Yahoo News UFC 305 LIVE: Adesanya vs Du Plessis fight updates and results as champion submits ‘Stylebender’
Dricus Du Plessis submitted Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 305 on Saturday, settling their feud and retaining the middleweight title in Perth.
Du Plessis was making his first defence of the belt, which he took from Sean Strickland in January, while Adesanya was bidding to become a three-time champion. The build-up saw South Africa’s Du Plessis and Nigerian-born Adesanya, who fights out of New Zealand, clash over their backgrounds, after Du Plessis claimed he was the first “real” African UFC champion: the first not only to have been born on the continent, but also to have lived and trained there throughout his career.
But by the end of the main event in Australia, the pair shared respect and kind words, after Du Plessis won a gruelling contest via rear naked choke.
The 30-year-old arguably won the first two rounds, landing the harder punches and out-grappling Adesanya at times, but the challenger’s brutal body shots looked like they were adding up across the third and fourth rounds. Adesanya’s combination punching was also catching the eye, and he was able to stand numerous times after takedowns from Du Plessis, who was frequently switching stances like his opponent.
But in round four, Du Plessis landed a series of right hands on a retreating Adesanya, before dragging the former champion to the canvas. Du Plessis rapidly secured a rear naked choke, forcing his rival to tap.
Re-live UFC 305 below:
UFC 305 LIVE
Dricus Du Plessis submits Israel Adesanya in round four to retain middleweight title
Kai Kara-France scores monstrous knockout of Steve Erceg in round one
Dan Hooker edges past Mateusz Gamrot in the fight of the night
Controversial Rozenstruik vs Tuivasa judge is dropped from main event
Jairzinho Rozenstruik outpoints Tai Tuivasa despite strange judging
Carlos Prates becomes first man to knock out Li Jingliang – with devastating left hook
Plus prelim fight updates and results
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya
06:40 , Alex Pattle
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya
06:20 , Alex Pattle
Adesanya: “I felt strong, I resisted his takedowns well. I just made a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground, and he adjusted well to the Gable grip and caught me.
“I’m disappointed in myself, but at the same time I’m proud. He was just the better man on the night, and I give him respect for that.”
Adesanya is asked what’s next and says: “I didn’t think this far, I didn’t manifest this! I’m 35, I’m doing the right things...”
The end of Adesanya’s interview is censored, then he hugs Du Plessis and raises the champion’s hand. Good to see.
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya
06:10 , Alex Pattle
Du Plessis: “I’m really sorry that it came across that I disrespected the fact that he’s from Africa, that was never my intention. Tonight, Africa would have won regardless, but tonight, South Africa was the victor. It was an honour for me to share this cage with a legend like that; I have the utmost respect for him, warrior to warrior.”
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya
06:02 , Alex Pattle
Du Plessis: “[He’s] one of the greatest strikers ever in this division. I needed that takedown, got the takedown. At this level, it’s hard to keep people down. This man is the king of getting back up, nobody can take him down and keep him there.
“I got a few good ones, landed a few good punches, but ultimately I believe this fight was won on the feet. I’m alive right now, that’s just a bonus; I came in here to die for this belt, and I came here to take it back home.”
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya
05:57 , Alex Pattle
Du Plessis offers some words of encouragement to Adesanya, who later applauds the South African’s win.
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya
05:51 , Alex Pattle
Round four
Into the championship rounds. Good combination by Adesanya, then a great sprawl to deny DDP a takedown. Body kick by Adesanya, who is very much growing into this fight.
Du Plessis whiffs on a hook but lands a body kick. Adesanya is putting together nice combinations still. He attacks the body again.
Left hook lands for DDP. Adesanya stumbles to the mat then stands, but he’s eating right hands now! He’s dragged to the mat, and Dy Plessis locks in a rear naked choke so quickly!
And there’s the tap!!! AND STILL!
Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya via fourth-round submission (rear naked choke, 3:38)
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya
05:47 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Front kick to the body by Adesanya. Hard jab by the challenger. Now a mean body shot. DDP tries to fire back, but he stumbles past Adesanya.
Du Plessis just about blocks a head kick. Low kick by Adesanya, who then burrows another hook into the mid-section of the champion. Adesanya is finding his rhythm now...
Another body shot by Adesanya. Left hook by DDP. Right cross now. Adesanya jogs into space. Hard punches by DDP, if a little slow. He shoots for a single-leg, but Adesanya wriggles free.
Right hook by Adesanya. Izzy trips then stands. Both men land in the pocket. There are so many stance-switches from both guys. Their attacks are slowing down, though.
