Israel Adesanya will look to become a three-time middleweight world champion this weekend when he challenges Dricus Du Plessis in the headliner of UFC 305.
If Adesanya gets his hand raised in victory, it will certainly add to his legacy. If Du Plessis wins, it will mark the biggest victory of his MMA career.
But during a press conference Tuesday night, Dana White said there's something else in store for Du Plessis if he retains the middleweight title.
"If he can beat Izzy and bring that belt back to South Africa," White told reporters, "obviously we'll do an event there."
Both Adesanya and Du Plessis are African-born fighters. A big point of contention heading into UFC 305 stemmed from Du Plessis saying back in October 2020 "I want to be the first real African champ — trained, born, bred in Africa."
Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria, felt that comment was a slight to him and fellow African-born fighters Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou, planting the seeds of scorn for "The Last Stylebender."
In the past, deep dislike between fighters haven't always translated into fireworks in the Octagon, but White has a different feeling for Du Plessis vs. Adesanya.
"Every time guys hate each other like this, the fight ends up sucking," White said. "But I have a really good feeling this one won't.
"If you look at what Israel Adesanya has achieved in his life, not just here but in kickboxing too, and Dricus — he brings it, man. He comes.
"Everything is on the line especially because they dislike each other so much."
Adesanya hasn't fought since suffering a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland in September. This will mark his 12th consecutive UFC title fight.
Du Plessis defeated Strickland by split-decision to become the middleweight titleholder in January.
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