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Israel Adesanya Is Back

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Jun 17, 2024 7:32 PM ET

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya announced on social media that he will return from his self-imposed hiatus to face current champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, which takes place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

“Never stole shine, never lost mine,” reads the caption on the graphic Adesanya posted with the fight date of August 17 listed, UFC president Dana White confirmed.

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

These two are not the best of friends at all. Du Plessis who’s from South Africa made claims that he would be the UFC’s true African champion. Which is a knock on Nigeria-born Adesanya living in New Zealand. It’s safe to say that Adesanya wasn’t happy with those comments. As he went in the Octagon after Du Plessis’ victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290. Adesanya entered the Octagon and confronted “Stillknocks” with an expletive tirade that delivered an ugly racial undertone and intensified their bad blood.

Adesanya hasn’t fought since he lost the title in a stunning upset to Sean Strickland last September at UFC 293. Strickland wouldn’t hold the title long, as Du Plessis won it in January by split decision at UFC 297.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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