A pair of body hooks from Adesanya. An overhand left by DDP.
Adesanya’s round, I’d say.
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya
05:40 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Hard low kick by Adesanya, And one to the body. Now he overshoots with a punch, and DDP grabs a body lock, dumping Adesanya to the mat!
Adesanya stands, but he’s dragged right back down. Du Plessis has him near the fence and is trying for a rear naked choke. He has Izzy flattened out...
He can’t seal the grip, though! Adesanya stands really well! He’s pressing forward now. Elbow by Adesanya. DDP looks like he wants a breather.
Uppercut by Adesanya. Great accuracy. Du Plessis then stumbles forward, almost looking like he was dropped, but he grabs ahold of his challenger in the process!
Adesanya stands against the fence. Du Plessis is firing off punches intermittently. One lands very hard, jolting back Adesanya’s head.
Adesanya tries a trip late in the round, but Du Plessis keeps his balance.
Another close round, but another one that might have just gone DDP’s way.
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya
05:34 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Adesanya with a few stance-switches, though, back and forth. Du Plessis kicks low. He then rushes in with a left hook, but Adesanya blocks.
Now Du Plessis just about lands a one-two, but he again comes in from range. He has to be careful entering like that. Another pair of hard shots by Du Plessis, then a knee from Adesanya. Body kick by DDP.
Hard low kick by Adesanya. Du Plessis switches stances back and forth now. Adesanya blocks a high kick, then shrugs off a body lock.
Grazing cross by Adesanya. DDP appears to have a slight cut on his forehead. He blocks a head kick. Izzy looking for counter shots as Du Plessis surges forward again.
One-two by Adesanya. Low kick by DDP. Hard right cross by Du Plessis. Nice uppercut by Adesanya. He leans back to evade a head kick.
Brutal body hook by Adesanya, Really interesting first round. DDP landing a bit more, certainly of note.
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya
05:24 , Alex Pattle
Big-fight feel for this one. Bruce Buffer is making the fighter introductions right now.
Adesanya is trying to stare through Du Plessis, but the challenger looks a little nervous.
A hesitant touch of gloves by Adesanya. And here, we, go!!!
UFC 305 LIVE: Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya
05:13 , Alex Pattle
Next up, the main event: Israel Adesanya faces Dricus Du Plessis, aiming to regain the middleweight title.
Adesanya, a former two-time champion, will look to take the belt from Du Plessis in the latter’s first title defence, in what is a grudge match here.
After Adesanya dropped the gold to Sean Strickland in a major upset last September, Du Plessis dethroned Strickland in January to become – in his words – the first “real” African UFC champion.
The South African stressed that he meant the first not only to have been born on the continent but also to have trained there throughout his career. However, Nigerian-born Adesanya – who represents New Zealand – took umbrage with that claim. The matter arose again at Thursday’s press conference, as Adesanya burst into tears while calling out Du Plessis.
The pair will settle their grudge next.
UFC 305 LIVE: Kai Kara-France vs Steve Erceg
05:06 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Erceg presses forward early. Almost nothing thrown by either man in the first minute, though.
Now both fighters land jabs. Kara-France gets through with an overhand right, too. Great left hook by Erceg, however.
Kara-France’s nose is already reddened. OH! But he drops Erceg with a HUGE overhand left!
Erceg tries to recover, but he can’t quite manage to, and he’s dropped again – this time with a right hand! It’s all over!!
Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg via first-round TKO (punches, 4:04)
UFC 305 LIVE: Kai Kara-France vs Steve Erceg
04:54 , Alex Pattle
Onto the men’s flyweight division, where New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France fights Australia’s Steve Erceg.
Kara-France is a former interim-title challenger, while Erceg challenged for the undisputed belt in his last bout – just coming up short.
UFC 305 LIVE: Main-event judging update
04:45 , Alex Pattle
This just in: Howie Booth, the judge who gave a bizarre 30-27 to Tai Tuivasa earlier tonight, has been dropped from his duty in the main event.
UFC 305 LIVE: Mateusz Gamrot vs Dan Hooker
04:42 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Hooker, cut around both eyes, laughs while getting advice from his cornermen and says: “Boys, I love this s***!”
Again Hooker defends a takedown with a guillotine, but again Gamrot twists free. A one-two just about lands for the Pole.
A pair of body hooks from Hooker now. Gamrot with more straight shots to the head, but Hooker continues to press forward. He eats a jab, and another. Counter cross by Hooker, who briefly goes southpaw.
