Did Israel Adesanya fight Dricus du Plessis injured at UFC 305? Alex Pereira thinks so

Middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis successfully defended this title for the first time at UFC 305, defeating former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya via submission in the fourth round.  

Adesanya looked sharp in the fight, but light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira noticed something that caused him to think Adesanya entered the fight injured.  

Maybe Adesanya had an injury, I don’t know. You could see he kicked very little. Things I say, that inside kick of Adesanya is very good. Not everyone can do that, but he can do it very well,” Pereira said on his YouTube channel.

“I knew it was a good weapon, and he didn’t continue doing that inside kick. Even Dricus said it bothered him, and also bothered me. I’ve said it before for the people who asked me. He didn’t continue to do it. When he is only throwing hands I think it’s easier for the opponent to protect themselves, or to get out. It was more boxing there. So it was easier for him.” 

Pereira has fought Adesanya four times, twice in kickboxing and twice in the UFC.  He defeated “The Last Stylebender” via decision in their first kickboxing match and then knocked Adesanya out in the rematch.  In the UFC, Pereira dethroned Adesanya middleweight reign at UFC 281.  Adesanya won back the title in their UFC rematch by knocking Pereira out in the second round.  Pereira knows Adesanya’s fighting style as well as anyone and Adesanya seemed to confirm Pereira’s claim.  

“It’s weird how this guy knows me…it’s like we’ve spent hours studying eachother’s moves and fought multiple times or sumn’. I mean that,” Adesanya wrote on social media.  

It’s weird how this guy knows me…it’s like we’ve spent hours studying eachother’s moves and fought multiple times or sumn’. I mean that. 🫡 https://t.co/Up7U8DyT2Q

— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) August 25, 2024