UFC 305 | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Dricus Du Plessis claims win over Israel Adesanya puts him in GOAT debate: ‘This is where I take over’

Dricus du Plessis claims win over Israel Adesanya enters him into GOAT debate UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis thinks a win over Israel Adesanya will put him into the GOAT conversation…

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis thinks a win over Israel Adesanya will put him into the GOAT conversation at middleweight.

Du Plessis is undefeated in the UFC and coming off a decision win over Sean Strickland to win the middleweight title. Heading into his first title defense at UFC 305 in Australia against Adesanya, he believes a win over the former champ will help cement his legacy as an all-time great.

“I’ve always looked at Israel Adesanya as the benchmark,” Du Plessis told Fox West Texas. “Now, ‘Izzy’ became a champion a long time ago, and I’ve looked at him and always knew this is where I need to be if I ever want to be the best in the world. This is the benchmark.

“He is one of the greatest to ever do it, and this fight for me is going to put me in that position. This is where I take over as one of the greatest to ever do it. This is where my years of building and climbing that ladder is going to a point where I am now the guy that’s one of the greatest to ever do it.”

Dricus du Plessis taunts Israel Adesanya into UFC title fight be a man of your word and let's do this — Mandatory Credit: Vaughan Ridley

Although Du Plessis believes he can enter the GOAT conversation with a win over Adesanya, the South African will need several more title defenses to be considered the 185lbs GOAT due to the reign of Anderson Silva. But, beating Adesanya no doubt puts him on the right track.

Dricus Du Plessis says Israel Adesanya will prove he belongs

Although Dricus Du Plessis enters his UFC 305 fight as the middleweight champion, he knows people are overlooking him and counting him out.

With that, Dricus Du Plessis says his fight will prove to everyone just how good he is and prove he is the legit champion.

“He’s a very smart fighter,” du Plessis said on Adesanya. “He figures out his opponents, and he sets a lot of traps. He does it incredibly well. So, for me, this fight is just like how beating Robert Whittaker was. It’s a fight that people don’t think you’re going to win. It’s a hard fight.

“I’m fighting against arguably one of the greatest middleweights ever, and I have to go out there and prove that I am that guy. That’s what this fight is going to mean to me. It’s going to mean I told you I belong here. This fight is going to mean that Dricus du Plessis is now in the conversation of being one of the greatest middleweights ever,” Du Plessis said.

Du Plessis is 21-2 as a pro and is coming off a split decision win over Sean Strickland to become the middleweight champion. He’s 7-0 in the UFC and has notable wins over Robert Whittaker, Darren Till, Derek Brunson, and Brad Tavares.

Dan Hooker reveals offer to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 305 in Perth: ‘Let’s see if he takes the cake’

Perennial lightweight contender, Dan Hooker has revealed a fight with former division champion, Charles Oliveira has been sounded out…

Perennial lightweight contender, Dan Hooker has revealed a fight with former division champion, Charles Oliveira has been sounded out for a UFC 305 card in Perth, Australia – claiming he is “100% in” to fight the Brazilian next.

Hooker, the current number eleven ranked division contender, has been sidelined since he featured at UFC 290 back the summer of last year, landing a decision win over Jalin Turner in a short-notice reworked clash.

As for former undisputed lightweight champion, Oliveira, the promotion’s most prolific submission and knockout artist, featured at UFC 300 back in April, suffering a close, controversial split decision win over current number one contender, Arman Tsarukyan.

Dan Hooker claims Charles Oliveira fight is in the works for UFC 305

And confirming plans to feature at the RAC Arena in a return ‘Downunder’ – amid the confirmation of a UFC 305 headliner featuring Dricus du Plessis and City Kickboxing training partner, Israel Adesanya in a middleweight title fight – Hooker confirmed his own comeback is still in the works.

Dan Hooker mocks BMF title return I'd put it under the bed or something — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“I’m not really sure I can say anything,” Dan Hooker told Fox Sports Australia during a recnet interview. “There’s nothing official, but obviously I’m a hundred percent in and – the old ‘Charlie Olives’ (Charles Oliveira).”