Another single-leg attempt on Hooker, who defends so well again! He gets in some elbows for good measure, too. Now he tags Gamrot with a cross.
Gamrot’s face is so marked up now. Hooker goes hunting for a finish. Gamrot sees a takedown stuffed, and he eats a left hook before the final buzzer!
Fight of the night.
Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 305 LIVE: Mateusz Gamrot vs Dan Hooker
04:36 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Beautiful, drive double-leg takedown by Gamrot early in the round. He’s controlling Hooker well here.
Nice defensive work from Hooker, though, who sits up and gets a body lock before kicking Gamrot away from him.
But Gamrot chases Hooker and grabs ahold of him against the fence. Hooker stands, however, and moves into space. Now he’s on the front foot...
Front kick to the body by Hooker. Gamrot shoots for a takedown, but Hooker defends with a guillotine. Gamrot twists out of it, but Hooker sprawls.
He’s elbowing Gamrot to the body. Gamrot tries to stand with a single-leg. He does, and now he’s holding Hooker against the cage wall.
Hooker gets free again, and there’s a brief striking exchange in the final seconds of the round.
UFC 305 LIVE: Mateusz Gamrot vs Dan Hooker
04:30 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Gamrot steams forward and lands a pair of hooks. Hooker absorbs them well. He’s on the end of a long right this time.
Gamrot catches a body kick and gets a single-leg takedown, driving Hooker to the fence. Hooker is already cut around his left eye.
Hooker does really well to stand, but he’s dropped to a knee, and Gamrot jumps on a guillotine! It’s not quite there for him, but he pours on strikes as Hooker tries to shell up while laying on his back.
Eventually Hooker scrambles, escapes and stands. That cut around his eye is so bloody now. OH! He has his own spell on top now, dropping Gamrot with a left hook!
Both men are landing in a frenzied exchange! Gamrot shoots for a takedown, but it feels a bit desperate...
What a round!
UFC 305 LIVE: Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Tai Tuivasa
04:08 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Tuivasa presses forward. He misses with a winging overhand right. Nice jab by Rozenstruik, and another.
Now a right uppercut by Rozenstruik as Tuivasa lands a left hook. Clean one-two by Rozenstruik.
Tuivasa’s face is bloodied now. He eats a right hook.
Rozenstruik points at the canvas as we enter the final 10 seconds of the fight, and the pair trade in a fun exchange.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Tai Tuivasa via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
What on earth is that 30-27 in Tuivasa’s favour about?
UFC 305 LIVE: Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Tai Tuivasa
04:01 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Decent one-two by Tuivasa! And another! Rozenstruik with a counter right, but he’s under pressure here, backed up to the fence.
Rozenstruik reverses the position, though, and lands a few accurate, straight shots! More fine work from Rozenstruik, who lands a lovely knee in the clinch – onto the jaw of Tuivasa.
Rozenstruik is flowing now. He’s picking his punches so accurately, to the head and body, and squeezing in more knees.
UFC 305 LIVE: Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Tai Tuivasa
03:55 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Low kick from Rozenstruik, and another. Tuivasa returns fire in kind.
Patience from both fighters so far. But Tuivasa misses a low kick and hurries to sort out his feet.
One-two from Rozenstruik as Tuivasa kicks low again. The Aussie misses with a high kick but lands low once more.
Uppercut to the body by Rozenstruik. More body shots from the kickboxing veteran. He wings a right hook but just misses.
Both men throw big shots in the final seconds of the round but miss the mark.
UFC 305 LIVE: Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Tai Tuivasa
03:40 , Alex Pattle
Heavyweight action next! Jairzinho Rozenstruik faces Australia’s own Tai Tuivasa.
UFC 305 LIVE: Li Jingliang vs Carlos Prates
03:31 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Li just about blocks a head kick. He catches Prates on the end of a spinning back first. Prates with some decent crosses.
A wide right hook tags Prates now. Hard knee in close by Prates. Prates feints a jumping knee then lands a straight punch.
OH! Another knockdown! A swift one-two sits Li onto his backside! Li springs back up, but Prates is hunting him and landing clean shots, picking his moments...
OH, MY! PRATES WITH THE KNOCKOUT!
Li had never been knocked out before, but he folded against the fence after a perfect left hook from Li!
Li is still out. Hopefully he’s okay... Eventually he’s back up, phew.
Carlos Prates def. Li Jingling via second-round KO (punches, 4:02)
UFC 305 LIVE: Li Jingliang vs Carlos Prates
03:25 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Prates stands southpaw. Li is orthodox. Hard low kicks from both men. Now some lighter ones.
