Luck hasn’t been on UFC’s side lately after many fights have fallen, events have had to be modified, and many changes were forced to be made. The good news is back, however, as one of their top superstars announced he will return to the octagon. You heard that right, Israel Adesanya is back as he will challenge UFC Middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, for the 185-pound belt in the Land Down Under in August!
Adesanya’s last fight goes back to September 2023, when he lost the belt to Sean Strickland in a shocking one-sided battle. Post-fight, Adesanya looked distraught and said he was taking time away from the sport. Now, the future Hall of Famer is back and ready to go!
Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis is a Must-Watch!
Oh, boy! In a combat sport, it’s normal for rivalries to brew quickly, but Du Plessis and Adesanya have bad blood to the highest of levels. The announcement of Izzy’s return is not only that he’s back, but also that he’s coming to settle the score with Du Plessis.
What caused this rivalry? One would assume that two top fighters in the same division will naturally have animosity toward one another. Both fighters have the same objective, being the champion. However, this goes deeper.
Adesanya is of Nigerian descent while living and representing New Zealand as well. As for Du Plessis, he is a South African fighter, born and bred. Du Plessis stated a while ago that he wanted to be the first African champion in the UFC. That was not well-received by Adesanya. Since then, both have had back-and-forths and confrontations.
The Rivalry Reignited
Israel Adesanya was dominated by Sean Strickland the last September. He emphatically lost the title in Australia. It was one of the biggest upsets in recent history. Adesanya looked like a shell of himself and couldn’t find rhythm. He even got dropped by Strickland, who’s not a KO artist. Israel Adesanya usually has a good chin, so it was not a good look for the then-champion. The scorecards were 49-46 across the board.
After that, Adesanya took the needed time away to heal and refocus. It seems like he is ready to go now. However, after what was an awful defeat, Adesanya’s future looked cloudy. That was until Dricus Du Plessis challenged Strickland for the belt and beat him earlier this year.
With Du Plessis holding the strap, Adesanya saw the chance to get back and fight for the belt. The storyline is simple: bad blood is settled and all the marbles are on the line. Thanks to Du Plessis rising to the occasion vs. Strickland, Adesanya saw a bright horizon ahead of him, something that motivated him.
Dricus Du Plessis Is No Easy Feat
It’s almost silly to say it since he is a champion, but Dricus Du Plessis is a bad man! During his first title reign, Israel Adesanya made most of the contenders look like amateurs. That was a big part of his aura and what made him one of the biggest stars in the UFC. Nevertheless, Adesanya will be 35 by the time the fight with Du Plessis happens, and being 1-2 in his last three, you wonder how hungry or precise he will be inside the octagon.
Dricus Du Plessis is in his absolute prime. He is 30 years old, riding a 9-fight win streak. His record is 21-2 with 19 finishes. Out of those, 10 are submissions, nine are knockouts. He is well-rounded and has finishing ability. His only question mark is his cardio, but he is dangerous anywhere the fight goes.
Israel Adesanya has already faced killers like Alex Pereira and Robert Whittaker. Saying he will be outmatched is not right, but he must be cautious. This is crucial since he was TKO’d by Pereira and dropped by Strickland. Du Plessis carries power, so Israel can’t overtrust himself.
Adesanya vs. Du Plessis is a Blessing for the UFC
With Conor McGregor’s return vs. Michael Chandler being postponed, and Khamzat Chimaev pulling out of his main event vs. Robert Whittaker, the UFC needed a good announcement. Israel Adesanya coming back is precisely that.
Dana White can rest assured this will be a massive event. Adesanya is always a big draw, especially in Australia. Dricus Du Plessis is an exciting fighter as well. The storylines around this fight are easy to market and Adesanya knows how to stir the media’s pot to bring views. The only question remaining is: Which version of The Last Stylebender will show up in August? The dominant champion, or the overwhelmed fighter?
About the Author
Bruno is a sports fanatic. Pick a sport, and he’ll enjoy debating or reminiscing about it for hours! From football to combat sports and literally everything in between, he’s your sports pal! You can follow Bruno on X.com @_BrunoMilano to enjoy all of his great content. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we do lots of shows daily to keep you entertained.
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