Tag: UFC 305

Dricus du Plessis agrees to fight Israel Adesanya at UFC 305: ‘Looks like someone wants a beating in Australia’

Dricus du Plessis agrees to UFC 305 title fight against Israel Adesanya looks like someone wants a beating in AustraliaPoking fun at arch-rival, Israel Adesanya’s one-sided decision loss to common-foe, Sean Strickland during their title clash Downunder last…

Dricus du Plessis agrees to UFC 305 title fight against Israel Adesanya looks like someone wants a beating in Australia

Poking fun at arch-rival, Israel Adesanya’s one-sided decision loss to common-foe, Sean Strickland during their title clash Downunder last year, incumbent middleweight kingpin, Dricus du Plessis appears to have accepted a potential UFC 305 title defense against the City Kickboxing staple in Perth in August of this year.

du Plessis, the current undisputed middleweight champion, turned in a close, split decision win over the above-mentioned, Strickland back in January in Canada, in the pair’s title fight main event at UFC 297.

Sean Strickland claims Canada tried to pull him from UFC 297 title fight they absolutely hated me
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Himself sidelined since he dropped his championship to Strickland back in September of last year back in Sydney, Adesanya has campaigned for a grudge fight with du Plessis – with his head coach, Eugene Bareman confirming if a UFC 305 championship outing was floated, his client would most definitely accept it. 

“Israel will be fighting for the title next,” Bareman said. “The date, I’m not sure. Give us a date and we’ll take it. We’re sitting ready to go.”

Israel Adesanya shuts down boxing move from UFC the money's too much to get me back
Mandatory Credit: Mike Roach – Zuffa LLC

“Israel’s pretty adamant that he has to fight for the title,” Bareman explained. “It’s not up to du Plessis. If that was the case, I wish Israel as a champion had those sorts of choices. The truth is, he probably doesn’t.”

Dricus du Plessis alludes to UFC 305 title fight return

And providing an update on his first attempted title fight defense later this year, South African force, du Plessis hinted at a UFC 305 title fight in Australia, in the form of a well-overdue grudge fight against Adesanya.

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

“Looks like someone wants another beating in Aus,” Dricus du Plessis posted on his official Instagram. “I’m in. I also wouldn’t want to fight the King of Africa on home soil. Manifestations working good for you AGAIN! #stillknocks #proudlysouthafricanza #preparetobeamazed #championoftheworld”

Who wins in a UFC 305 title clash: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?

Report – Israel Adesanya targeted to headline UFC 305 in Perth in title grudge fight with Dricus du Plessis

Israel Adesanya targeted to headline UFC 305 in Perth title fight with Dricus du PlessisWith the Octagon officially set to return to Perth, Australia on August 18. for a flagship UFC 305 event,…

Israel Adesanya targeted to headline UFC 305 in Perth title fight with Dricus du Plessis

With the Octagon officially set to return to Perth, Australia on August 18. for a flagship UFC 305 event, former undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya is reportedly targeted to headline the card in a long-anticipated title grudge fight against current gold holder, Dricus du Plessis. 

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight champion under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined since he dropped his crown to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 back in September of last year in a return to Sydney.

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

And as for du Plessis, the South African gold holder maintained his unbeaten record in the UFC back in January in a trip to Canada, dethroning the above-mentioned, Strickland in a close, split decision win over the North American.

Dricus Du Plessis

Israel Adesanya expected to feature at UFC 305 in August

According to a report from the New Zealand Herald this morning, UFC 305 is officially set for August 18. in Perth, Australia – with the organization expected to explore the possibility of hosting a championship fight between du Plessis and Adesanya in a main event matchup.

Furthermore, Israel Adesanya’s head coach, Eugene Bareman confirmed to the outlet that his product expects to compete for gold in his next fight, having seen a targeted clash with du Plessis failed to materialize for UFC 300 in April.

“Israel will be fighting for the title next,” Bareman said. “The date, I’m not sure. Give us a date and we’ll take it. We’re sitting ready to go.”

“Israel’s pretty adamant that he has to fight for the title,” Bareman explained. “It’s not up to du Plessis. If that was the case, I wish Israel as a champion had those sorts of choices. The truth is, he probably doesn’t.”

Israel Adesanya claims coach prevented him from going out on his shield against Sean Strickland

A return at UFC 305 in Perth for Adesanya would see the Nigerian-Kiwi make a return to the region to compete for the first time since he made his Octagon debut back in 2018, earning a Performance of the Night bonus in a second round TKO win against Rob Wilkinson.

Who wins in a title fight at UFC 305: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?

Daniel Cormier Passes Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Aspirations

Daniel Cormier recently weighed in on reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ ambitions to become a two-division titleholder in the future. “Stillknocks” is set to make his first title defense against former longtime champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 305, which will take place this weekend at the RAC Arena in […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Passes Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Aspirations at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier recently weighed in on reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ ambitions to become a two-division titleholder in the future.

