In a twist of fate, Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya succumbed to a fourth-round submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis in their middleweight title showdown at UFC 305 in Perth on Saturday night.
Despite leading on the scorecards heading into the championship rounds, Adesanya’s dream of reclaiming the belt got shattered by what he described as “a dumb mistake” on the ground that allowed Du Plessis to secure a rear-naked choke.
Reflecting on the fight, Adesanya admitted, “I felt strong; I resisted his takedowns well. I just made a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground, and he adjusted well to the Gable grip and caught me.”
The fight, which had been fuelled by intense pre-fight tension centred on African heritage, saw both fighters engage in a gruelling back-and-forth battle.
Adesanya, determined to silence his rival, drew blood early in the bout and showcased his trademark striking, keeping Du Plessis on the defensive for much of the first three rounds.
However, Du Plessis’ persistence and wrestling prowess proved pivotal, dragging Adesanya down in the second round and gradually wearing down the former champion.
In the decisive fourth round, a well-timed left hook from Du Plessis shifted the momentum. As Adesanya struggled to regain control, the South African capitalised with a takedown and swiftly locked in a rear-naked choke, forcing the tap.
Despite the loss, Adesanya remained composed, acknowledging the South African’s victory while expressing pride in his own performance.
“I’m disappointed in myself, but at the same time I’m proud. He was just the better man on the night, and I give him respect for that,” he said.
The defeat leaves Adesanya, 35, contemplating his next move in a division he once dominated.
When asked about what’s next, he said, “I didn’t think this far; I didn’t manifest this! I’m 35.”
For Du Plessis, the victory marks a successful first defence of his title and solidifies his claim as the undisputed middleweight champion.
He, too, addressed the pre-fight tension and admits he respects ‘The Last Stylebender, saying, “Africa would have won either way tonight. I have the utmost respect for him, warrior to warrior. I’m really sorry that it came across that I disrespected the fact that he’s from Africa; that was never my intention.
“(He’s) one of the—if not the—greatest strikers ever in this division. The takedown was key. In this division, it’s hard to keep people down. This man is the king of getting back up.”(Punch)