Li comes forward with a right hand. Now he’s southpaw, then back to orthodox.
Prates with a left hand that drops Li to a knee!
Li is back up. Prates with the slicker punching in a brief exchange. Stiff jab. Li with some very wild swings.
Li is wobbled by a straight shot! Then dropped into the fence with the next punch!
But Li with some firm hands of his own in the final seconds of the round! Wow.
UFC 305 LIVE: Junior Tafa vs Valter Walker
02:47 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Another Australian in action here, in Tafa. Walker, meanwhile, represents Brazil and is the brother of light-heavyweight Johnny Walker.
Tafa with a fine start, connecting with some heavy punches. A great right hand is the pick of the bunch. But Walker tries a high-crotch and completes a takedown, finishing with a body lock and driving Tafa to the fence.
Walker eventually moves into Tafa’s guard, occasionally throwing strikes from above.
Now Walker goes for a leg lock after a scramble... and there’s the tap! Was it a verbal tap? It’s hard to know; the pair were rolling over as the fight ended!
Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa via first-round technical submission (heel hook, 4:56)
The replay and official ruling suggest it was a verbal tap, although Tafa also appears to half-tap with his hand...
Tafa slaps Walker after the fight. What?
UFC 305 LIVE: Josh Culibao vs Ricardo Ramos
02:31 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Front kick to the body by Culibao. Now a stiff jab. Left hook by Ramos, then a knee to the body. Culibao with some hooks to the body of the Brazilian.
Right hook by Ramos, and Culibao is cut around his left eye! Ramos with a well-timed body-lock takedown, too.
We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.
Ricardo Ramos def. Josh Culibao via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Culibao will surely regret not pursuing further damage to Ramos’s leg. He could have gotten a finish tonight.
UFC 305 LIVE: Josh Culibao vs Ricardo Ramos
02:25 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Hard low kicks by Culibao, and Ramos collapses to the mat! Culibao picks his moment then lands a few sporadic punches, but Ramos is largely staying elusive on the ground.
Eventually Culiabo walks off and lets Ramos stand. He tries to rush Ramos while he’s standing, but the referee prevents that.
Back under way. Culibao does a pirouette to mock his opponent. The action is paused again, this time due to an eye poke on Culibao.
We’re soon back under way, though, late in the round.
UFC 305 LIVE: Josh Culibao vs Ricardo Ramos
02:18 , Alex Pattle
Round one
The featherweights stand orthodox. Both kick low. Australia’s own Culibao tries a left hook, but it’s blocked.
Culibao hurts Ramos with a low kick but gets overzealous with his follow-up strikes! He puts himself off-balance, and Ramos takes his back in a scramble!
They’re on the canvas, with Ramos working on a rear naked choke... Culibao with some desperate defence, but how long can he survive??
He eventually escapes, and looks at the crowd and shakes his head with a smirk!
UFC 305 LIVE: Casey O’Neill vs Luana Santos
02:03 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Santos just misses with an overhand right. She blocks a one-two, then walks onto a right hand. Decent jab by Santos.
Crisp striking from O’Neill now. Santos with a trip, but O’Neill reacts well and gets the back! What a counter!
O’Neill tries a rear naked choke, alternating between the submission attempt and punches to the body.
Thirteen seconds left on the clock, and O’Neill so nearly has the choke! But Santos escapes!
Casey O’Neill def. Luana Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
UFC 305 LIVE: Casey O’Neill vs Luana Santos
01:57 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Santos with a body lock and a slick trip early in round two. She has O’Neill kneeling against the fence.
O’Neill stands quickly, but Santos still has her back. Good hand-fighting from O’Neill, who then tries her own trip, before the flyweights separate and move into the open.
Hard jab by O’Neill, who misses with her follow-up right cross. Santos is standing orthodox now... but not for long.
O’Neill ducks under a one-two and gets a body lock. Knees and elbows to Santos against the fence. Santos circles away.
UFC 305 LIVE: Casey O’Neill vs Luana Santos
01:51 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Santos stands southpaw, while O’Neill is orthodox. Santos tries an overhand from range but just misses. O’Neill then catches a kick and tries a takedown, but Santos defends well.
Santos briefly tries a standing guillotine while driving O’Neill to the fence, but there’s nothing doing, so she gives up on the submission.
Santos does seem decent work grappling O’Neill against the fence, before eventually stepping away. Overhand right from Santos, then a front kick to the body.
