- The UFC middleweight title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya headlines UFC 305.
- Dricus Du Plessis defends his UFC middleweight title for the first time.
- Du Plessis is the +105 betting underdog, and Adesanya is the -115 favorite.
For the first time since becoming the undisputed king of the middleweight division, Dricus Du Plessis will be putting his UFC title on the line this weekend against the former longtime titleholder Israel Adesanya. The two will headline UFC 305 inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
IT'S #UFC305 FIGHT WEEK!
Perth, Australia here we come ✈️@WestAustralia | #WAtheDreamState
[ B2YB @CryptoCom ] pic.twitter.com/2RlO6pVOE2
— UFC (@ufc) August 12, 2024
Despite being out for nearly a year, Adesanya is still the favorite to win in the upcoming match with -115 UFC odds against Du Plessis, who comes in as the slight +105 betting underdog. The stacked credentials of “The Last Stylebender” may have been the biggest factor for their roles at BetMGM’s online sportsbook.
Dricus Du Plessis Recent Fight Results
Du Plessis made his UFC debut in October 2020 after dominating the EFC and KSW promotions. He’s still undefeated under the Las Vegas-based promotion and holds a win over Markus Perez, Trevin Giles, Brad Tavares, Darren Till, and Derek Brunson.
The middleweight king has never struggled to get a finish 💥@DricusDuPlessis makes his first title defense Saturday night at #UFC305! pic.twitter.com/e3qmjsYjgN
— UFC (@ufc) August 12, 2024
The South African star’s last two victories were the biggest so far. He defeated the former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in July 2023 via second-round TKO to earn the title shot against Sean Strickland in January at UFC 297. Du Plessis maximized his championship opportunity by beating Strickland via split decision.
Israel Adesanya Recent Fight Results
Adesanya was a former longtime UFC middleweight champion with five successful title defenses since becoming the division’s undisputed king in October 2019. The top contenders on his victim list were Anderson Silva, Whittaker, Paulo Costa, Yoel Romero, and Marvin Vettori.
He had the commentators losing their minds 🤯@StyleBender returns Saturday hungry for the middleweight crown 👑 #UFC305 pic.twitter.com/8i7bntLbBI
— UFC (@ufc) August 12, 2024
His reign was stopped by Alex Pereira, who TKO’d him in November 2022 at UFC 281, but he quickly avenged it with a second-round knockout in their rematch at UFC 287 in April 2023. His most recent appearance inside the octagon was against Strickland, and he dropped a shocking unanimous decision defeat in September at UFC 293.
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya: Tale of the Tape
| Dricus Du Plessis | Israel Adesanya | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 30 | 35 |
| Height | 6’1” | 6’4” |
| Reach | 76 inches | 80 inches |
| Leg Reach | 43 inches | 44.5 inches |
| Record | 21-2 | 24-3 |
| Fighting Style | MMA | Freestyle |
| Finishing Rate | 90% | 67% |
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya: Fight Analysis
Adesanya will have the advantage in the tale of the tape against Du Plessis because he has 3 inches of height, 4 inches of reach, and 1.5 inches of leg reach against the defending champion. However, Du Plessis has the higher finish rate at 90% compared to the challenger’s 67%.
Stylistically, Adesanya’s strong kickboxing background is a critical factor in his fighting style, making him a formidable freestyler. In contrast, Du Plessis is a more well-rounded fighter with an MMA base.
Du Plessis’ key to this match is to put pressure on Adesanya and close the distance between them. This way, he can negate the former champion’s physical advantages and have the option to mix things up with takedowns.
“Stillknocks” can emulate the success of Jan Blachowicz and Strickland against Adesanya by putting him down on the mat, imposing his superior grappling skills, and forcing him to fight on the back foot.
On the other hand, Adesanya should utilize every inch of his length against Du Plessis and fight from the outside, much like he did during his dominant reign as the unquestioned king of the weight class.
Adesanya’s age, 35, could be a potential roadblock in the fight. There are concerns about his athleticism and explosiveness, especially after his last fight against Strickland, where he appeared to be moving slower than usual.
But given that this match is very personal for Adesanya and the fact that he had a lengthy rest and preparation, he could perform at his best once again. If he could avoid being cornered against the cage side wall and fight from long range, then Adesanyan could reclaim his throne with another masterful performance.
Official Prediction: Unanimous decision victory for Israel Adesanya.
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