Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis are two of the UFC’s more fashion-forward fighters on the roster so fittingly the UFC 305 headliners will be donning custom fight shorts when they compete for the middleweight title this weekend.
The organization unveiled the unique designs ahead of Saturday’s anticipated main event at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia where the two will fight to determine the top 185-pound fighter in mixed martial arts.
South Africa’s Du Plessis, the current middleweight champion, will be adorned in green with his home nation’s flag incorporated into the design.
Adesanya, the former longtime champion who’s returning to action for the first time in 11 months, will be wearing a black and gold design as the challenger.
The UFC typically reserves custom shorts designs for champions and the biggest stars in the organization. Adesanya and Du Plessis both clearly meet that criteria.
Alex Pereira, Max Holloway, Sean O’Malley, Zhang Weili, Justin Gaethje, Leon Edwards, Ian Machado Garry and Paddy Pimblett are among those to have worn custom shorts when competing this year.
Adesanya, 35, last competed when he lost the title via unanimous decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
Du Plessis, 30, won the title in January at UFC 297 with a split decision over Strickland.