UFC 305: Israel Adesanya falls after verbal altercation as Dricus du Plessis defends his title | UFC

Dricus du Plessis has defended his middleweight title after forcing arch-rival Israel Adesanya to submit during a tough bout at UFC 305 in Perth. In a fight that saw both fighters give it their all, du Plessis landed some heavy punches late in the fourth round on Sunday to turn the fight in his favor.

A left hook stunned Adesanya before three rights put him down. Du Plessis then rolled Adesanya over and applied a rear naked choke, causing the New Zealander to give up seconds later.

“This man is the master of getting back up,” du Plessis said of Adesanya, who was looking to become middleweight champion for a third time. “I'm still alive, that's a bonus. I came here to die for this belt and take a life. I'm still champion, baby.”

“I knew it was going to be tough. I took him down,” Adesanya said. “I was pretty strong there. I felt like I could withstand his takedowns. I just make a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground.”

And as for the future? “I've never felt better. I'm 35 and I'm doing the right thing. I'm not going… to leave,” Adesanya said.

Adesanya and du Plessis had made it clear in recent months that they did not like each other. Du Plessis' comment that he was the first true African champion, despite being born, raised and still living in South Africa, annoyed the Nigerian-born Adesanya.

The tension reached its peak on the eve of the fight, when du Plessis responded to Adesanya's statement that he would take the belt to Africa if he won by saying that he would take his servants with him.

Afterwards, Adesanya's tears flowed as he described the difficulties he and his family went through growing up before saying, “I can cry and kick your ass at the same time. On Sunday, I'm going to crush your dreams.”

Du Plessis paid tribute to Adesanya after the epic fight on Sunday.

“To share this Octagon with a legend, a 100 percent Hall of Famer,” du Plessis said. “This man has done so much for this sport.”

“I'm sorry it seemed like I disrespected him. I have the utmost respect for him, sharing this cage with such a legend, warrior to warrior.”

Due to the hostility, the two did not touch gloves at the beginning of the fight.

Adesanya landed a series of powerful kicks in the first round, but du Plessis fought back with some damaging jabs. Du Plessis offered his glove at the end of the round, but Adesanya turned away.

Adesanya was knocked down early in the second round when du Plessis attempted to choke his rival into submission, but the New Zealander managed to wriggle out of the situation before landing a series of powerful punches.

Round three was a tough exchange with both fighters desperately trying to land a knockout blow. A reverse elbow strike from Adesanya enraged the crowd, but du Plessis was able to respond with a series of powerful punches.

Du Plessis' precision with his strikes in the fourth round opened the door for him to take Adesanya back to the ground and finish the job.

Earlier in the day, local hero Steve Erceg suffered a technical knockout in the first round in his flyweight fight against New Zealander Kai Kara-France.

And Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa suffered his fifth consecutive defeat when he lost by split decision to Surinamese Jairzinho Rozenstruik.