‘Sharp and deadly’ Israel Adesanya channels Marvel’s ‘Blade’ for UFC 305 fight

The former UFC middleweight champion brings a new mindset to his long-awaited return to the Octagon this weekend in Perth, Australia, where he will look to become a three-time champion when he takes on Du Plessis after taking a break last year following his title loss to Sean Strickland.

Adesanya never lacked inspiration. Before the biggest fights of his career, he often drew inspiration from fictional characters.

For his title unification fight with Robert Whittaker, Adesanya mirrored Light Yagami from the popular anime Death notice, He pretended to write Whittaker's name before finally knocking him out.

For his upcoming grudge match against Du Plessis, Adesanya is reviving another character in Marvel Comics' most popular vampire hunter, Blade, an antihero with extensive martial arts experience and related superhuman abilities.

It was actor Wesley Snipes who brought Blade to life in a successful film trilogy, with Adesanya attempting to embody the character on fight night.

“I like Blade for that,” said Adesanya Niko Pajarillo of Fox Sports Australiawhen asked who he would portray in this fight. “Blade was cool. Something about Blade just feels sharp and deadly in this fight. And, yeah, I just want to show this guy the light.”

“A win over Dricus would be another head I've taken in this game,” the former champion continued. “But for me, a win over him would be a win for my people, a win for us because of him and his mouth and what he said. It would be a big win for us.”

Adesanya's comeback at UFC 305, where he hasn't fought since last September, marks the longest break of his combat sports career, with “The Last Stylebender” averaging about three fights per year in the UFC.

Adesanya has taken some much-needed time off to focus on rebuilding, saying that at 35, he is at a whole new level and feels just as sharp and deadly as Blade.

“You're going to see me at my best,” Adesanya said on UFC 305 media day. “I'm bigger than I've ever been, more muscular than I've ever been. I feel faster. Sometimes I surprise myself with the speed that I hit. I don't really hit hard. I'm just really sharp and I feel like a blade in this fight.”

“So, yeah, it was good to refresh and refocus, and now we're getting started.”

UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya – Full preliminary fight predictions

• UFC Fight Night Edmonton scheduled for November, main and co-main events announced

• UFC 305 News: Dricus Du Plessis reveals plans for strike in Israel Adesanya fight

• Sean Strickland threatens legal action and makes serious allegations against MMA manager Tiki Ghosn

• UFC 305: Steve Erceg hopes for title elimination fight with victory over Kai Kara-France

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