PERTH, Australia – Dricus Du Plessis is not looking to be friends with Israel Adesanya after UFC 305, but admits a new level of respect has been formed.
After a heated and at times uncomfortable build to Saturday’s middleweight title fight at RAC Arena, Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) went into the octagon and scored a fourth-round submission win over Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) to achieve his first title defense.
Immediately after the fight, the pair spent a good amount of time embracing inside the octagon, with Adesanya raising Du Plessis’ hand for the world to see. Then when they got backstage, Du Plessis gifted his opponent a custom jacket before Adesanya labeled him a “true African champion.”
