Israel Adesanya is determined to claim his third UFC world middleweight title and he may have the opportunity to do so in his upcoming fight.
The fighter from New Zealand has not been in a fight since his defeat to Sean Strickland in September 2023 where he lost his UFC world middleweight title, however, he has numerous options available for his upcoming match.
Despite already establishing himself as one of the top MMA fighters of today, Adesanya continues to hold onto his goals of reclaiming his middleweight world title and also achieving victory in the light-heavyweight division.
Dricus Du Plessis to Receive Title Shot at UFC 305
Despite his shocking victory over Adesanya, Strickland was unable to maintain his success and surrendered his title in February 2024 to South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis.
Du Plessis has expressed his eagerness to face Adesanya, who hails from Nigeria, in a title fight representing all of Africa. He has also alluded to the possibility of this highly anticipated matchup being the main event at UFC 305, taking place in Perth, Australia in August. It appears that this fight will be his next challenge.
During an episode of “The Sias du Plessis Show,”Du Plessis discussed his plans for both the middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions, stating that defeating Adesanya and potentially Khamzat could earn him a spot at light heavyweight.
“Looking at the greats, it’s clear that Khamzat is the boogeyman that everyone is afraid of. I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to fight him. Defeating Izzy (Adesanya), one of the greatest middleweights in history, and Robert Whittaker, another top middleweight, would undoubtedly earn me a spot among the best.”
“As mentioned earlier, I have no issues with defending my belt a few more times prior to that. Currently, my sole focus is on the middleweight division and my upcoming bout, which is highly likely to be against Israel Adesanya. That is where all of my attention is directed.”
“Clearly, that is part of my trajectory, but without this, none of the other plans can fall into place.”
Adesanya has expressed interest in the fight, as he had previously announced his acceptance of the match against Du Plessis for UFC 300. However, due to the short turnaround time, the South African was unable to participate.
“During an appearance on Theo Von’s podcast, Adesanya stated, “There are certain things that are destined to occur.”He also revealed that he was approached for the 300th UFC event, but unfortunately, the other party was not interested.”
Middleweight Alternatives
If a fight with Du Plessis does not occur, or even if we consider the future beyond a potential fight with Du Plessis, there are still several promising options for Adesanya in the middleweight division.
The upcoming UFC 302 event on June 1 will feature a highly anticipated matchup between former middleweight champion Strickland and Paulo Costa. The winner of this fight will likely be next in line for a shot at the title. Adesanya, who was defeated by Strickland in their previous bout, will undoubtedly be eager to seek redemption in the future.
In a similar fashion, Robert Whittaker, a former middleweight champion who Adesanya defeated to become the world champion, will face off against the formidable Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday, July 22. The victor of this bout will also be eager for a chance at the title.
Whittaker is determined to seek retribution for the two losses he has suffered against Adesanya. Meanwhile, Chimaev is gaining a reputation as the “boogeyman”of the middleweight division, sparking curiosity about his performance against the division’s top contenders.
Unfinished business vs Alex Pereira at light-heavyweight
Adesanya’s feud with current UFC light-heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira remains one of the most legendary rivalries in the MMA world.
Before becoming a member of the UFC, Pereira had defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing. Although the first fight resulted in a controversial decision in favor of the Brazilian, the outcome of their second match was without dispute as “Poatan”delivered a punishing knockout punch to Adesanya.
Despite Adesanya being ahead on the scorecards, Pereira managed to defeat him in their third bout at UFC 281, thus becoming the new middleweight champion and dethroning Adesanya upon joining the UFC. Pereira’s victory came in the fifth round of their title fight.
After four fights between the two, “The Last Stylebender”was able to exact his revenge by knocking Pereira unconscious in their bout at UFC 287, reclaiming his middleweight title.
Since then, Pereira has moved up to light-heavyweight and achieved the feat of becoming a two-weight world champion. In 2021, Adesanya attempted to replicate this accomplishment, but was unsuccessful in his endeavor as he lost to the reigning champion Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision.
If Adesanya decides to pursue another opportunity to win titles in two weight classes, it is clear that a fifth fight with Pereira would be a compelling storyline.
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