Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has announced his showdown with current champion Dricus du Plessis, set for August 17 at UFC 305 in Australia at the RAC Arena.
Conor McGregor and Robert Whittaker had previously been lined up to headline the event, but Nigerian-born fighter Adesanya took to social media on Monday to make the announcement with a graphic of himself and his opponent for the much-anticipated bout.
He wrote, “The sun of Africa is the same sun that lights up our planet. The sun will set and rise again until you walk into it.
“The sun, enjoy while it shines. Darkness falls when it’s gone.”
Adesanya’s disclosure precedes any official confirmation from the UFC or Dana White but an announcement on the championship, which is expected in the coming days.
Before du Plessis suffered a leg injury during training camp and missed the UFC 293 event in Sydney, the two looked to be ready to face off in the cage last year.
However, Sean Strickland stepped in for the South African and was able to pull off a massive upset and snatch the title from Adesanya. With the division currently in disarray, Du Plessis would finally have his chance to win the title off Strickland on his injury return.
He wasted no time dispatching Strickland in January, paving the way for a matchup with the sensational fighter known as ‘The Last Stylebender.’
On August 17, Adesanya and du Plessis will finally face off, bringing a lot of anger to the cage for what looks to be a huge pay-per-view match. The all-African matchup adds heat to the already intense rivalry, with both fighters vying for the title of “true African champion.”
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