Du Plessis submits Adesanya to retain UFC middleweight title

Just when it looked like Israel Adesanya was in control, UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis scored a chaotic finish that let the world know he's still the man to beat in the division.

Du Plessis submitted Adesanya with a rear-naked choke at the 3:38 mark of the fourth round to retain his title in the UFC 305 main event Saturday at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

Du Plessis secured his first successful defense after winning the belt at UFC 297 in January. Adesanya, who lives in New Zealand, suffered the first submission defeat of his pro career and is also now on his first-ever losing streak.

Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, was attempting to become just the second fighter in UFC history to capture the same title three times and the first to do so at 185 pounds.

In a round that appeared to be going Adesanya's way, Du Plessis shifted the momentum by tagging the 35-year-old with a left hook and then landing several right hands against the fence. Du Plessis dragged Adesanya to the mat, immediately took his back, and sunk in the submission to force the tap.

The fight between Du Plessis and Adesanya was competitive up until the finish. Du Plessis was winning 29-28 on two judges' scorecards entering the fourth round, while the third judge had Adesanya up 29-28.

The two middleweights set a high pace in a matchup that featured both striking and grappling exchanges. Adesanya got the better of Du Plessis on the feet, outlanding him in significant strikes, though the difference-maker - in the end - was Du Plessis' work on the ground. The South Africa native converted four of nine takedown attempts and earned 3:39 of control time en route to the submission victory.

"I always knew, 'Shit, if I'm in trouble fighting one of - if not the - greatest strikers ever in this division, I need that takedown,'" Du Plessis said in his postfight interview. "Got the takedown.

"At this level, it's hard to keep people down. This man is the king of getting back up. Nobody can take him down and keep him there."

Adesanya was encouraged by his performance despite the outcome.

"I was quite strong in there," Adesanya said. "I felt strong. Able to resist his takedowns. I just made a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground.

"I didn't do what I wanted to do tonight. I'm disappointed in myself, but at the same time, I'm proud. Because this is the best I've ever felt, this is the best I've ever looked, and I just (fought) the better man on the night - and I'll give him respect for that."

The lead-up to Du Plessis-Adesanya was personal and intense, with emotions boiling over at Thursday's prefight press conference when the two middleweights had a heated exchange. But after Saturday's bout, Du Plessis said it was "an honor" to face Adesanya and that he has "the utmost respect for him."

Du Plessis is now riding a 10-fight winning streak and holds an 8-0 record in the UFC since debuting in 2020. The 30-year-old captured the title with a split-decision victory over Sean Strickland seven months ago, which came after a knockout win against former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 last summer.

There are multiple options for Du Plessis' next title defense: A rematch with Strickland, who got back on track with a win over Paulo Costa earlier this year, or a fight against the winner of the UFC 308 bout between Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev, which is scheduled to take place on Oct. 26.

It's unclear what will be next for Adesanya, who has competed in 12 consecutive UFC title bouts dating back to 2019. "The Last Stylebender" is 1-3 in his last four appearances, a stark difference from the 12-1 run that began his Octagon career.

Adesanya sat out 11 months - the longest layoff of his UFC career - after dropping the middleweight belt to Strickland in a stunning decision loss at UFC 293 last September. Adesanya had just recaptured the crown earlier that year with a devastating knockout in a rematch with rival Alex Pereira, who now holds the light heavyweight championship.