MMA
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya: Tom Aspinall breaks down UFC 305 main event
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In Israel Adesanya challenging Dricus Du Plessis in attempt to become a three-time middleweight world champion this weekend at UFC 305, Tom Aspinall sees a contrast of two extremely different styles.
"What's so interesting about this fight is Izzy loves the space and being able to twitch and fake, DDP hates the space — he's rushing in and putting it on you," Aspinall told TNT Sports as part of his Tom Aspinall Fight Lab. "It's such an interesting stylistic matchup."
The interim heavyweight world champion added: "I would say, it's almost like the bull and a matador, this fight. We got the bull in DDP, he's coming forward, you know what you're going to get with him. He's closing the space trying to kill you.
"Izzy, on the other hand, he's staying out the way doing his feints. It's just such a contrast of styles. As a massive fan of MMA myself, I just can't wait to see it."
Aspinall reached this conclusion after a shrewd analysis of both fighters.
"When you watch a DDP fight, the place that he's going, he's just marching forward the whole time," Aspinall pointed out. "He's just an absolute nightmare to fight. He doesn't give you any space."
That said, the British heavyweight did spot a potential flaw to Du Plessis' fight game.
"The takedown has very little technique on it and is a lot of just 'I'm a specimen, I want you on the ground and you're going over.'"
Yet, he gives the reigning middleweight titleholder credit for his sheer will.
"Technically, nothing spectacular but still manages to get it done."
How that styles meshes with a technically-sound sniper like Adesanya remains to be seen.
"He will constantly keep you guessing because he's so long," Aspinall said of "The Last Stylebender's" technique and build. "Every time he's twitching and faking, his opponent's wondering what's coming."
Adesanya is coming off a layoff of nearly one year after being upset in a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland last September.
Du Plessis defeated Strickland by split decision to become the middleweight world champ in January.
The UFC 305 main event will mark Adesanya's 12th consecutive UFC title fight.
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