Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis will finally get the chance to resolve their differences in the Octagon, and their differences are indeed quite serious and contentious. This is why there is a very real and palpable beef between the two who clearly do not like each other.

The duo will finally have the chance to settle their unfinished business on the top of UFC 305 on August 17 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. Given the seismic changes that the 185-pound division has undergone over the past three quarters, Michael Bisping thinks Israel Adesanya is in real trouble.

Michael Bisping predicts loss for Israel Adesanya at UFC 305

Israel Adesanya lost his middleweight title in a shocking turn of events to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, who took the fight that ‘DDP’ had turned down. Strickland then went on to drop the 185-pound crown to Du Plessis at their UFC 297 clash earlier this year, losing a razor-thin split decision.

‘Izzy’ hasn’t fought since the Strickland loss, and has been on hiatus, recovering both physically and mentally. UFC commentator and former middleweight champion Michael Bisping, however, has predicted another loss for Adesanya in Australia. In a video on his official YouTube channel, Bisping opined that the South African champ had all of the tools to deal with the Kiwi-Nigerian’s counter-punching fighting style.

“I think we’ll see a very very motivated Israel Adesanya. But I just think, early thoughts on the fight is that Dricus has got the perfect style, he’s got the perfect style to close him, to walk him down, to get in his face, to be aggressive,” he said.

Bisping felt that the champion’s relentless pressure fighting style in his last fight, which, by the way, is the very style that Strickland had used to dethrone Adesanya last year, has already proved to be a stylistic nightmare for the Kiwi-Nigerian. Plus, the nearly eleven-month break ‘Izzy’ had taken would have dulled at least some of his quickness, according to the UFC commentator, another reason he thought ‘Izzy’ would lose.

“He can blend takedowns nicely as well, so I think stylistically, I just think on paper, Dricus Du Plessis is probably one of the toughest matchups he’s ever had. And then given the lack of momentum lately, I think it could be a really bad night for Israel Adesanya,” he added. While Adesanya’s recent inactivity may mean he isn’t as sharp as usual, there is very real and tangible ill will against his fellow African, which would undoubtedly fuel him.

Why is ‘Izzy’ incensed with ‘DDP’?

Last year, Du Plessis made the eyebrow-raising claim that he would be the one to truly bring the belt to Africa. As none of the other three African UFC champions at the time (Francis Ngannou, Kamaru Usman, and Israel Adesanya) lived or trained in Africa. Adesanya took it as ‘DDP’ questioning his African-ness, which predictably incensed him.

While Bisping doesn’t think Adesanya is going to win against Du Plessis, ‘Izzy’s life will only get harder. Sean Strickland, whose style is like kryptonite to ‘The Last Stylebender’s, is in line for a rematch courtesy of the controversial nature of his title loss to Du Plessis. In addition, ‘Izzy’s compatriot Robert Whittaker, having lost his title to Adesanya five years ago, is having somewhat of a renaissance. ‘The Reaper’ scored his first knockout victory since 2017, stopping Ikram Aliskerov in spectacular fashion at their historic UFC Saudi Arabia bout last month.

Not to mention Du Plessis, even if he loses and depending on how the bout ends, may have a case for an immediate rematch. This is why some feel that Adesanya is on the cusp of either rising from the ashes of the Strickland loss, and going down as one of the greatest ever, if he defeats all of these challengers. Or, posterity may look upon the Strickland loss as the beginning of the end for ‘Izzy’ if he doesn’t get back to winning ways. This is why fans are much more excited for Adesanya’s next fight than they have been over the past few years.