In a thrilling main event at UFC 305, South African fighter Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title against Nigerian-born Israel Adesanya, winning by submission in the fourth round.
The highly anticipated bout was marked by tensions surrounding race and identity, adding an extra layer of intensity to the contest.
Former two-time champion Adesanya sought to reclaim the belt he lost to Sean Strickland last September, but ultimately fell short against the reigning champion.
Trailing 2-1 on the scorecards entering the fourth round, Du Plessis staged a remarkable turnaround, landing powerful hooks and jabs before executing a decisive takedown that set up the winning rear-naked choke.
With Adesanya locked in the choke, he was forced to submit, securing Du Plessis’ retention of the middleweight title in dramatic fashion.
