Israel Adesanya is banking on his wealth of experience to gain the upper hand in the highly-anticipated UFC Welterweight title fight with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, this weekend.
The two-time UFC middleweight champion, who has seen both triumph and adversity in the octagon, believes his time in the trenches, both in winning and regaining the belt, will give him the edge in the main event.
“Experience is the key,” Adesanya said during the UFC 305 media day.
“A lot has happened in the last few months. I’ve had to go through some personal challenges, and during that time, I’ve done a lot of soul searching. I asked myself tough questions: ‘What do I want from this game? What do I want my legacy to be?’”
Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) is set to challenge newly crowned middleweight champion Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in a fight that has become more than just about the title.
The rivalry has taken a personal turn, with tensions running high, particularly due to racially charged comments made by Du Plessis, who claimed to be the only “true African champion” as he still resides and trains in South Africa, unlike Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria but moved to New Zealand.
Adesanya, however, is keeping his focus sharp despite the emotions surrounding the bout, saying, “I’m different now. I’m putting everything into this fight. I’m not thio far ahead. I’m focused on this fight and this time out.”
A win on Saturday would make Adesanya only the second fighter in UFC history to hold a title in the same division on three separate occasions, joining Randy Couture in that exclusive club.
The Nigerian-born fighter’s confidence is evident as he looks to make history, claiming to be in peak physical condition.
“I think you’ll see the best version of me yet,” Adesanya added.
“I’m the biggest and most muscular I’ve ever been, yet I feel faster and sharper. I surprise myself with my speed and precision. It feels good to reset and refresh. Now, let’s get it.”
Adesanya’s return to the octagon in Perth follows his shocking title loss to Sean Strickland in September 2023, a defeat that is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
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