“Stillknocks” is set to make his first title defense against former longtime champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 305, which will take place this weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Du Plessis was targeted to challenge “The Last Stylebender” at UFC 293, but an injury forced him to withdraw. During his absence, Adesanya suffered an upset, losing the middleweight title to Sean Strickland in a short-notice bout last September.

The South African staged an impressive comeback, narrowly defeating Strickland in a grueling split decision at UFC 297 to claim the middleweight title. Now, heading into UFC 305, he has boldly declared his intent to conquer Adesanya and has already mapped out his future plans.

During an appearance on The Sias Du Plessis Show in May, “Stillknocks” laid out his ambitious plans. He stated that after defeating Adesanya, his next move would likely be to defend his middleweight title against either Khamzat Chimaev or Robert Whittaker, who are set to face off at UFC 308 in October. Following that, he plans to move up to the light heavyweight division, aiming to achieve his dream of becoming a champ-champ.

Cormier, one of the select few to have held UFC titles in two divisions, endorsed Du Plessis’ goals, expressing confidence that they are well within reach…

Cormier States He’s ‘Done Doubting’ Du Plessis’ Capabilities

During a recent interview with Submission Radio, “DC” shared his insights on Du Plessis’ upcoming title defense against Adesanya. The UFC Hall of Famer praised “Stillknocks” for mastering a highly unorthodox fighting style that leaves his opponents struggling to decipher his moves. Cormier believes this unique approach will be a key factor in Du Plessis’ success at UFC 305.

“The problem with Dricus is that the things he does don’t look like everybody else’s. His feet may cross at an odd time, he may throw a punch from a weird angle, or he might do a takedown in a weird way, but it’s working. So you have to accept that just because it looks different, it’s not wrong—it’s his way, right? It’s his style, and he’s mastered it. He’s mastered it to the point that he’s the world champion. So I think that awkwardness will play to his benefit on Saturday night.”

Cormier expressed confidence in Du Plessis’ ability to successfully make the leap to the light heavyweight division, saying he’s seen enough from the South African to believe in his potential. However, he noted that success will also hinge on securing favorable matchups.

“I’m not doubting him no more. I’m just done doubting Dricus Du Plessis, man. I think he can do whatever he wants, you know? He’s shown time and time again that he can do anything, and Alex Pereira showed that it’s possible, right? Going from middleweight to light heavyweight and winning, and winning a lot. So yeah, I think he could, under the right circumstances. A lot of times it’s about matchups, right? The right person holding the belt is what makes you make that decision, and I think with the right matchup, Dricus can be a double champ.”

Du Plessis is riding a seven-fight undefeated streak in the Octagon. Before joining the UFC, he made his mark as a double champion in the South African MMA promotion EFC, where he claimed both the welterweight and middleweight titles.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Passes Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Aspirations at MMA News.

Dan Hooker On Learning His Lessons From Initial Top Five Stint, Vows Not To ‘Sell His Title Shot Again’

It has been a long journey full of ups and downs for Dan Hooker to work his back into the top five of the lightweight division. After defeating Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305, he’s riding a three-fight winning streak which has seen him bounce back from consecutive losses. Hooker, at one stage, had just one […]

Continue Reading Dan Hooker On Learning His Lessons From Initial Top Five Stint, Vows Not To ‘Sell His Title Shot Again’ at MMA News.

It has been a long journey full of ups and downs for Dan Hooker to work his back into the top five of the lightweight division.

After defeating Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305, he’s riding a three-fight winning streak which has seen him bounce back from consecutive losses.

Hooker, at one stage, had just one win in his last five Octagon outings and that came after he made it into the top five for the first time in his career. And in his opinion, that skid was caused by a few crucial mistakes he made.

He has learned a lot in this four-year-period and is now confident that he won’t make the same mistakes that he did last time.

Dan Hooker Says That Fighting Michael Chandler At UFC 257 Was A Mistake On His Part

Hooker is now seemingly on the verge of what could be a title eliminator against the likes of Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje.

Though he took big fights against Dustin Poirier and the debuting Michael Chandler the last time he was in this position, he believes that the latter in particular was a mistake.

“Iron” Mike would hit the ground running in the promotion by stopping the Kiwi fighter in the opening round in Abu Dhabi.

Hooker didn’t need to risk his ranking against a new arrival like Chandler, even if competing in the co-main event of a Conor McGregor card was a big opportunity for him.

The major issue with taking this fight is that it took place during the COVID-19 pandemic where New Zealand had very strict regulations, which compromised his preparations.

Having admitted in an interview with ESPN Australia that he has a whole new level of respect for the team around him, Hooker said that he has learned from the missteps that he has made in his career and isn’t going to waste this opportunity.

“I kind of have learnt that from my first rodeo, is to just kind of not do anything dumb this time around. I mean the last time I was number five, I agreed to fight Michael Chandler. Gave Michael Chandler a shot, it was his first fight in the UFC, I flew to Abu Dhabi so other side of the world with absolutely no coaches and went and fought him with a guy I’d been training for six months in my corner. so it was not the smartest of decisions so I guess this time around, I’m just not gonna do anything dumb or sell my title shot again.”

