UFC 305: Dricus du Plessis submits Israel Adesanya to defend ...
Dricus du Plessis secured his first successful UFC middleweight title defence, submitting rival Israel Adesanya in the fourth round to retain his title.
South African Du Plessis took a flurry of body hits across four rounds before defeating Adesanya via a rear-naked choke submission to retain his middleweight championship at UFC 305 in Perth on Sunday.
After scoring some early takedowns, Du Plessis (22-2) had to withstand a flurry of strikes from Adesanya through the middle rounds which appeared to be taking a toll on the 30-year-old South African as the fight progressed.
But a left hook followed by three rights helped bring Adesanya down in the fourth round which gave du Plessis the opening he wanted as he swiftly got the choke hold which forced the Nigerian-born New Zealander to tap out.
One-handed fighter Jake Peacock sets return to action for November 9LIGHTS OUT! Picture-perfect KO from 18-year-old on debut!BOOM! ONE Friday Fights kicks off with highlight-reel KO!"This man is the king of getting back up," Du Plessis said of Adesanya, who was bidding to become a middleweight champion for the third time. "I'm still alive, that's a bonus.
Image: Du Plessis executed a rear-naked choke in the fourth round, forcing Adesanya to submit
"I came here to die for this belt and to take a life. I'm still champion, baby."
Sunday's victory at the sold-out RAC Arena in Perth, Australia was the third time the South African has beat off challengers for the competitive middleweight division and second time this year after he won with a split decision over Sean Strickland in January at UFC 297.
The 35-year-old Adesanya (24-4) was making his first appearance since losing the middleweight title by unanimous decision to Strickland in Sydney in September last year but said Sunday's latest setback wasn't career-ending.
"This is the best I've ever felt. I'm 35, I'm doing the right things. I'm not leaving," he said.
Image: The two huge rivals - both title winners - met in Perth on Sunday at UFC 305
Earlier, hometown favorite Steve Erceg's was defeated by a first-round technical knockout in his flyweight bout with New Zealand's Kai Kara-France.
It was Erceg's first fight since he was unanimously outpointed by champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in Brazil in May.
