UFC 305: Dricus du Plessis submits Israel Adesanya to retain middleweight crown

In front of a packed RAC Arena in Perth, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth led out the UFC champion to the national anthem. But after the legendary introductions from announcer Bruce Buffer, it was down to business.

The opening exchanges were a feeling-out process for both fighters, with both landing significant strikes. On the scorecards, it could have gone either way.

Round 2 saw du Plessis execute his first takedown, securing the double-leg. In the scramble, Adesanya gave up his back and du Plessis was quick to shoot for the rear-naked choke. But the former champion exploded out of the submission attempt and built a base to get to his feet.

Back on their feet in the third, Adesanya was finding success. Staying on the outside, Adesanya picked apart the champion who came forward aimlessly. Adesanya also landed a spinning elbow in the clinch that put du Plessis on notice.

Du Plessis continued to walk through the fire in Round 4, taking damage but firing back with the odd blitz. Finally, one of them paid, off. Now pressing, a right hand dropped Adesanya who bounced back up quickly and began to skirt the outside, but a chasing du Plessis landed two big shots from behind to drop him again.

Quick as lighting, the champion took Adesanya's back, sunk in his hooks, flattened him out and got his forearm right under Adesanya's chin, securing a rear naked choke. It was sleep or tap for Adesanya, and he chose the latter.   

"I came in here to die for this belt," du Plessis told Daniel Cormier in the post-fight interview. 

"I came in here ready to take a life. Luckily tonight I didn't have to do either of those things."

After some nasty words in pre-fight hype, the Pretoria native also buried the hatchet with Adesnaya, giving his credit to the future Hall of Famer.

"It was an honour for me to share the cage with this man," he added.

"I have the utmost respect. Warrior to warrior."

READ MORE: UFC 305 - Dricus du Plessis fighting for much more than his career