UFC 305: The return of Israel Adesanya

UFC 305 this weekend will see Dricus Du Plessis make the first defence of his middleweight title when he takes on Israel Adesanya in Perth.

A fight over a year in the making, both these fighters have made their feelings clear to one another in the build-up to this bout.

Comments made by Du Plessis regarding former African champions in the promotion have caused controversy, with Adesanya making his feelings known ahead of Saturday.

In what was built up as a title decider at UFC 290, Du Plessis defeated Robert Whittaker via TKO, with Adesanya and the South African facing off in the cage.

However, with Du Plessis injured, it was Sean Strickland who challenged Adesanya for the belt, and shocked the world when he won at UFC 293.

Along came Du Plessis at UFC 297, to defeat Strickland through split-decision, and set up this fascinating encounter.

While 11 months is not a long time away for an MMA fighter, Adesanya was very active as a champion, so it has been his longest period of inactivity.

Adesanya has never lost a fight as a contender, and as he showed at UFC 287 against Periera, when he goes out with something to prove, he is extremely dangerous.

One of the best strikers in MMA, Adesanya will likely attack from the outside, using his reach to his advantage with leg kicks and jabs.

Du Plessis will put pressure on Adesanya, and mix his powerful striking with takedowns to keep him guessing. As shown in his win over Whittaker, his is extremely well-rounded.

Should Adesanya win, he would become a three-time champion, and the first in the UFC to defeat Du Plessis.

In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France takes on Steve Erceg in the flyweight division.

Kara-France has not fought since a controversial decision defeat to Amir Albalzi