Dricus Du Plessis finally defends his title against Israel Adesanya this Saturday at UFC 305. The oddsmakers and peers are equally undecided on both. Some veer to the dangerous and unpredictable mettle of the South African. Others think ‘The Last Stylebender’ can use his technical striking to win the middleweight title for the third time. Amid all these, Darren Till offers some pointers.
Till’s last UFC fight was against Du Plessis in December 2022. He lost the bout after almost pulling off a comeback in the fight. Du Plessis is infamous for his awkward outbursts and takedowns. Meanwhile, Izzy has proved that he is already susceptible to awkward pressures in his last title loss. With DDP having an unorthodox momentum and pressure, Till advises against the pace change before UFC 305.
Lots of feints… he reacts to them so much and throws from the hills. Then you can step back. Have a look and either for for the punch combo or knee maybe a kick. Ur a high level striker so u know what am on about…
Darren Till via X (@darrentill2)
Israel Adesanya will look to become a three-time UFC middleweight titleholder. Similar to close friends Kamaru Usman and Alexander Volkanovski, Izzy went 5-0 in his first reign. ‘Stylebender’ lost his title to Alex Pereira at UFC 281 only to avenge it six numbered cards later in one of his greatest KO stints. He’d then lose the title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
Got some advice for Izzy on how to fight DDP on Saturday.
Lots of feints… he reacts to them so much and throws from the hills. Then you can step back. Have a look and either for for the punch combo or knee maybe a kick.
Ur a high level striker so u know what am on about.…— DT (@darrentill2) August 13, 2024
Meanwhile, Dricus Du Plessis defeated ‘Tarzan’ at UFC 297 to claim the title. Adesanya would pave the way to his title grudge match with ‘Stilknocks’ when he confronted him in-ring at International Fight Week, UFC 290. It set up one of the biggest face-offs of the season. Darren Till only fought one of the two. Meanwhile, Robert Whittaker has some clear thoughts after sharing the octagon with both fighters.
Robert Whittaker believes Du Plessis is underrated ahead of UFC 305
Israel Adesanya is a master of spatial control with outstanding counter-striking skills. However, multiple losses and his longest hiatus yet have made him switch to a personal level of commitment. He has dug into his stance that Du Plessis snubbing him as the original of the trio of African champions is a mistake. It led to an emotionally charged faceoff even at the UFC 305 on-sale kickoff conference in July.
Dricus Du Plessis can have emphatic running against Israel Adesanya (Source: UFC.go.com/es.agfight.com)‘The Last Stylebender’ hates the premise as the title challenger but says it’s not as personal. He has had bigger build-ups with Marvin Vettori or Sean Strickland. Whether or not he is splintering his attention toward other issues, ‘Reaper’ thinks it’d be a mistake to disregard just how awkwardly good the champ is.
Yeah to a degree [underestimated], I was a victim of that. He’s an awkward-looking dude, man. He fights really awkward, even when you’re in there with him, I thought it was awkward…I felt like he was slow and cumbersome and then he punched me in the face. And that might be one of his greatest weapons, just a fly under the radar that makes people think he’s not up the scuff…
Robert Whittaker via the MMArcade Podcast Episode 48 (@MMArcadePodcast)
Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) does not break his feints with a normal pace or movement. The 30-year-old has awkward bursts of lean-ins and even staggers back before delivering deadly combos upfront. He pushed the plan against a defensively sound boxing style of Strickland en route to a split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47).
There are people like Michael Bisping who instigate the criteria that Adesanya is on the fuse to retrieve his undisputed gold. But having faced all versions of him, Whittaker thinks there’d be a mental burnout and a dangerous challenge. He expects Du Plessis to take it by decision.
