Dricus du Plessis succeeded in defending his title against Israel Adesanya

Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, submitting his opponent in the fourth round.

Despite taking a flurry of body hits across four rounds, du Plessis withstood the pressure. They capitalized on an opening to secure a chokehold, forcing Adesanya to tap out. The fight was marked by tension, with du Plessis and Adesanya refusing to touch gloves before the about. However, the pair reconciled immediately after the contest, with du Plessis apologizing for any perceived disrespect towards Adesanya’s African heritage. This victory marks du Plessis’ third successful title defense in the competitive middleweight division, with his next challenge coming as a return against Sean Strickland.

Returning from an 11-month sabbatical, Adesanya stated that this setback was not career-ending, citing his positive feelings and commitment to continuing his career. In an earlier article, hometown favorite Steve Erceg suffered a first-round technical knockout loss against Kai Kara-France in their flyweight contest. Erceg’s defeat follows his unanimous outpointing by champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in May. Du Plessis’ win solidifies his position as middleweight champion, with his sights set on the upcoming title defense against Strickland. The UFC middleweight division remains highly competitive, with du Plessis emerging as a dominant force.