UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis Defeats Israel Adesanya, Retains Middleweight Title

During an epic UFC 305 main event faceoff on Sunday at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, Dricus Du Plessis(22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) defeated Israel Adesanya(24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) by submission in the 4th round, to retain his middleweight championship title.

The first 3 rounds featured varied attacks by Du Plessis, 30, with a combination of high and low kicks and grappling. The South African in the second round, slapped on a rear naked choke which got too high, and was repelled by Adesanya, 35.

Nigerian-born New Zealander Adesanya on his part forced Du Plessis to defend multiple sharp strikes early in Round 2. The South African dropped down for a single leg and wrestled until the end of the round.

Things changed in the 3rd round when Du Plessis stunned Adesanya with a stiff left hand, opening up back-and-forth exchanges as he turned up the pressure.

Adesanya was having success on the feet early in Round 4, before Du Plessis clipped him with a left hook and charged forward into a takedown. The South African scrambled to the back of Adesanya, and slapped on the rear-naked choke that forced a tap at 3:38, ending the fight.

"I came here to die with this belt," Du Plessis told commentator Daniel Cormier shortly after Adesanya's tap-out. "Here I am. And still, baby."

The bout was preceded by months of trash talk between the pair -- trash talk that got so heated it brought the Adesanya to tears at the pre-fight press conference.

"I made a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground," Adesanya admitted in his post-fight interview with Cormier. "I didn't do what I wanted to do tonight. I'm disappointed in myself, but at the same time, I'm proud... I knew he was going to be tough so I wasn't surprised."

The New Zealander took his gloves off in the cage, leading some to believe he was signaling his retirement. However, he ended his post-fight interview declaring: “I’m not fucking leaving!”

Adesanya walks away as a loser of two straight bouts for the first time in his MMA career. His last win was a knockout of current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at UFC 287 last April. Du Plessis meanwhile improves to 8-0 in the UFC as he records the first defense of his middleweight title, which he won by defeating Strickland at UFC 297 in January.

Full UFC 305 results include:

• Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 4, 3:38

• Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:04

• Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

• Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Tai Tuivasa via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)

• Carlos Prates def. Li Jingliang via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 4:05

• Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa via technical submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 4:56

• Ricardo Ramos def. Josh Culibao via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

• Casey O’Neill def. Luana Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

• Jack Jenkins def. Herbert Burns via TKO (referee stoppage) – Round 3, 0:48

• Tom Nolan def. Alex Reyes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

• Song Kenan def. Ricky Glenn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)

• Jesus Aguilar def. Stewart Nicoll via technical submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:39