Read also: Israel Adesanya’s Coach Says Du Plessis Defeat Better Than ‘Unexplainable’ Strickland Upset: ‘It Was A Good Loss…’

Continue Reading Dan Hooker On Learning His Lessons From Initial Top Five Stint, Vows Not To ‘Sell His Title Shot Again’ at MMA News.

‘Bro’s On A Two Make The Opponent Cry Streak’ – Fans React To Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya’s Heated UFC 305 Press Conference Exchange

The back and forth between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at the UFC 305 press conference raised plenty of eyebrows. The pair of elite middleweights are set to headline this weekend’s pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, with the South African’s title being on the line inside the RAC Arena seven months on from his […]

Continue Reading ‘Bro’s On A Two Make The Opponent Cry Streak’ – Fans React To Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya’s Heated UFC 305 Press Conference Exchange at MMA News.

The back and forth between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at the UFC 305 press conference raised plenty of eyebrows.

The pair of elite middleweights are set to headline this weekend’s pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, with the South African’s title being on the line inside the RAC Arena seven months on from his crowning.

As is customary during PPV fight weeks, Du Plessis and Adesanya were among those to take to the stage for the press conference on Friday. And given the tense buildup to their showdown following some controversial and sensitive remarks from the champ, things threatened to boil over.

Du Plessis’ “real African” comments early on in his UFC career and subsequent statements regarding being the first African-residing titleholder rubbed Adesanya the wrong way. And when the topic came up at the presser, emotions rose to the surface…

MMA Fans React To UFC 305 Presser: ‘DDP Making This Personal Was A Mistake’

After initially trading light-hearted barbs, a comment Du Plessis directed at Adesanya regarding “servants” increased tensions. “The Last Stylebender” fired back before later breaking down in tears while explaining his emotions.

The moment drew out plenty of reactions across the mixed martial arts community, with many pointing to Sean Strickland’s tears following trash talk from Du Plessis to acknowledge Adesanya as the second consecutive opponent whom the champ has made cry.

Others warned “Stillknocks” that he’s committed a grave mistake by making things so personal for Adesanya, who is returning from an 11-month layoff in pursuit of “taking heads.”

Continue Reading ‘Bro’s On A Two Make The Opponent Cry Streak’ – Fans React To Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya’s Heated UFC 305 Press Conference Exchange at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya In ‘Way Better Headspace’ Post-UFC 305 Than After Sean Strickland Loss: ‘I Actually Enjoyed The Performance’ 

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya may be on the first losing skid of his career, but the latest defeat has left him better off mentally. Adesanya made his return to action just under a year on from his setback last September, returning to Australian soil to challenge for Dricus Du Plessis’ gold in […]

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya In ‘Way Better Headspace’ Post-UFC 305 Than After Sean Strickland Loss: ‘I Actually Enjoyed The Performance’  at MMA News.

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya may be on the first losing skid of his career, but the latest defeat has left him better off mentally.

Adesanya made his return to action just under a year on from his setback last September, returning to Australian soil to challenge for Dricus Du Plessis’ gold in the main event of UFC 305.

“The Last Stylebender” took a hiatus from the sport after being shockingly thrust off the throne by Sean Strickland at the Sydney-held UFC 293, citing his frequent activity as a factor that hampered his performance.

During his break, Adesanya refined his preparation and placed increased emphasis on areas such as nutrition and strength. And upon his return, the Nigerian-New Zealander played his part in one of the year’s best championship fights, going toe-to-toe with Du Plessis for the best part of four rounds.

Adesanya was ultimately submitted in the penultimate frame, a result that has halted his planned rise to three-time champ status and sent him on the first run of defeats his career has seen.

While some might have expected such a fact to leave him in a similar place as the period post-UFC 293 last year, “The Last Stylebender” says that is far from the case…

Adesanya Happy To Have ‘Showcased’ More At UFC 305

During an interview uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reflected on his unsuccessful title challenger inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, this past weekend.

The former two-time middleweight kingpin continued to show humility and positivity in defeat, acknowledging that it wasn’t his night but insisting he was pleased with the performance he put in.

That is a far cry from how he looked at the surprise setback at the hands of Strickland 11 months ago.

“For me, I’m like, you know what? It’s cool. It was his night. Good for him,” Adesanya said. “This morning, I remember thinking like, ‘What’s next?’ … People think I need to get this one back. Nah, I’m chill. We’ll see what happens. I don’t know what’s next. I haven’t really thought that far (ahead). I just know I want to keep training, I want to keep getting better.

“I’m in a better headspace than I was after the last fight — way better,” Adesanya continued. “I actually enjoyed the performance, and I felt like I got to showcase a lot more of who I am, rather than just fighting injured and not really showcasing who I am. I just want to get back to the gym after this trip.”

It remains to be seen what could come next for Adesanya, who appeared firm in dismissing any retirement talk in the aftermath of the UFC 305 main event.

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya In ‘Way Better Headspace’ Post-UFC 305 Than After Sean Strickland Loss: ‘I Actually Enjoyed The Performance’  at MMA News.