UFC champion Dricus du Plessis is reportedly set to defend his middleweight title on the same day as the world champion Springboks face the Wallabies in Perth.
The Boks will kick off their 2024 Rugby Championship against Joe Schmidt’s charges, with the first Test at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, 10 August, and the second at Perth’s Optus Stadium a week later.
In a social media post on Monday, former UFC title-holder Israel Adesanya announced he will fight Du Plessis at UFC 305 at the RAC Arena in Perth, on 17 August. It would be Adesanya’s first fight since dropping the belt to the USA’s Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023.
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The SUN of Africa is the same sun that lights up our planet.
The SUN will set and will rise again until you walk into it.
The SUN, enjoy while it shines. Darkness falls when it’s gone. pic.twitter.com/u5Swlzr6TW— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) June 17, 2024
UFC has yet to confirm the fight card but president Dana White, in a video posted to social media last week, ‘leaked’ the main event for the Australasian extravaganza, which is scheduled for Sunday, 18 August, (Saturday, 17 August, SA time).
Dana White might have accidentally leaked the potential #UFC305 Perth Card while announcing #UFC303 Update.
Israel Adesanya in the main event.
Song Yadong co main.#UFC #MMA #MMATwitter pic.twitter.com/jyb26m1P6G— XETINFO MMA (@xetinfomma) June 16, 2024
Du Plessis made history by becoming South Africa’s first UFC champion on 21 January, when the 30-year-old emulated the Boks by claiming a one-point victory in his bout with Strickland.
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
