UFC 305 results: Dricus Du Plessis taps Israel Adesanya in thrilling title bout

August 18, 2024 1: 21 am ET

Dricus Du Plessis kept his middleweight title in a back-and-forth war with previous champ Israel Adesanya in the UFC 305 primary occasion.

The middleweight title headliner at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, was filled with extreme minutes. However, in Round 4, Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) discovered his method onto the back of Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) to force a tap from a rear-naked choke at 3: 38.

In his veryfirst battle of the year, Adesanya returned to action, trying to recover the middleweight title he lost to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September. To his credit, the time off for Adesanya looked to pay dividends early, as he was sharp offensively and defensively.

Du Plessis differed his attacks with high and low kicks and likewise threatened with his fumbling videogame, which would ultimately be the figuringout aspect. Adesanya countered well and dug in a coupleof tough shots to the body as he blended up the target of his punches throughout the battle.

In the 2nd round, Du Plessis went to the grappling videogame early, taking the back of Adesanya. He slapped on a back naked choke however got too high, and Adesanya reversed. They returned to the feet where Adesanya put together a coupleof sharp mixes before Du Plessis dropped down for a single leg and battled upuntil the horn.

Sharp striking was on displayscreen from Adesanya early in Round 3, requiring Du Plessis to protect numerous attacks. Adesanya was similarly sharp defensively, countering with a well-timed spinning back elbow. However, things altered when Du Plessis snuck in a stiff left hand that shocked Adesanya, opening up back-and-forth exchanges as he turned up the pressure.

Adesanya was having success on the feet early in Round 4, however then Du Plessis clipped him with a left hook and charged forward into a takedown. Du Plessis rushed to the back, and slapped on the choke that ended the battle.