Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title by submitting Israel Adesanya in the fourth round of the first all-African title fight in UFC history.
The 30-year-old South African stunned Adesanya with a powerful right hook before taking him to the ground and applying a rear-naked choke in a highly intense fight.
After the bout, Du Plessis showed respect for Adesanya as they reconciled their differences following a heated lead-up to the fight.
“To share this octagon with a legend, this man has done so much for this sport and I’m really sorry it came across that I disrespected he was from Africa – it was never my intention. Tonight, Africa won regardless,” said Du Plessis.
“It was an honour for me to share this cage with a legend like that. I have the utmost respect for him, an ultimate warrior. Believe me, I do not want to be kicked by that man again.” He added.
The lead-up to the contest became tense when Du Plessis declared himself the “first real African champion,” emphasising his current residency on the continent, contesting the African roots of former champions Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou, who had all been born or raised in African countries before moving elsewhere.
Both fighters started brightly. Adesanya avoided Du Plessis’ advances, landing a crunching right hook to the body, while Du Plessis responded with leg kicks.
Du Plessis took Adesanya down three times in the second round, but Adesanya defended well and regained his feet before gaining momentum with repeated hooks to his opponent’s body.
However, in the fourth round, Du Plessis wobbled Adesanya twice with hooks and finished the contest on the ground.
After the encounter, both individuals showed mutual respect by embracing and shaking hands following a lengthy conversation. Adesanya then lifted Du Plessis’ hand in recognition of his victory.
“I was fighting one of, if not the greatest striker ever in this division, I needed that takedown. At this level, it’s hard to keep people down, and this man is the king of getting back up,” said Du Plessis.
“I said I’d come in here to die for this belt, and I’m alive right now, and that’s just a bonus. And I said I’d come here to take a life if I had to. Luckily, we didn’t have to do either of those things. Here I am, still champion, baby.”
Adesanya, meanwhile, who failed in his attempt to become the first-ever three-time UFC middleweight champion, said he would be back despite successive defeats for the first time in his MMA career.
“I’m disappointed in myself, but at the same time, I’m proud. This is the best I’ve ever felt, the best I’ve ever looked. I just fought the better man on the night, and I give him respect for that,” said Adesanya.
“I know you all want to see me down and want to see me lose, but watch this – I’m not leaving.”