South African Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his UFC middleweight title on Sunday with a fourth-round submission victory over his fierce rival, Israel Adesanya, in a high-stakes showdown at Perth Arena.
In the main event of UFC 305, du Plessis seemed to be struggling against the two-time former champion before executing a stunning takedown that secured his 185-pound belt.
With this victory, du Plessis (22-2) extends his winning streak to 10 consecutive fights, having initially claimed the title in January after defeating the controversial Sean Strickland.
“I came in here to die for this belt,” du Plessis said. “I came here to take it home. Here I am, still the champion.”
At a sold-out 15,000 Perth Arena, Adesanya (24-4) enjoyed significant crowd support and seemed to have an edge for much of the fight until he was helpless against du Plessis’ rear-naked choke.
“I’m disappointed, but at the same time I’m proud because this is the best I’ve felt and looked,” said the Nigeria-born New Zealander, who made his return after a shock defeat to Strickland in September last year.
“I just had the better man on the night and I’ll give him respect for that.”
Dricus du Plessis made a dramatic entrance into the Octagon, accompanied by South Africa’s rugby captain Siya Kolisi and second-rower Eben Etzebeth, with the national anthem of South Africa resonating throughout the venue.
The bout had been highly anticipated, following a heated exchange of words between the fighters leading up to the event. Originally scheduled to take place in Sydney last year, the fight was postponed due to du Plessis being sidelined by injury.
The match began cautiously in a tense atmosphere, with the taller Adesanya, a former kickboxer, using his longer reach to keep du Plessis at bay. Adesanya relied on counterstriking, deploying his signature kicks to great effect, leaving du Plessis with a bloodied forehead.
Late in the first round, du Plessis landed a powerful left-hand punch, gaining momentum that carried into the next round. He executed a significant takedown, securing control on Adesanya’s back. However, he was unable to lock in a submission, as Adesanya fought back with his grappling skills.
By the fourth round, Adesanya’s strategy of wearing down du Plessis seemed to be paying off as he landed more precise punches. But du Plessis found a burst of energy and delivered a rattling blow that wobbled Adesanya, ultimately leading to his victory.
In another highlight of the main card, Kai Kara-France shocked the crowd by knocking out Australian Steve Erceg in the first round of their flyweight bout. The New Zealander was relentless, twice dropping Erceg with a barrage of powerful punches, securing a decisive win.
“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,” said the 31-year-old Kara-France.
In the heavyweight bout, Jairzinho Rozenstruik of Suriname beat Australian Tai Tuivasa by split decision.
