Ex-champ hints at sensational UFC 300 return for historic grudge match as Dana White continues to work build card
EX-UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has teased an imminent return to the octagon – just months after vowing to take a lengthy hiatus.
The former two-time 185lbs champion hasn’t set foot inside the cage since losing the title to Sean Strickland last September.
The Last Stylebender hinted that MMA fans wouldn’t see him back in action this year, although he appears to have had a change of heart after rival Dricus Du Plessis claimed his old title.
After watching DDP’s post-fight call out last weekend, Adesanya posted a photo of himself to social media with the accompanying caption: “Ah s***, here we go again.”
He followed that up with a snap of his dinner and him holding some seasoning, which included a South African flag emoji and the caption: “‘Tis the season.”
Adesanya’s suggestion that he could finally settle his feud with Du Plessis has fuelled suggestions the pair could throw down at UFC 300 on April 13.
And in an exclusive chat with SunSport, Du Plessis revealed he’s more than willing to perform a quick turnaround to face the Nigerian in a grudge match which has been brewing for the best part of a year.
He said: “That is 11 weeks, right? For me, I have a very, very good team around me.
“Obviously, as fighters, we carry small injuries, we carry niggles – we always do.
“I have nothing serious as of now. Obviously, I have fight camp niggles, that’s it.
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“One thing that I did learn from the Robert Whittaker fight is that don’t commit to fights before you have another fight.
“Because you’d get crucified for that.
“But that would be amazing, that would be a historic event and that would be absolutely awesome.
“And to give the fans what they want in me versus Israel Adesanya. So yeah, I would love that.”
Fan favourite Adesanya, 34, fuelled suggestions he could top the UFC 300 bill before Du Plessis’ title win.
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, he said of his hiatus: “I’m still going to enjoy this.
“I know I’ll fight [in 2024]; I don’t know when I’m going to fight.
“But when I fight, it’s going to be quality – it’s not going to be quantity.”
The main event of UFC 300 is currently still a mystery, although President and CEO Dana White recently revealed the Sin City extravaganza’s showpiece will be announced “soon.”
When asked if Du Plessis vs Adesanya could headline the card, he said: “I’ll have UFC 300’s main event for you soon.”