Dricus Du Plessis is about to face Israel Adesanya this August at UFC 305. He is quite excited about it as the ‘Stillknocks’ expects to beat Adesanya to become the ‘greatest middleweight of all time’ In a recent interview, the middleweight champion explains why he thinks so.
South African champion Dricus Du Plessis will headline UFC 305 in Perth, Australia against former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya. ‘Stillknocks’ told Fox West Texas that he had always looked at Israel Adesanya as the benchmark for where he needed to be if he wanted to be the best in the world. The middleweight champion believes that this fight is going to put him in that position.
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… This fight is going to mean that Dricus du Plessis is now in the conversation of being one of the greatest middleweights ever.
Dricus Du Plessis on Fox West Texas
This is a highly anticipated matchup and for a while in the making. They were supposed to square off back in 2023 at UFC 293 but Du Plessis stepped out in the last minute. Instead, Adesanya fought Sean Strickland and lost his title after which, he took a hiatus. But now he is back and ready to compete for the title once again.
Does du Plessis believe it is going to be an easy fight? Absolutely not. He said Adesanya is a very smart fighter who figures out his opponents and sets a lot of traps. The champion acknowledged that it was a hard fight. However, he called back to his fight with Robert Whittaker. How it was a fight that people did not think he was going to win but he still did.
Is Robert Whittaker the backup fighter for Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya at UFC 305?
Robert Whittaker recently headlined the main event at UFC Saudi Arabia. Whittaker took on Ikram Aliskerov who had stepped in for Khamzat Chimaev, his original opponent. ‘The Reaper’ finished that fight in under two minutes.
Robert Whittaker (Image via Imago)With no injuries from that fight, Whittaker declared at the post-fight press conference that he was ready to step in if either Du Plessis or Adesanya stepped out. However, it looks like the former champion has changed his mind. In a recent episode of the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker said that he is no longer interested in being the backup fighter for UFC 305.
I totally forgot that I’ve got to finish my root canal… I had to get two root canals two days before I flew out… But also, once the adrenaline settled down, I’m no one’s back-up fighter dude. I’m not gonna sit on the sideline waiting for crumbs. When I fight either one of those guys, that’s the fight the UFC’s gonna give me, and I’m gonna go hunting.
Robert Whittaker on MMAarcade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GH36qaVSZ4
This is an exciting matchup. Du Plessis and Adesanya had multiple issues that they will get to settle in the octagon. Who is Whittaker’s pick for the winner of the middleweight title fight? The former champion said that he would “lean towards Dricus” for this fight.
!
