This weekend, the UFC 305 event will focus on the title bout between South Africa's Dricus du Plessis and New Zealand's Israel Adesanya. R
Both fighters are gunning for different goals in the bout. Du Plessis is the current UFC Middleweight Championship title holder, while Adesanya is a former belt holder.
Adesanya lost the belt to Sean Strickland late last year, with the American MMA star doing the same earlier this year against Dricuss. The Nigerian-born fighter is focused on winning the belt for the third time.
Adesanya lost the last two of his three fights, hence losing the UFC Middleweight Championship title in both losses, while Du Plessis is heading to the bout with a nine-match winning streak.
The Nigerian-born fighter consistently held the belt for three-and-a-half years, with his only loss during that period being when he decided to step up in weight category to battle Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title.
The New Zealander also holds the second-best all-time record-winning streak in the middleweight class, which is 12.
Du Plessis is the current champion in the middleweight class. He defeated Strickland in January to claim the title, and he's still undefeated in his UFC career (7-0) and 21-2 overall.
Two Africans looking to make their mark as the UFC returns to Perth for the first time since February 2023 ๐ค๐ฅ๐ค#UFC305 pic.twitter.com/LZ0fgdEyDE
— SuperSport ๐ (@SuperSportTV) August 13, 2024
The South African fighter also has the highest rate of significant strikes landed per minute in middleweight class history, which stands at 6.49. He's currently the third-highest among the active UFC middleweights in takedown accuracy, at 51.6 percent.
Adesanya edges Du Plessis regarding height as the former stands three inches taller with four-inch and 1.5-inch leg reach advantages.
It is going to be a close contest, as they are not far from each other in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.
ONE WEEK AWAY ๐
— UFC (@ufc) August 11, 2024
Who do you got? #UFC305 pic.twitter.com/NBRYTi5zBf
Venue and date: Du Plessis vs Adesanya
The bout between the two UFC middleweight fighters will be held on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
This will be the third and second year in a row in which the Octagon will make its appearance in Perth.
What time is Du Plessis vs Adesanya's fight?
Du Plessis and Adesanya's fight this weekend doesn't have a fixed time, as it would depend on how long the undercard bout lasts.
Nevertheless, the bout is expected to be held at 4:00 a.m. (SAST), 3 a.m. UK (Sunday).
๐ฟ๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ฌ
— SuperSport ๐ (@SuperSportTV) August 15, 2024
It looks like whoever can win the takedown battle could be crowned Middleweight champion ๐๐
Watch #UFC305 on Sunday - prelims start at 02:00 (CAT) with the main card live from 04:00 (CAT) ๐ฟ pic.twitter.com/vrcLPkcLXV
How to watch the bout
Live on DAZN
U.S.: ESPN+ PPV
UK: TNT Sports
South Africa: SuperSport
A clash between the current and former UFC middleweight champions goes down in Australia ๐ #UFC305 | Saturday, 10 ET | ESPN+ PPV ๐ฟ pic.twitter.com/r9tUEvGRnW
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 12, 2024