Nice one-two from O’Neill, though. Another overhand from Santos, a pair of hooks by O’Neill.
UFC 305 LIVE: Jack Jenkins vs Herbert Burns
01:30 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Burns with a knee to the cup of Jenkins early in this round. There’s a brief timeout, then we resume, and Jenkins drops Burns again with a leg kick and an overhand right!
Now some hammer fists and punches to the downed Brazilian, but Jenkins soon backs off – deciding to let Burns stand again in this fight.
But Burns elects not to stand! It’s all over! That’s a TKO for Jenkins.
The damage to the lead leg seemed to be the decisive factor there.
Jack Jenkins def. Herbert Burns via third-round TKO (leg kick and punches, 0:48)
UFC 305 LIVE: Jack Jenkins vs Herbert Burns
01:27 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Burns goes for a takedown early in this round, having held down Jenkins for around a minute at the end of round one. But Jenkins sprawls well to deny his opponent.
Hard outside low kick from Jenkins. Better takedown attempt by Burns this time; he shoots low, and completes the takedown.
Burns gets to work on an arm-triangle choke. but Jenkins slips his arm out. Burns then grabs a heel hook in a scramble, but Jenkins escapes again! He stands and kicks the legs of Burns.
He then enters Burns’s guard and tries to get off some elbows from above. Eventually he stands to exit the guard. Burns is back up, too.
Brutal combination by Jenkins! He goes from the head to the body beautifully, dropping Burns! The Brazilian is back on his feet, where he eats a few leg kicks before failing a takedown attempt.
Burns briefly switches stances, a telltale sign that his lead leg is feeling the effects of those low kicks.
UFC 305 LIVE: Jack Jenkins vs Herbert Burns
01:20 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Lots of close-range, straight punches from both men so far. Nice left hook and uppercut by Jenkins.
Another left hook by Jenkins, the cleanest shot of the fight so far. And another, then two more! Burns lands a knee to the body, but then eats a stinging jab.
More accurate left hands from Jenkins, who has Burns backed up to the fence. Brutal left hand to the body by the Australian now.
Burns pulls guard, but Jenkins stands and beckons the Brazilian back up. Another left hook to the body, then a longer combination by Jenkins – great variety.
Burns with a nice double-leg takedown!
UFC 305 LIVE: Early-prelim results
01:08 , Alex Pattle
Okay, so with the regular prelims about to begin, here are the early-prelim results...
Tom Nolan def. Alex Reyes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Song Kenan def. Ricky Glenn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
Jesus Aguilar def. Stewart Nicoll via first-round submission (guillotine, 2:39)
UFC 305 LIVE: Du Plessis's last five fights
Sunday 18 August 2024 00:22 , Alex Pattle
Win vs Sean Strickland (split decision), January 2024
Win vs Robert Whittaker (second-round TKO), July 2023
Win vs Derek Brunson (second-round TKO), March 2023
Win vs Darren Till (third-round submission), December 2022
Win vs Brad Tavares (unanimous decision), July 2022
UFC 305 LIVE: Adesanya’s last five fights
Sunday 18 August 2024 00:04 , Alex Pattle
Loss vs Sean Strickland (unanimous decision), September 2023
Win vs Alex Pereira (second-round KO), April 2023 [rematch]
Loss vs Alex Pereira (fifth-round TKO), November 2022
Win vs Jared Cannonier (unanimous decision), July 2022
Win vs Robert Whittaker (unanimous decision), February 2022 [rematch]
UFC 305 LIVE: Adesanya breaks down in tears at pre-fight press conference
Saturday 17 August 2024 23:45 , Alex Pattle
Israel Adesanya tearfully took umbrage with a claim by his opponent Dricus Du Plessis on Friday, ahead of the pair’s UFC 305 main event.
Tonight, former two-time champion Adesanya will challenge Du Plessis for the middleweight title in Perth, Australia, as they look to settle a year-long grudge.
That grudge began when Du Plessis vowed to become the first “real African” UFC champion. The South African clarified that he meant the first not only to have been born in Africa but also to have trained there throughout his career.
Adesanya, born in Nigeria and representing New Zealand, took issue with that claim last summer in a heated face-to-face. And on Friday, the matter arose again at the UFC 305 pre-fight press conference.
“He touched a subject there, because I do this for my family,” Adesanya said tearfully. “I do this for the people I love, and I’ll fight for you forever – I swear to God,” he added, pointing at the front row.
More here:
Israel Adesanya breaks down in tears at UFC 305 press conference