“I think that’s the fight the fans here over this side of the world would love to see, but yeah, let’s see if he takes the ake and signs on the dotted line.”

Kiwi striker, Hooker’s revelation of a targeted fight with fan-favorite finisher, Oliveira in his return to the Octagon comes hot on the heels of a recent call out of the Brazilian by his own training partner, Alexander Volkanovski – who labelled a potential clash an “exciting” showdown.

Alex Pereira defends Charles Oliveira after UFC 300 loss Nobody knows what he's going through — Mandatory Credit: Cooper Neil

“So, if there is no title fight until next year [for me] then I need something exciting – maybe Charles Oliveira,” Alexander Volkanovski explained. “There are others but I think Michael Chandler will keep waiting for Conor McGregor and I think Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje also want to wait a bit. There is nobody [at featherweight] that excites me, or that I haven’t fought already. And they’ve said my next one there is the title fight.”

Who wins in a potential future fight: Dan Hooker or Charles Oliveira?

Sean Strickland shuts down fight with Robert Whittaker next: ‘I’m the number one contender, I will wait’

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland has no interest in fighting fellow ex-champion, Robert Whittaker in a title-eliminator next…

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland has no interest in fighting fellow ex-champion, Robert Whittaker in a title-eliminator next – claiming his status as the division’s number one contender is in tact, as he waits for his own challenge at the throne again.

Strickland, the current number one ranked middleweight contender, most recently featured last month in the co-main event of UFC 302, landing a split decision win over former title challenger, Paulo Costa in New Jersey.

As for Whittaker, the Auckland favorite headlined UFC Saudi Arabia over the course of last weekend, emerging unscathed with a dominant opening round knockout win over short-notice opponent, Ikram Aliskerov.

And announcing plans to feature as a potential backup fighter at UFC 305 in August – as former foes, Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya vie for the undisputed middleweight crown, Whittaker has also been linked with a reworked fight with Khamzat Chimaev.

Sean Strickland uninterested in fight with Robert Whittaker

Furthermore, the former gold holder was urged to chase a championship eliminator fight with Strickland on the same card in Perth, however, the latter appears less than interested in a clash.

“I keep getting asked to fight Whittaker,” Sean Strickland posted on his official X account. “I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat Dricus. Whittaker lost to boot. I am the number one contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa. I will wait…..”

I keep getting asked to fight whittaker. I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat dricus.

Whittaker lost to both.

I am the number 1 contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa.

I will wait…..

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) June 25, 2024

Staking his claim for a future rematch with either former-foes, du Plessis or Adesanya, Strickland unsuccessfully defended his middleweight crown against the South African striker back in January at UFC 297 in Canada, suffering a controversial split decision loss over the course of five rounds.

Do you think Sean Strickland should fight Robert Whittaker next?

Robert Whittaker underwent emergency surgery ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia, hoping to return at UFC 305

After his quick finish of Ikram Aliskerov in Riyadh, Robert Whittaker is hoping to land a spot on the…

After his quick finish of Ikram Aliskerov in Riyadh, Robert Whittaker is hoping to land a spot on the UFC’s upcoming card in Perth.

Lurking in the shadows of the middleweight top 10 for the last few years, Whittaker made a pretty big statement inside Kingdom Arena, dispatching one of the division’s most exciting prospects in less than two minutes and immediately thrusting himself back into title talks.

Having suffered little to no damage, ‘The Reaper’ is looking to make a quick turnaround by either competing at UFC 305 on August 17 in The Land Down Under or serving as a backup for the event’s massive middleweight headliner between reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

434760236 948566420606376 2183230636390916828 n 1

However, before any of that can happen, Whittaker will have to take care of a lingering issue that popped up right before he made his way to Saudi Arabia.

“Rob has a really bad abscess that flared up a week before flying out,” Whittaker’s manager Titus Day told Fox Sports Australia. “He had headaches, tooth pain, it was like he’d been kicked in the side of the head. He couldn’t train, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. It was f*cking painful.

