Nigerian-born Australian and former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has emphasized that his upcoming fight against reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis is more about personal victory than reclaiming the UFC title. Adesanya, who will face Du Plessis at UFC 305 on August 18, 2024, stated that the fight is about making history and proving a point, rather than just winning the belt.
The rivalry between Adesanya and Du Plessis has intensified over the past year, fueled by a debate over who is the “true” African champion. Adesanya, who has not fought since his surprising loss to Sean Strickland, sees this fight as a critical challenge that goes beyond titles and rankings.