Mark it in your diaries: Saturday, 17 August 2024 promises to be a blockbuster day for all those who indeed ‘packed for Perth’.
As reported by The South African website on Monday, MMA superstar Israel Adesanya confirmed on his social media pages that he will step into the octagon to face South Africa’s middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 on that date.
Nigeria-born Adesanya lost his middleweight title to American Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia.
Du Plessis then beat Strickland at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada in January this year to claim the belt.
DOUBLE HEADER IN PERTH
In a message alongside a graphic which fired back at Du Plessis’s claims that he stole Adesanya’s shine, the latter wrote: “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.”
UFC 305 will be held at the RAC Arena.
Adesanya will be 35 come fight night, while Pretoria-born Du Plessis will be 30.
Meanwhile, Saturday, 17 August also happens to be the date that the Springboks and Wallabies clash in this season’s Rugby Championship, in, you guessed it, Perth.
The clash at the Optus Stadium will kick off at 19:55 local time (11:55 SA time).
The Du Plessis vs Adesanya fight will be the main event on the UFC 305 card and will take place later in the afternoon (SA time).
Conservatively, there a 100% chance the Springboks will be in attendance to support Du Plessis in his title defence.
Whatever you do, clear your schedule for that day!
EARLY PREDICTIONS:
Springboks to beat the Wallabies by 11 points
Dricus du Plessis to beat Israel Adesanya and retain his middleweight title
