Alkass Digital
Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title in a thrilling contest against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, held at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
The bout, which headlined the event, was marked by its intensity and back-and-forth exchanges. However, it was in Round 4 when Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) secured his victory by taking Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) to the ground and locking in a rear-naked choke, forcing Adesanya to tap out at 3:38.
Adesanya, making his first appearance of the year, aimed to regain the middleweight title he lost to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September. Early on, Adesanya’s time off seemed to benefit him, as he displayed sharp offensive and defensive skills.
Du Plessis employed a mix of high and low kicks, as well as wrestling attempts, which ultimately proved crucial in the fight. Despite Adesanya's effective counters and powerful body shots, Du Plessis continued to apply pressure with his varied attack.
In the second round, Du Plessis engaged in grappling early, briefly gaining Adesanya’s back and attempting a rear-naked choke. Though Adesanya managed to reverse the position and return to his feet, he was met with a single-leg takedown from Du Plessis, which ended the round with both fighters still in action.
Round 3 saw Adesanya showcasing his striking prowess, putting Du Plessis on the defensive. Adesanya landed a well-timed spinning back elbow, but the tide shifted when Du Plessis landed a solid left hand that stunned Adesanya, escalating the fight’s intensity.
The fourth round started with Adesanya having some success on his feet, but Du Plessis landed a decisive left hook and quickly followed with a takedown. He scrambled to Adesanya’s back and applied the rear-naked choke, concluding the fight with a submission victory.