In Photos: Beefed-up Israel Adesanya shares glimpses from intense training regimen ahead of UFC 304 title fight against Dricus du Plessis
It appears as though Dan Hooker was being sincere when he claimed that Israel Adesanya is packing significant size and strength ahead of the 35-year-old's impending clash against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305. For fans who may not be fully onboard with the claim, Adesanya's recent beefed-up pictures are evidence of that.
With no target on his back as the middleweight champion, Adesanya took some time off to recover from injuries and work on his frame for the du Plessis clash. The No.2 ranked middleweight contender is renowned for his lean, rangy frame, even choosing to weigh in at 200.5 pounds to take on Jan Blachowicz, in his attempt to capture the simultaneous two-division champ status.
Setting aside all the narratives and championship laurels, Adesanya seems determined to deliver highlight reel moments and elevate his standards. He captioned the Instagram post:
"ME vs. ME"
Check out the post below:
The upcoming clash against du Plessis marks Adesanya's third crack at the middleweight throne. The first two-time UFC 185-pound champion had amassed five title defenses and cemented his position in the second spot on the most title fight wins ladder in divisional history (8). With the stage set for Adesanya's return on August 17, 2024, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, fans can expect an entertaining clash considering the rivalry simmering between the main event fighters.
Alex Pereira picks the winner of the Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya clash
Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira have had a score to settle for as long as their rivalry lasted. While a case can be made that the pair still have unfinished business, the dynamic between the two has shifted to a sense of mutual respect.
Pereira, who fought Adesanya four times across two sports, said on his YouTube channel that he believes 'The Last Stylebender' has what it takes to dethrone Dricus du Plessis. Fans were quick to point out that, unlike Pereira, Adesanya has picked the Brazilian to lose against multiple adversaries.
Regardless, Pereira wants Adesanya to emerge victorious at UFC 305. He said:
"[People] asked me about Adesanya and du Plessis, I said I don’t see Adesanya losing. Just because he said that about me doesn’t mean I’ll say it back. It’s what I think. I don’t think he loses this fight. I hope he wins because he has a beautiful story. I think he has to continue his story.”
Catch Pereira's comments below: