South African fighter Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight championship title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. Despite enduring a series of body strikes from Adesanya throughout the match, du Plessis managed to secure victory through a submission in the fourth round. This win marks du Plessis’ third successful defense in the competitive middleweight division and his second victory of the year.

The sold-out event at RAC Arena saw du Plessis deliver a decisive right hook to Adesanya’s head, leading to a takedown and eventual choke hold that forced the Nigerian-born New Zealander to tap out. Adesanya, aged 35 and with a record of 24-4, was seeking to reclaim the middleweight title after losing it to Strickland last year.

Prior to the main event, local favorite Steve Erceg faced a knockout in the first round of his flyweight bout against Kai Kara-France from New Zealand. This was Erceg’s first fight since his loss to champion Alexandre Pantoja in Brazil in May.

The event showcased intense matchups and highlighted the skill and determination of the fighters involved.