Dricus du Plessis retains middleweight title with chokehold victory ...

South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis won by submission against Israel Adesanya in the fourth round of their title fight on Sunday morning to retain the UFC middleweight title in Perth, Australia.

With Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and vice-captain Eben Etzebeth in close attendance after they were part of Du Plessis’s entourage into the octagon, Du Plessis fulfilled his end of the deal by defending the title.

Adesanya had Du Plessis on the ropes up to that point in the fourth round, landing blow after blow on a seemingly vulnerable Du Plessis.

But the South African planned his counterstrike perfectly as a few overhand punches and jab combos wobbled the former two-time middleweight champion before Du Plessis took him to the canvas and positioned himself on Adesanya’s back.

Dricus du Plessis tussles with Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title on 18 August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Richard Wainwright)

A firm five-second rear-naked chokehold was enough to see Adesanya tap out (submit) to ensure Du Plessis defended the middleweight title for the first time after claiming the belt in January.

It was the second time Du Plessis had tried to choke Adesanya out after the Nigerian-born athlete slipped out of Du Plessis’s second-round rear-naked chokehold attempt. But by the fourth round, with energy levels sapping, Adesanya was unable to prevent Du Plessis from delivering the finishing move.

“I always knew I’m in trouble fighting one of the – if not the – greatest strikers ever in this division,” Du Plessis said after the fight.

“I needed that takedown, got the takedown. At this level it’s hard to keep this man down. This man is the king of getting back up, nobody can take him down and keep him there.”

The initial rounds of UFC 305’s main event fight saw Du Plessis and Adesanya exchanging blows on their feet.

Adesanya landed more, but the few Du Plessis planted did more damage. The 35-year-old Adesanya used his height advantage to good effect, forcing Du Plessis to lunge at him to land a kick or punch, which left the South African vulnerable to counterattacks.

The quick hands of Adesanya left Du Plessis with a gaping forehead cut in the first round, while the latter used his leg kicks effectively to keep things even.

Du Plessis changed tactics in the second round, using his judo background and going into a grappling and wrestling match with Adesanya – which he dominated comfortably.

Outside of the takedowns, Du Plessis also landed in the stand-up exchanges, taking the round comfortably.

But for all his domination in the second round, the energy Du Plessis exerted was noticeable in the rounds to follow.

Adesanya was able to gain control of the fight again in the third round because of Du Plessis’s visible exhaustion, but he failed to put the vulnerable South African away.

Instead, the fourth round was a battle of two elite athletes on their final legs, digging deep to secure the win.

Ultimately, Du Plessis was able to dig the deepest, landing telling blows that caused Adesanya to retreat rapidly.

After a solid takedown, Du Plessis decided against a ground-and-pound and choked out Adesanya, who didn’t hesitate to tap.

“I got a few good ones, landed a few good punches,” Du Plessis said. “But ultimately I believe this fight was won on the feet. I’m alive right now – that’s a bonus.

“I came in here to die for this belt and I came here to take a life. Luckily tonight we didn’t have to do either of those things. Here I am, and still champion, baby.”

After a heated build-up to the fight that lasted more than a year, Du Plessis and Adesanya settled their long-standing feud after the fight with the two embracing and Du Plessis sharing his admiration of the middleweight icon.

“For me to share this octagon with a legend, not potentially, but 100% a hall of famer,” Du Plessis said. “This man has done so much for this sport.

“I’m really sorry that it came across that I disrespected the fact that he’s from Africa, that was never my intention. Tonight, Africa would have won regardless, but tonight South Africa was the victor.

Read more: Dricus du Plessis’ title win was a show of calm ingenuity during his biggest moment

“It was an honour for me to share this cage with a legend like that. I have the utmost respect for him, warrior to warrior.”

Adesanya acknowledged Du Plessis as “the better man on the night”.

“I’m disappointed in myself but at the same time I’m proud,” he said. “Because this is the best I’ve ever felt, this is the best I’ve ever looked, I was just beaten by the better man on the night and I’ll give him respect for that.”

Sunday’s victory means Du Plessis remains undefeated in the UFC, winning his first eight fights.

About his next opponent, for Du Plessis it’s simple: “I want to hear ‘and still’, that’s the only thing I care about. I don’t care about the opponent.” DM