The Ultimate Fighting Championship has arrived in Perth, Australia for a colossal pay-per-view event on Sunday morning which will be headlined by South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis defending his middleweight crown against New Zealand-based former champion Israel Adesanya.
The bout is the talk of the MMA world but is also gripping rugby players and fans alike as rugby’s two greatest nations clash in the Octagon.
Perth also hosts the second round of The Rugby Championship on Saturday as the Wallabies host the back-to-back world champions at the Optus Stadium. South Africa’s du Plessis (below with Siya Kolisi), 30, is a diehard rugby fan and went to the World Cup in France to see his country retain their crown while Auckland’s Adesanya, 35, recently met the All Blacks squad and attended their games against England.
The champion will be accompanied by Springboks stars Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth for his entrance at the RAC Arena.
Toshiba’s League One winner Richie Mo'unga (below with two-time champion Adesanya) is an avid UFC fan and will also be in attendance.
RugbyJP asked League One stars for their predictions for the highly-anticipated main event:
Richie Mo'unga (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
“Adesanya of course! Not sure when but I’ll go round 3 stoppage. I can’t wait for the fight!”
Tevita Li (Honda Heat)
“I’m going with Adesanya by 2nd round knockout!”
Ngani Laumape (Kobe Steelers)
“Adesanya all the way. In round 4 by knockout!”
PJ Steenkamp (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
“I back Dricus. He will take the fight on points or a third-round submission/ground and pound should he get Izzy down.”
Coenie Van Wyk (Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks)
“I want to say DDP, I think it’s going to happen in the 3rd round by knockout. Either one is capable of a knockout.”
Joshua Nohra (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)
“Adesanya wins by TKO in round three!”
Seta Tamanivalu (Toshiba Brave Lupus) “Adesanya for the KO in the 2nd Round.”
Shane Gates (Urayasu D-Rocks) “I think it will be an amazing fight but I have to go with my heart and say Du Plessis wins with a TKO. Either way I think we’ll all be in for a treat.”
Pictures one and two are courtesy of Richie Mo'unga's Instagram and Dricus du Plessis's Instagram
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