Israel Adesanya admitted he didn’t manifest what went down at UFC 305. He was in full control, cool as a cucumber in the early rounds, but in Round 4, Dricus Du Plessis, running on fumes, still managed to make ‘Izzy’ submit and shock the UFC world. While some, like Belal Muhammad and Renato Moicano, threw shade at DDP, others gave him props for pulling it off.
In case you missed it, here’s a rundown of what happened: not going by the judges’ score, early in the fight, it was a close contest with du Plessis applying pressure and Adesanya showcasing his striking. Subsequently, in Round 4, ‘Stillknocks’ landed a hard left hook, rocked Adesanya, and then took him down and proceeded to submit Izzy. It was such a back-and-forth fight that even the fighters themselves couldn’t hold back as they talked about it afterward.
DDP’s performance blew Henry Cejudo away, and he believed that ‘Stillknocks’ would only get better from here.
On the other hand, Renato Moicano, in his usual style, commented that he doesn’t understand how DDP keeps pulling off victories every time.
Meanwhile, Muhammad wrote, “Dricus still su*ks.”
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Rampage Jackson was stunned by the fight but commended both fighters for their performances.
Ajlo, breaking down the final 45 seconds, pointed out that Izzy’s slip-up was purely mental. Moreover, some other fighters, such as Megan Anderson and Chris Weidman, also shared their reaction to UFC 305.
UFC 305: Israel Adesanya Mends Fences With Dricus Du Plessis Post-Loss
Fans witnessed the bitter rivalry between the fighters leading up to the match. However, once it was over, both showed nothing but respect for each other. DDP even stated it was an honor to share the octagon with a legend like ‘Izzy,’ who has contributed so much to the sport. Adesanya, in turn, said that Du Plessis will inspire the next generation of fighters.
Despite the fight being about proving their ‘African-ness,’ they both agreed in the end that the belt went to Africa. It’ll definitely be interesting to see what’s next for Adesanya, especially since he has made it clear that he is not retiring anytime soon. Meanwhile, DDP is likely to face former champ Sean Strickland next, as Dana White promised. However, Alex Pereira’s intentions for the Middleweight division could shift the dynamics significantly.
Also Read: What Is Israel Adesanya’s Kickboxing Record? KOs, Losses, And More
