ISRAEL ADESANYA regained the UFC middleweight title with a brutal submission loss to rival Dricus Du Plessis.
The Last Stylebender returned from a near year-long layoff early this morning in the main event of UFC 305 in Perth, Australia.
5
5
5
Awaiting the fan favourite in his comeback fight was bitter rival Du Plessis, whom he’s had bad blood with ever since the South African doubled down on his controversial “real African champion” comments of 2020
Adesanya was overcome with emotion after their penultimate face-off at the pre-fight press conference earlier this week.
He kept them in check to produce a vintage performance against DDP.
But Nigerian-born New Zealander succumbed to a fourth-round rear-naked choke in Perth punch-up, which ended his bid to become a THREE-TIME ruler of the 185lbs division.
Adesanya immediately took the centre of the cage and utilised several feints and stance switches as he tried to work his way in.
Du Plessis looked to go to the leg kick well early doors but the former champion was wise to them and landed a hard inside one of his own just after the minute mark.
DDP wasn’t his usual aggressive and blitz-heavy self, which was a clear testament to his respect for Adesanya’s counter-striking ability.
Du Plessis tried to change tact just before the three-minute mark with a sloppy takedown after engaging in the pocket.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
But Adesanya defended masterfully and returned fire with a hard body kick a few moments later.
Adesanya found a home for a nice one-two with a minute-and-a-half of the round remaining and punctuated it with a hard right hand to the body.
Adesanya opened up round two with a hard calf kick and began mixing up body kicks.
Du Plessis brought the fight down to the mat just before the minute mark after beautifully timing an entry from Adesanya.
Adesanya defended but was eventually dragged to the canvas before being flattened out.
He showed remarkable composure to defend his submission attempts and eventually worked his way back to his feet.
But he found himself back on the canvas after DDP capitalised on a slip. Adesanya eventually managed to work his way back to his feet but was unable to shake the champion off him until the horn.
Staying long and picking his shots was the name of the game for Adesanya in round three, with the former champion mixing in beautiful hooks to the body.
A beautiful spinning elbow from Adesanya drew a huge reaction from the crowd. But he was briefly rocked and went into retreat mode after getting caught with a left hook.
Du Plessis’ liver continued to take a pounding from body shots, teeps and switch kicks.
But he reminded Adesanya that he was in the midst of a dog fight with a big left hook with two minutes remaining.
Adesanya paused briefly and appeared to be hurt. Du Plessis sensed blood and landed a series of right hooks that put Adesanya in retreat mode.
Du Plessis secured a takedown and immediately took the back, cinching in a rear-naked choke in the transition to register his first title defence.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
