Adesanya explains the true reason he lost to Du Plessis. Get an inside look at what went wrong for the MMA champion in this revealing account.
Dricus du Plessis of South Africa was responsible for Israel Adesanya’s submission loss, the former UFC Middleweight Champion recently addressed.
On Sunday, the fight represented a key milestone in Adesanya’s professional MMA career as it signified his initial defeat by submission.
Although Adesanya held a 2-1 advantage on the judges’ scorecards going into the fourth round, he was unable to withstand du Plessis’s persistent series of hooks and jabs. Du Plessis landed multiple powerful right hooks that sent Adesanya tumbling down, ultimately culminating in his submission via rear-naked choke hold.
Three minutes and 38 seconds into the five-minute round, the match was halted, causing a stunning loss for the fighter from Nigeria-New Zealand.
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After considering the bout, Adesanya admitted his error which resulted in him submitting to his opponent but maintained a resolute attitude towards pursuing his career. “The mistake I made was foolish and unreasonable,” he remarked. “Despite being 35 years old, I’m making all the necessary preparations… watch out for me because I won’t be quitting.”
According to Adesanya, he utilized the fence and fought against du Plessis’ top hand while trying to defend his takedown during their fight. Despite this attempt, du Plessis managed to change his grip style by shifting it into a Gable hold which made breaking free from the choke harder for Adesanya.
“I need to view the footage more meticulously in order to comprehend what occurred,” remarked Adesanya who also stated that he felt good throughout the bout. Additionally, he admitted that du Plessis didn’t catch him off guard as he already knew of his resilience beforehand.
Dricus du Plessis’ triumph attested to his tactics and toughness. He remains unbeaten in the UFC with eight victories, giving him a total record of 21-2. When considering the fight afterwards, Du Plessis commended Adesanya as one of their division’s best strikers but highlighted how valuable his takedown was. “This guy is incredible at getting up again,” said Dricus du Pressis while also noting that nobody can keep Adesanya down after taking them incorrectly.
The recent defeat of Adesanya signifies a tough phase in his professional journey, as he has witnessed the loss in three out of four fights. However, despite this setback, the ex-champion is not contemplating retirement from the sport and aims to participate at an elite level.
The UFC community will closely monitor Adesanya’s response to this obstacle and his ability to regain top-tier status.
