"I want it to be announced” Dricus du Plessis Is Charged Up To Fight Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya, after his last loss against Sean Strickland back at UFC 293, where he was dethroned by the underdog “Tarzan” to become the middleweight champion to lose it to Dricus du Plessis later has remained out of the Octagon since September last year. On the other hand, Sean Strickland lost his gold in his first title defense fight against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297. “Stillknocks” registered a split decision victory against “Tarzan” to become the new middleweight champion in January 2024. Since then, he has been waiting to defend his gold and eyeing a fight against former champion Israel Adesanya.

Their rivalry got into the limelight when they had an intense face-off at UFC 290 after Dricus du Plessis’s knockout victory. Fans were waiting to see a fight between these two, but when the UFC booked a fight, Dricus du Plessis pulled out. Now, “Stillknocks,” in his recent interview, revealed that he is ready to fight Israel Adesanya and is waiting for an official announcement from the UFC.

”I’m ready, I’ve agreed to everything, I’m ready, I’m going to do it. That’s the fight I want, I called him out after winning the belt and that’s the fight the fans want to see and at the end of the day that’s the fight I want to have, that’s the guy I want to fight and let’s just announce this thing, I don’t know what’s the hold-up is. I want it to be announced.”
Dricus du Plessis said at FightWave

It is most likely that they will fight at UFC 305, but that is still not official as Sean Strickland wants a rematch against Dricus, and after his victory against Paulo Costa at UFC 302, he is ahead of other fighters to get one plus there is a significant fight between Khamzat Chimaev and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is coming up on June 22 the winners would most likely change the rankings and forward his name to getting a title shot.