South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis won by submission against Israel Adesanya in the fourth round of their title fight on Sunday morning to retain the UFC middleweight title in Perth, Australia.
With Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and vice-captain Eben Etzebeth in close attendance after they were part of Du Plessis’s entourage into the octagon, Du Plessis fulfilled his end of the deal by defending the title. Adesanya had Du Plessis on the ropes up to that point in the fourth round, landing blow after blow on a seemingly vulnerable Du Plessis.
But the South African planned his counterstrike perfectly as a few overhand punches and jab combos wobbled the former two-time middleweight champion before Du Plessis took him to the canvas and positioned himself on Adesanya’s back. A firm five-second rear-naked chokehold was enough to see Adesanya tap out (submit) to ensure Du Plessis defended the middleweight title for the first time after claiming the belt in January.
It was the second time Du Plessis had tried to choke Adesanya out after the Nigerian-born athlete slipped out of Du Plessis’s second-round rear-naked chokehold attempt. But by the fourth round, with energy levels sapping, Adesanya was unable to prevent Du Plessis from delivering the finishing move.
“I always knew I’m in trouble fighting one of the – if not the – greatest strikers ever in this division,” Du Plessis said after the fight. I needed that takedown, got the takedown. At this level it’s hard to keep this man down. This man is the king of getting back up, nobody can take him down and keep him there
Source: SABC
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