Dricus du Plessis showed immense resilience and determination in his UFC 305 victory over former champion Israel Adesanya. Despite appearing tired and hurt early on, du Plessis ultimately emerged as the champion with a fourth-round submission win, solidifying his title defense.
The fight initially seemed to favor Adesanya, who gained momentum with precise body shots in the third round and was the favorite on live odds. However, du Plessis turned the tables in the fourth round, landing a crucial shot that wobbled Adesanya and led to a submission victory via rear naked choke.
Adesanya, who was aiming to secure his third separate reign with a UFC belt, now faces a challenging road back to another title shot. On the other hand, du Plessis continues his undefeated streak in the UFC, having defeated three of the past four middleweight champions consecutively.
Looking ahead, a potential rematch with one of the former champs or a matchup against the fourth remaining champion could be on the horizon for du Plessis. The possibility of facing current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira adds another intriguing angle to his future in the octagon.
For a detailed account of the full results from UFC 305, fans can refer to the live coverage provided by Yahoo Sports. The fight between du Plessis and Adesanya was a thrilling display of skill and determination, culminating in a memorable victory for the new middleweight champion.