3 months ago
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Nigerian-born fighter, Israel Adesanya, is set to battle Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 305 tonight, aiming to regain the middleweight title.
Adesanya, a former two-time champion, will aim to take the belt from Du Plessis in the latter’s first title defence, in what is a grudge match in Perth as pre-match talk has been centred on race.
After Adesanya dropped the gold to Sean Strickland in a major upset last September, Du Plessis dethroned Strickland in January to become, in his words, the first “real” African UFC champion.
The South African stressed that he meant the first not only to have been born on the continent but also to have trained there throughout his career.
However, Nigerian-born Adesanya, who fights out of New Zealand, took offence with that claim. The matter arose again at Thursday’s press conference, as Adesanya burst into tears while calling out Du Plessis.
The pair will now settle their grudge with fists, with the middleweight belt on the line in Perth.
Adesanya comes into the ring first with his oriki introducing him before Chris Brown’s Angel Numbers/Ten Toes blares loudly on the speakers as he makes his entrance.
Strickland makes his way to the ring next with an African chant welcoming him for the battle ahead.
ROUND ONE: Adesanya has Du Plessis bleeding
Both fighters are active early on. Du Plessis lands leg kicks early which Adesanya returns.
The South African then rushes in with a left hook, but Adesanya blocks.
Another pair of hard shots by Du Plessis, then a knee from Adesanya. Hard low kick by Adesanya. Du Plessis switches stances back and forth now. Adesanya blocks a high kick, then shrugs off a body lock.
Grazing cross by Adesanya which cuts Du Plessis on his forehead. He blocks a head kick. Izzy looking for counter shots as Du Plessis surges forward again.
One-two by Adesanya. Low kick by the South African. Hard right cross by Du Plessis. Nice uppercut by Adesanya. He leans back to evade a head kick.
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