The Octagon returns to Australia for UFC 293 in September

By Ed Emeanua

It’s almost on-Israel Adesanya versus Dricus du Plessis-following UFC President Dana White’s official video posting on the UFC’s official Twitter ANZ page that the Octagon will make its anticipated return to Australia later this year.

“We just did a deal with New South Wales government, which will bring three pay-per-view events to Sydney over the next four years,” White said. “The first of these events will be happening on September 10th [September 9 in the United States] this year for UFC 293.”

This is a good tiding for fight fans in Australia, as the company is giddy up with shows in the region all the way to 2027.

According to FOX Sports Australia, Robert Whittaker could easily usurp the headlining situation for UFC 293 in Australia if he is able to subdue du Plessis at UFC 290 on July 8. Fox Sports maintains the main event for UFC 293 in Sydney is intended for Adesanya’s UFC Middleweight Championship in a likely nine-week finish. Should du Plessis overcome Whittaker, then it’s possible he would get the immediate shot at 185-pound championship.

Despite his 0-2 standing against Adesanya, Robert Whittaker has been astute in his stance that he feels he will have the answer if he faces off against the Nigerian born Aussie in the Octagon a third time.

“He doesn’t want to fight me,” Whittaker told Fox Sports Australia. “I’m the hardest fight in the division for him. That first one, not so good for me. The second one, nearly. This third one though, I have a really good feeling I am. I’ve been evolving every fight, you can see it. If you watch back my fights, every fight I’ve been getting better. I think I’m the biggest threat to him and his reign at the present moment. So, of course he wants him (Du Plessis) to win. It’s a much easier fight, but it doesn’t bother me.”

Adesanya was also called out by du Plessis, who in turn took to his Twitter account to marvel over the UFC Middleweight Champion’s difficulty in saying his name.

“So you won’t say my name, that’s smart you better not. I don’t need your airtime at all, I have my whole continent of AFRICA behind me. Go enjoy your very spectacular victory at home in New Zealand. We are Africa we fear nothing,” Du Plessis wrote.

On his part, Adesanya has vowed to take his game up a notch when the opportunity presents to clash with either Whittaker or du Plessis in his next fight.

In his last ring encounter, Adesanya was finally able to find a way around Alex Pereira even doing so with a spectacular knockout, and regaining the UFC middleweight diadem in the process. Currently, his sights are affixed on the hereafter.

While a segment of pundits and admirers salivate over another encounter with ‘Poatan’ to score a trilogy joust, the Brazilian seems to focused to move up in weight class to the light heavyweight division. Adesanya, meanwhile, is already aware of the two figures posing to be his next foe in the Octagon.

In July, Whittaker will meet du Plessis in a title eliminator at UFC 290. The winner is now billed to tango against ‘Stylebender’ in September at UFC 293.

Be certain the Aussie is feeling pretty confident of his abilities.

“Face The Pain! Back in the day when you heard this track…you know s***s about to get REAL!! We’ve come a looong way as a sport. It’s been awesome to watch the growth…then I jumped in the game and played my part in taking it to new levels and to millions (and millions) of new people around the (world). My next game will be something special, regardless of who wins. Who do you want to win, Rob or Dricus and why?”

Adesanya is ready. Du Plessis is too. So is Whittaker. The fight is on. You can bet on it.