Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya lost to South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis in their middleweight title showdown at UFC 305 in Perth on Saturday night.
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.
