In Photos: Shredded Israel Adesanya looks set and ready to go with a week left for UFC 305
Israel Adesanya appears to be in peak physical condition for his upcoming UFC 305 title fight against newly minted middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. 'The Last Stylebender' has been sharing his various pictures of his training regimen on his Instagram page, where he looks as well muscled as he ever has.
It is no secret that the former kickboxer is eager to regain his 185-pound strap and, more than anything, defeat du Plessis, with whom he has nuclear levels of animosity. Whether his bulkier frame will affect his cardio though is a question on the minds of some.
Nevertheless, Adesanya is more than confident in his chances against du Plessis, whose reckless approach on the feet presents openings for 'The Last Stylebender' to slip devastating counterpunches through.
However, the South African phenom has shown himself to be a force of nature. He has run through everyone who dared step inside the octagon with him, finishing them all, sans Sean Strickland. To underestimate 'Stillknocks' is to court peril, especially given his extremely physical style of grappling.
This is perhaps why Adesanya has invested in adding more muscle mass to his frame. He will have to contend with du Plessis' physicality in the clinch. With the chance to become a three-time middleweight champion just a week away, Adesanya will be laser-focused, but the trash talk is sure to ramp up the closer the fight draws, with both men expressing a clear dislike for each other.
Israel Adesanya's issues with Dricus du Plessis led to an in-cage confrontation at UFC 290
After Dricus du Plessis stopped Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 to book a title fight with then middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, 'The Last Stylebender' was welcomed into the octagon during the South African's post-fight interview. The results have since become infamous.
Check out the heated confrontation between Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290:
With Adesanya barking into the microphone, the confrontation devolved into an expletive-filled, racially charged tirade, all due to du Plessis' past claim that he was a better representative of African MMA than Adesanya since he was born, lives, and trains in South Africa, having never left.