South African UFC star Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his UFC middleweight title in a highly anticipated clash, defeating bitter rival Israel Adesanya with a fourth-round submission at Perth Arena. The bout, headlining UFC 305, was a thrilling contest that saw du Plessis secure his 185-pound belt with a spectacular rear-naked choke, marking his 10th consecutive victory.
Du Plessis (22-2) faced a tough challenge from Adesanya, the two-time former champion, who appeared to have an edge for much of the fight. However, a well-timed takedown in the fourth round shifted the momentum in du Plessis’ favor, allowing him to retain his title. “I came in here to die for this belt,” du Plessis declared post-fight. “I came here to take it home. Here I am, still the champion.”
The sold-out Perth Arena, with 15,000 fans in attendance, saw Adesanya (24-4) enjoy significant crowd support. Despite the loss, the Nigeria-born New Zealander remained proud of his performance, acknowledging du Plessis as the better fighter on the night. “I’m disappointed, but at the same time, I’m proud because this is the best I’ve felt and looked,” Adesanya said, reflecting on his return after a shocking defeat to Sean Strickland in September.
Du Plessis entered the Octagon accompanied by South African rugby stars Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, with the national anthem of South Africa echoing through the arena. The build-up to the fight had been intense, with both fighters engaging in a war of words, heightening anticipation for the bout.
The fight began with a cautious start, as Adesanya used his reach advantage to fend off du Plessis’ aggression. Despite taking damage from Adesanya’s kicks, du Plessis landed a powerful left-hand punch late in the first round, setting the tone for the fight. He followed up with a big takedown in the second round, gaining control of Adesanya’s back, but was unable to secure a submission.
As the fight progressed, Adesanya seemed to be wearing down du Plessis, landing cleaner punches and regaining control. However, du Plessis rallied in the fourth round, landing a decisive blow that wobbled Adesanya and led to the fight-ending submission.
In other action on the main card, New Zealander Kai Kara-France delivered a first-round knockout against Australian Steve Erceg in the flyweight division. Kara-France, in an aggressive mood, dropped Erceg twice with a barrage of powerful punches. “I knew Steve was going to be crafty and smart, so I had to set it up… and be smart, and that’s when I went for the finish,” Kara-France said.
In the heavyweight division, Jairzinho Rozenstruik of Suriname edged out Australian Tai Tuivasa by split decision, rounding out an exciting night of fights at UFC 305.
