Former two-time UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has increased his size and strength as he gears up for his title challenge against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia.
The much anticipated bout between Adesanya and Du Plessis is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 17 2024.
Dan Hooker, Adesanya’s teammate at City Kickboxing, disclosed in an interview with Submission Radio that the Nigerian-born New Zealander fighter has packed on considerable muscle mass during his time away from the Octagon.
“I can’t even bother sparring with him (Israel) at the moment. The way he’s hitting me, I think he’s like 105 kilos,” Hooker said.
“He’s had some time off. He was carrying some injuries. He spent a lot of time just packing on some size and a lot of strength, bro. And he’s just hitting like a truck, man.”
Adesanya, who has been away from the ring for nearly a year, is eager to reclaim the middleweight title and become the division’s first three-time champion.
He has a 13-3 record in the UFC, with his only losses coming against Sean Strickland, Alex Pereira, and Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight title bout.
Du Plessis, who has not lost a fight since 2018, stands as a formidable challenge. The South African fighter won the middleweight strap via a split decision victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
