Dricus du Plessis retained his middleweight title by submitting Israel Adesanya in the fourth round of a thrilling encounter at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. The South African, 30, landed a powerful right hook that rocked Adesanya before securing a rear-naked choke to end the contest. This victory marked du Plessis’ first title defense since winning the belt in January against Sean Strickland.
The lead-up to the fight was intense, with du Plessis sparking controversy by declaring himself the “first real African champion” in UFC, a statement that added fuel to the rivalry with Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria but resides in New Zealand. Despite the heated build-up, both fighters showed mutual respect after the match, with du Plessis acknowledging Adesanya’s contributions to the sport and expressing his admiration.
Adesanya, who was competing for the first time in 11 months after a hiatus due to mental and physical fatigue, initially found success in the fight, particularly in the second and third rounds. However, du Plessis’ resilience and wrestling skills turned the tide, leading to his decisive victory in the fourth round. Despite this setback, Adesanya vowed to return, stating, “I’m disappointed in myself but at the same time I’m proud… I’m not leaving.”
In other action at UFC 305, Australian-Scottish fighter Casey O’Neill ended a two-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision victory over Brazil’s Luana Santos. Additionally, Georgian bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili made headlines for confronting a heckler in Las Vegas, ahead of his upcoming title fight against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306.
