UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen believes the result of Dricus Du Plessis' upcoming first title defense will be determined by which version of Israel Adesanya shows up.
Seven months on from reaching the throne with his perfect UFC record intact, Du Plessis will look to add another achievement to his ever-growing résumé on mixed martial arts' biggest stage by successfully defending the title for the first time.
To do so, the South African is tasked with stalling the three-time ambitions of Adesanya in the main event of Saturday's UFC 305 pay-per-view, set for the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
In the lead-up to his comeback from an 11-month layoff post-shock defeat to Sean Strickland, Adesanya has dismissed regaining the 185-pound gold as being his focus, instead stating that he's back to "take heads."
Whatever his motivation is, Allen thinks it has to be strong enough to bring back the formidable Adesanya who got the better of names like Alex Pereira and Paulo Costa if he's to have his hand raised on August 17...
Allen On Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: 'If It's The Motivated Izzy...'
During a recent interview with MMA News' Ryan Jarrell, Allen looked ahead to the upcoming championship contest in his division.
The #7-ranked contender suggested the result will be determined by which iteration of Adesanya returns to action. Rejuvenated and motivated? 'And new'. Lackluster? 'And still'.
To be honest, I really don't care (who wins). I don't like either one of them," Allen told MMA News. "I'm gonna watch it, of course, because I want to see. But I don't care. I think we'll see what Izzy comes back and how he's been. I think that's a big tell; what Izzy comes back. Is it a resurged, re-energized Izzy? Or is it like, 'I don't know if I wanna be here.' It's easy to talk it, it's easy to watch it, it's easy to fake it. But you can't fake it when it's fight time. That's the only time we'll know for sure.
Obviously Dricus is super confident. He's at the height of his career. He's insanely confident, insanely lucky," Allen continued. "I don't know, man. I don't really care who wins. To me, it just depends which Izzy comes back. if it's the motivated Izzy, I would say Izzy. If it's the Izzy that fought like, Paulo or Alex the last time, that Izzy is a tough Izzy to beat, man. ... If it's the lackluster one, i don't think he's gonna win. Dricus is just gonna keep pushing the pace.
Allen will be hoping to book his spot opposite the winner down the line by having his hand raised at the expense of Nassourdine Imavov in Paris next month. Success in that regard would leave "All In" on an eight-fight win streak.
But before attention on the middleweight division turns to that co-headliner in the French capital this fall, all eyes are on the impending grudge match between Du Plessis and Adesanya Down Under.