UFC feud explodes after Adesanya’s bizarre post

Several Australian fighters will feature on the UFC 305 card at Perth’s RAC Arena on Sunday as Dricus Du Plessis defends his middleweight title against two-time former champ Israel Adesanya in the main event.
The co-main event will see Aussie flyweight Steve Erceg take on New Zealander Kai-Kara-France, while No.10 ranked heavyweight star Tai Tuivasa will face Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Rising Aussie in the heavyweight division Junior Tafa, will headline the prelims against Brazilian striker Valter Walker.
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Aussie Josh Culibao will face Ricardo Ramos in the featherweights, female flyweight fighter Casey O’Neill, currently ranked 15th squares off against Luana Santos and Jack Jenkins will take on Brazilian Herbert Burns in what is expected to be a challenging featherweight clash.
The fight will be held on Sunday at RAC Arena. Zuffa LLC
As for the main event, Du Plessis (21-2) is on a nine-fight win streak, most recently a split decision over Sean Strickland in January to win the middleweight belt.
Adesanya (24-3) has not fought since losing his title to Strickland by unanimous decision last September. This fight has been brewing since Adesanya confronted Du Plessis in the cage at UFC 290, kicking off a series of verbal jabs from both men that at times has become quite nasty.
A couple of days out from the fight, Du Plessis, who admitted to being tasered by his coach during training sessions for making mistakes, alleged Adesanya was trying to get into his head by searching for an image of his penis online.
Adesanya posted a pic of himself next to Du Plessis in basically their underwear, circling the genitalia of both men, referencing Du Plessis’ comments of being the “real African champion”.
“Israel, stop searching for my willy on the internet. It’s weird, it’s very freaking weird man,” Du Plessis responded.
Here’s everything you need to know:
You can watch UFC 305 on Kayo or Main Event on Foxtel.
You can watch preliminaries on Kayo but the main card is a pay-per-view event which will cost $59.95.
UFC 305 takes place on Sunday 18 August at RAC Arena in Perth.
The early prelims start at 8.30am AEST Sunday morning.
The prelims will follow from 10am before the main card at 12pm.
Du Plessis and Adesanya are expected to make their walk to the octagon just after 2pm.
Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus du Plessis (c), middleweight title
Steve Erceg vs. Kai Kara-France, flyweights
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker, lightweights
Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Tai Tuivasa, heavyweights
Carlos Prates vs. Li Jingliang, welterweights
Prelims (from 10am AEST)
Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker, heavyweights
Josh Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos, featherweights
Terez Bleda vs. Casey O’Neill, women’s flyweights
Jack Jenkins vs. Herbert Burns, featherweights
Early prelims (from 8.30am AEST)
Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes, lightweights
Song Kenan vs. Ricky Glenn, welterweights
Stewart Nicoll vs. Jesus Aguilar, flyweights
Strickland trades punches with Adesanya. Getty
(TAB)
Main card
Du Plessis v Adesanya
Dricus du Plessis $1.95 to win, $3.75 to win via KO/TKO, $5.00 via decision, $6.50 via submission
Israel Adesanya $1.85 to win, $4.00 to win via KO/TKO, $3.25 via decision, $29 via submission
Kara-France v Erceg
Kai Kara-France $2.30 to win, $6.00 to win via KO/TKO, $3.50 via decision, $26 via submission
Steve Erceg $1.58 to win, $8.00 to win via KO/TKO, $2.25 via decision, $8.00 via submission
Hooker v Gamrot
Dan Hooker $3.50 to win, $9.00 to win via KO/TKO, $6.00 via decision, $21 via submission
Mateusz Gamrot $1.30 to win, $9.00 to win via KO/TKO, $1.65 via decision, $5.50 via submission
Tuivasa v Rozenstruik
Tai Tuivasa $2.65 to win, $3.50 to win via KO/TKO, $10 via decision, $34 via submission
Jairzinho Rozenstruik $1.48 to win, $1.70 to win via KO/TKO, $8.00 via decision, $21 via submission
Jingliang v Prates
Li Jingliang $3.25 to win, $8.00 to win via KO/TKO, $6.50 via decision, $21 via submission
Carlos Prates $1.34 to win, $1.90 to win via KO/TKO, $3.75 via decision, $13 via submission