against the world champion. Everybody wants to land a shot on the world champion,” Du Plessis continued. “If you can give the world champ a hard time, you’re not far off getting that big shot. My team’s amazing. The coaches, everybody’s stepped it up. Everybody realized, we are now world champions and we should behave as such when it comes to training, recovering. … Just another level.”

Du Plessis will look to spur Team CIT on to an even higher level by successfully defending his place on the middleweight throne at the expense of Israel Adesanya next month inside Perth’s RAC Arena, which plays host to the UFC 305 PPV.

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Read More: Dricus Du Plessis On ’10-8? Trash Talk Win Over Israel Adesanya, Post-UFC 305 Prediction

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Israel Adesanya weighs 230lbs before UFC 305 title fight return: ‘He’s hitting like a truck’

According to his long-time City Kickboxing training partner, Dan Hooker, former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has ballooned up…

According to his long-time City Kickboxing training partner, Dan Hooker, former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has ballooned up to 230lbs ahead of his title fight at UFC 305 next month – and his putting some serious power behind his shots in sparring.

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight gold holder, is slated to make his return next month in the main event of UFC 305, taking on arch-rival, Dricus du Plessis in his quest for a third title reign as he features ‘Dowunder’ for the second straight fight.

Israel Adesanya vows to beat every fighter in fantastic fashion before UFC career ends

Last time out, the Nigerian-Kiwi headlined UFC 293 in September of last year, dropping a one-sided unanimous decision loss to the outspoken current number one contender, Sean Strickland, in a massive upset victory for the now-former champion.

Dricus du Plessis mocks Israel Adesanya over kiss me jibe ahead of UFC 305 I'm not a dog

Israel Adesanya gains huge weight pre-UFC 305

Returning to action next month in tandem with Hooker – who is booked to take on Polish lightweight star, Mateusz Gamrot at the RAC Arena, Israel Adesanya has put on huge size ahead of his return in a championship setting, according to the Kiwi.

Israel Adesanya picks Jamahal Hill to beat Alex Pereira by KO in UFC 300 title fight — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“Israel (Adesanya) is – I can’t even bother sparring him at the moment,” Dan Hooker told Submission Radio. “Like the way he’s hitting me, I think he’s like 105 kilos (230lbs). “I’m just like, ‘F*cking just kick like, just kick me in the leg’. And I was like, ‘Ah get f*cked’. I was just like, nah. Yeah, like that. He’s had some time off, he was carrying some injuries. He spent a lot of time just packing on some size and like a lot of strength, bro.”

“And he’s just hitting like a truck, man” Hooker continued. “Yeah, I can’t even be bothered sparring him, like he’s hitting too hard. So, I can’t wait until he can get out there. So if you think you can just walk in his front door and raid his fridge, I think you’re in for a rude awakening.”

Who do you think wins at UFC 305 next month: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?

Dricus Du Plessis Warns Israel Adesanya Being At Peace Will Cost Him At UFC 305: ‘It’s A Dangerous Place To Be At…’

Dricus Du Plessis recently said that he sensed Israel Adesanya was ready to hang up his gloves after avenging his loss to Alex Pereira, feeling as though he had accomplished everything he set out to achieve in the sport. “Stillknocks” is set to defend his middleweight title for the first time against the former longtime […]

Continue Reading Dricus Du Plessis Warns Israel Adesanya Being At Peace Will Cost Him At UFC 305: ‘It’s A Dangerous Place To Be At…’ at MMA News.

“Stillknocks” is set to defend his middleweight title for the first time against the former longtime champion, Adesanya, in the main event of UFC 305. The eagerly awaited clash is scheduled for August 17 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

“The Last Stylebender” is set to make his return to the Octagon after an 11-month hiatus, the longest of his UFC career. Following his title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September, Adesanya took a self-imposed break to focus on his mental health.

The Nigerian-born Kiwi is currently enduring the toughest period of his career since his failed bid for the light heavyweight title against then-champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259. Three fights later, Adesanya suffered his first middleweight loss, a fifth-round TKO at the hands of longtime rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281.

However, he made a triumphant comeback by reclaiming the middleweight title from “Poatan” in a rematch at UFC 287, and Du Plessis believes this victory marks the peak of Adesanya’s career.

In a recent interview with Hello Sport, the reigning UFC middleweight champion reflected on his faceoff with Adesanya at the UFC 305 on-sale press conference. The South African expressed respect for “The Last Stylebender’s” achievements but sensed that Adesanya is pushing himself too hard for the upcoming fight.

“When it comes to the title defenses, the winning streaks will never come because he doesn’t have the time, Du Plessis said. “I think his biggest achievement for him personally was beating Alex Pereira. He had this nemesis who had beaten him multiple times, and after that fight, he [Adesanya] was ready to call it quits.

“That’s what I saw in his eyes as well. [He was] trying to convince me but more so trying to convince himself that he still wants to do this and that he still has what it takes to be the best fighter in the world and as soon as you ask yourself that question – you’re in a dark place.”

Adesanya and Pereira’s rivalry stands as one of the most intense and storied in combat sports history, with “Poatan” seemingly having shattered his opponent both physically and mentally – only to suffer a brutal knockout in their latest scrap.

The Brazilian defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing, and the two have each claimed a victory each in their UFC showdowns.

Dricus Du Plessis Says Being At Peace Heading Into UFC 305 ‘Dangerous’ For Israel Adesanya

Adesanya previously stated that the layoff allowed him to regroup and alleviate the pressure of constantly fighting and enduring the demands of fight camps.

However, “Stillknocks” cautioned that a layoff isn’t always beneficial for a fighter. During the interview, Du Plessis suggested that an extended break could foster self-doubt and asserted that when he faces Adesanya in the Octagon, he will ensure his opponent never finds his momentum.

“The time off is not necessarily the problem; it can be good, but it can be bad… When you get to the position where you are so comfortable, where he said he’s at peace, he’s happy with what he has, and it’s a dangerous place to be at because this sport is chaos and chaos is the exact opposite of peace.

“If you’re at peace and you’re getting in the Octagon with me, it’s going to be a problem because I bring chaos.”

Du Plessis and Adesanya have a tumultuous history, with their fates intertwined long before their dramatic altercation at UFC 290 last July. Their rivalry dates back to when “The Last Stylebender” reigned as middleweight champion, and Du Plessis called him out, vowing to become a true African champion and bring the belt back to the continent.

Read More: Former UFC Champion On Why We May See ‘One Of The Most Dangerous, Nasty Versions Of Israel Adesanya’ Against Dricus Du Plessis

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