“The whole side of his head was in pain so we had to rush him in for emergency surgery” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Robert Whittaker won’t commit to UFC 305 return until undergoing more surgery

Fortunately, the post-surgery swelling subsided enough for him to step inside the Octagon on Saturday night and deliver another highlight-reel-worthy performance. With more surgery scheduled to be done within the next few weeks, Whittaker and his team are in wait-and-see mode before making any further commitments to the UFC.

“Right now, regarding Perth, it’s just too early to say,” Day said. “Obviously there was a lot of talk on the night about Rob being the backup for that UFC 305 main event. There was also talk about him fighting somebody else, too. And potentially, he could still do either of those. He’ll have to meet with the team and talk it through.”

Whittaker has now won four of his last six fights, his two losses coming against the men who will headline UFC 305 later this year.

Israel Adesanya warns Dricus du Plessis with UFC 305 title fight official: ‘Don’t be afraid. Be terrified’

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya is officially slated to meet with incumbent divisional titleholder, Dricus du Plessis…

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya is officially slated to meet with incumbent divisional titleholder, Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in two months’ time – and has warned him to be “terrified” to face him in Perth.

Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight gold holder, has been sidelined since last September, suffering a stunning upset title loss to Sean Strickland in the pair’s championship fight ‘Downunder’.

As for South African star, du Plessis, the incumbent middleweight champion headlined UFC 297 back in January, landing a controversial split decision win over the above-mentioned common-opponent, Strickland in Canada.

Israel Adesanya issues warning to Dricus du Plessis

Now officially scheduled to headline UFC 305 in Australia against reigning champion, du Plessis as he vows to become a three-time titleholder at 185lbs, Adesanya released a promotional video ahead of his fight with the Pretoria native – which included a steadfast warning to him.

Without a victory since April of last year in Miami, Adesanya managed to land his second middleweight title in undisputed fashion, rallying to finish current light heavyweight kingpin, Alex Pereira with a stunning second round KO in ‘The Sunshine State’.

Israel Adesanya reveals he's getting ready for fighting return amid links to UFC 305 clash with Dricus du Plessis — Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank – USA TODAY Sports

With his defeat to the previously mentioned, Strickland, Adesanya set an unwanted record by becoming the first fighter in the history of the organization to lose his championship title twice in the space of a calendar year.

Forever linked with a return on likely hostile territory in Perth, du Plessis claimed that any chance Adesanya had of fighting him came on his terms strictly.

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

Breaking – Dricus du Plessis officially set to fight Israel Adesanya in title grudge match at UFC 305 in Perth

Officially slated to headline UFC 305 in two months’ time, an undisputed middleweight title fight between the incumbent, Dricus…

Officially slated to headline UFC 305 in two months’ time, an undisputed middleweight title fight between the incumbent, Dricus du Plessis, and former two-time gold holder, Israel Adesanya will close the curtain on August 18. at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

du Plessis, the current undisputed middleweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 297 back in January in Canada, landing the divisional crown with a contentious split decision win over common-foe, Sean Strickland.

As for City Kickboxing star, Adesanya, the former two-time middleweight champion has been sidelined since September, dropping his gold for the second time in the space of a calendar year in the form of a decision loss to Sean Strickland.

Dricus du Plessis headlines UFC 305 with Israel Adesanya

Speculation was rife that Israel Adesanya was set to take on du Plessis at UFC 305 this summer – with the former teasing a fan-made poster of a card featuring him at the Pretoria native, with the organization confirming the pairing on social media tonight.

“IT’S OFFICIAL,” UFC posted. “The middleweight title will be on the line in Perth.”

First expected to take on Adesanya at the previously mentioned UFC 293 event in Australia, du Plessis saw his title charge taken over by Strickland – remaining sidelined following a devastating second round TKO win over Robert Whittaker amid lingering injuries.

Israel Adesanya vows to bring back vicious technique in UFC return I'm tuning it up — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Without a victory since April of last year in Florida, Nigerian-Kiwi striking ace, Adesanya avenged a prior knockout loss to current light heavyweight best, Alex Pereira with a stunning second round KO to reclaim the middleweight crown.

Who wins at UFC 305 later this summer: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?