The highly anticipated middleweight showdown between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya is set to headline UFC 305 on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
- Du Plessis, the reigning middleweight champion, faces former two-time champion Adesanya in a clash for the title.
- Du Plessis sees this fight as a pivotal moment to cement his place among the greatest in UFC history.
- Adesanya, looking to reclaim his former glory, is focused on staying in the moment and “living in the flow.”
Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya talking points that matter
Dricus du Plessis enters this fight with an impressive record of 21-2, having secured the middleweight title in January 2024 with a split-decision win over Sean Strickland.
This victory marked a historic moment as Du Plessis became the first South African to claim a UFC championship.
Ahead of the bout, Du Plessis acknowledged the significance of facing Israel Adesanya, a fighter he has long admired as the benchmark in the division.
“This is where I take over as one of the greatest to ever do it,” Du Plessis stated, expressing his determination to solidify his legacy with a win over Adesanya.
Adesanya, with a record of 24-3, is a former two-time middleweight champion who is widely regarded as one of the all-time greats in the division.
Despite losing his title to Strickland in September last year, Adesanya remains a formidable opponent.
The Nigerian-born, New Zealand-based fighter has embraced a mindset of living in the moment as he prepares for this fight.
“I’m just taking things as they come – it feels like I’m living in the moment [and that] makes me feel like I’m living according to my flow,” Adesanya said.
The rest of the UFC 305 main card features exciting matchups, including a flyweight bout between Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg, a heavyweight clash between Tai Tuivasa and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and a lightweight battle between Mateusz Gamrot and Dan Hooker.
The card opens with a welterweight fight between Li Jingliang and Carlos Prates.
How to watch UFC 305 live in South Africa
South African fans eager to watch the Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya fight live will need to set their alarms early on Sunday, 18 August 2024.
The main card of UFC 305 kicks off at 22:00 Eastern Time (ET) on Saturday, which corresponds to 04:00 SAST on Sunday morning in South Africa.
The headline bout between Du Plessis and Adesanya is expected to begin around 06:30 SAST, depending on the length of the undercard fights.
The event will be available for live streaming on platforms such as SuperSport, which typically covers UFC events in South Africa.
Fans can also access the fight via the UFC’s official pay-per-view channels.