☀️🌍🌘
The SUN of Africa is the same sun that lights up our planet.
The SUN will set and will rise again until you walk into it. 🌅
The SUN, enjoy while it shines. Darkness falls when it’s gone.
pic.twitter.com/u5Swlzr6TW— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender)
June 17, 2024
It appears that Israel
Adesanya will have a chance to regain the
Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight crown later this
year.
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“The Last Stylebender” announced on social media that he will face
reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du
Plessis at UFC 305
in Perth on Aug. 17. Du Plessis subsequently confirmed the news in
a series of posts on his Instagram Stories. UFC CEO Dana White
later confirmed the pairing during an appearance on “The Jim Rome
Show” on Monday.
EXCLUSIVE: UFC President @danawhite
confirms Israel Adesanya will fight Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 on
August 17th in Perth. pic.twitter.com/mUkcGPGxaK— Jim Rome (@jimrome)
June 17, 2024
Adesanya and Du Plessis were initially expected to lock horns at
UFC 293 last September, but Du Plessis was not healthy enough to
compete due to injuries suffered in a stoppage win against Robert
Whittaker at UFC 290 two months prior. Adesanya would instead
defend his belt against Sean
Strickland, losing a unanimous decision in one of the biggest
upsets of 2023. The Nigerian-born Kiwi was victorious in his first
12 Octagon appearances at 185 pounds before dropping fights to
Strickland and Alex
Pereira in two of his last three outings.
Du Plessis captured the middleweight crown with a split-decision
triumph against Strickland at UFC 297 on Jan. 20. The former KSW
title holder has won his last nine professional outings, a streak
that includes seven triumphs under the UFC banner.
Editor’s Note: This item was updated at approximately 3:26 p.m.
ET to include confirmation from UFC CEO Dana White.