Highlights! DDP Submits Izzy For First Title Defense

Dricus du Plessis solidified his rank as the best middleweight fighter on the planet last night (Sat., Aug. 17, 2024) at UFC 305 LIVE on ESPN+ PPV from inside RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, defending his UFC title and stopping 185-pound legend Israel Adesanya with an impressive fourth-round submission (rear-naked choke).

The first round was a true back-and-forth chess match. Du Plessis had some success with rushing combinations, while Adesanya scored with hard leg kicks and a knee inside that cut the champion on the forehead. Du Plessis turned the title fight into an all-out wrestling match in the second round. “Last Stylebender” held his own, but he was on the defensive the entire time. It was not a good look for the scorecards or his morale.

Adesanya turned the heat up in the third round with a collection of hard combinations to the body and a nasty spinning elbow. Du Plessis fired back, though, as he stunned Adesanya and had him on the retreat. Adesanya looked sharp to begin the fourth round as he landed more damaging shots to the body and solid uppercuts. It looked like he was tiring “Stillknocks” and really taking a command of the fight.

Du Plessis, who has proven to be one of the most durable fighters in the division, absorbed all the punishment and kept pushing forward. He fought threw all of Adesanya’s offense to get inside and clip the former champion. Du Plessis kept piling on the punches as he chased Adesanya along the cage. He eventually got Adesanya to the canvas and quickly locked up the rear-naked choke. Adesanya lasted a few seconds before tapping and handing Du Plessis the keys to the middleweight division.

Check out the full fight video highlights below:

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