By Justin Chadwick
Dricus du Plessis has defended his middleweight crown after choking arch rival Israel Adesanya into submission during their gruelling contest at UFC 305 in Perth.
In a bout in which both fighters went all out, du Plessis landed some huge blows late in the fourth round on Sunday to turn the contest in his favour.
A left hook stunned Adesanya, before three rights helped bring him to ground.
Du Plessis then rolled Adesanya over and put on a rear naked choke, with the New Zealander tapping out seconds later.
“This man is the king of getting back up,” du Plessis said of Adesanya, who was bidding to become a middleweight champion for the third time.
“I’m still alive, that’s a bonus.
“I came here to die for this belt and to take a life. I’m still champion, baby.”
The fight was at times spiteful, after a good deal of sledging in the lead-up. Credit: AAP
Adesanya said he was disappointed to lose.
“I knew it was going to be tough. I was cracking him,” Adesanya said.
“I was quite strong in there. I felt able to resist his takedowns.
“I just make a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground.”
And as for the future?
“This is the best I’ve ever felt. I’m 35, I’m doing the right things. I’m not ... leaving,” Adesanya said.
Adesanya and du Plessis had made it clear over the past few months they didn’t like each other.
Du Plessis’ comment about being the first real African champion, given he was born, bred and still resides in South Africa, riled Nigerian-born Adesanya.
The tension hit fever pitch on the eve of the fight when du Plessis, in response to Adesanya saying he’d take the belt back to Africa if he won, asked whether he would take his servants with him.
The tears flowed from Adesanya after that as he detailed the struggles he and his family endured growing up, before stating: “I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time. On Sunday, I’m going to f---ing kill your dreams.”
Du Plessis paid tribute to Adesanya after Sunday’s epic fight.
“To share this octagon with a legend, a 100 per cent Hall of Famer,” du Plessis said.
“This man has done so much for this sport.
“I’m sorry that it came across that I disrespected him.
To share this cage with a legend like that, I have the utmost respect for him, warrior to warrior.”
The pair didn’t touch gloves to start the bout, given their animosity.
Adesanya landed a series of powerful kicks in the opening round, but du Plessis worked his way back with some damaging jabs.
Du Plessis offered his glove at the end of the round, but Adesanya turned away.
Adesanya was taken down early in the second round as du Plessis attempted to choke his rival into submission.
The New Zealander was able to wriggle his way out of trouble before landing a series of powerful blows.
Round three was a slugfest as both fighters launched desperate bids to land a knockout blow.
A reverse elbow from Adesanya got the crowd going, but du Plessis was able to reply with a series of huge punches.
Du Plessis’ accuracy with his punches in the fourth round opened the door for him to take Adesanya to ground again and finish the job.
Earlier in the day, hometown hero Steve Erceg suffered a first-round technical knockout in his flyweight battle against Kiwi Kai Kara-France.
And Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa slumped to his fifth consecutive defeat when he was handed a split-decision loss against Suriname’s Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
AAP