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UFC 305: Former Featherweight Champion Picks Israel Adesanya To Regain Title

A former featherweight champion is riding with Israel Adesanya to win back the UFC middleweight strap.

Zain Bando

Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Israel Adesanya prepares to fight Sean Strickland (not pictured) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena.
Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Israel Adesanya prepares to fight Sean Strickland (not pictured) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. / Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

One former UFC featherweight champion is backing Israel Adesanya to capture middleweight gold once again.

Israel Adesanya Annoyed by UFC 305 Build-Up: ‘The Fight’s Already Sold'

In a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, long-time featherweight star Alexander Volkanovski gave his thoughts on the highly-anticipated middleweight showdown between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, which headlines UFC 305 next Saturday in Perth, Australia.

Although it'll be nearly a year since Adesanya, the former UFC middleweight champion, competed last, Volkanovski said fight fans are in for a treat come Saturday night.

"I think Israel Adesanya is gonna put on that type of performance, where he goes out and gets a crazy finish," Volkanovski said.

Even though Adesanya is coming off a loss to former middleweight champion Sean Strickland in Sept. 2023, Volkanovski said Adesanya won't be afraid to change up his game plan, allowing the fight to come to Adesanya instead of anticipating what du Plessis will do before Adesanya's hesitation begins to set in.

UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis Addresses Chances of Sean Strickland Title Rematch

"That doesn't happen to Izzy twice," Volkanovski said when discussing whether or not the pressure will get to him come fight night. "There's no way that fight looks the same. Izzy's gonna have a completely different adjustment, and he's gonna capitalize."

Whether or not Volkanovski's prediction pans out remains to be seen, but it isn't the first time Adesanya has been in a similar situation. After losing in stunning fashion to current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at UFC 281, Adesanya came back to win the middleweight title from Pereira less than a year later, exacting revenge in the process.

Du Plessis vs. Adesanya may not be a rematch, but the wait for it is nearly over, as it is arguably the biggest middleweight title fight in nearly five years. Du Plessis won the title from Strickland at UFC 297 in January, crowning him the man to beat at 185 pounds.

UFC 305: Israel Adesanya Plans to Take Dricus Du Plessis’ Head off in Grudge Match

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Zain Bando

ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99