Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended the UFC middleweight championship by defeating Israel Adesanya with a fourth-round submission Saturday in the main event of UFC 305 from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) had to overcome adversity to retain his belt, as Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) was building a head of steam in the fourth round before a left hook stunned the former champion and led to the finishing sequence.
RIPPLES
Dricus du Plessis retained his middleweight title at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, by submitting Israel Adesanya in the fourth round of an intense match.
The 30-year-old South African stunned Adesanya, a Nigeria-born New Zealander, with a right hook before taking him to the ground and locking in a rear-naked choke.
After the fight, Du Plessis honored Adesanya, and the two fighters reconciled their differences following a tense pre-fight buildup.
“To share this octagon with a legend… this man has done so much for this sport and I’m really sorry it came across that I disrespected he was from Africa – it was never my intention. Tonight Africa won regardless,” said Du Plessis.
“It was an honour for me to share this cage with a legend like that. I have the utmost respect for him, an ultimate warrior. Believe me, I do not want to be kicked by that man again.”
Former UFC middleweight champion Adesanya, was fighting for the first time in 11 months after taking a break from the sport, citing mental and physical fatigue after contesting five title bouts in 16 months.
