UFC 305 Results: Dricus Du Plessis Retains Middleweight Title After Choking Out Former Champ Israel Adesanya

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Dricus Du Plessis choked out Israel Adesanya to retain the UFC Middleweight World Championship in the headliner of UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya event in front of a sold out RAC Arena in Perth, Australia on Sunday (August 18).

The ninth numbered event of 2024 recorded 14,152 audience in attendance, which also marked the arena record for highest grossing event at $5,477,097 USD as Perth was treated to an incredible night of action, from start to finish.

There were moments that will go down in history, even though not all of it was on the side of the hometown crowd. Middleweight champion Du Plessis delivered an arguably come-from-behind finish, and Kai Kara-France announced himself as back in flyweight contention.

Plus a host of new prospects showed themselves to be thought of as future contenders as 6 of the 12 bouts on the card, including the headliners ended in stoppages, with 3 being either knockout (KO) or technical knockout (TKO), and 3 submission wins.

Four fighters walked away with bonuses as the lightweight contest between Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot was awarded the fight of the night, while Kai Kara-France and Carlos Prates bagged performance bonuses for their respective stoppage wins. Here is the recap from UFC 305:

UFC 305 Recap

In the main event, UFC middleweight champion Dricus de Plessis successfully defended his belt for the first time against former champion and No. 2 contender Israel Adesanya.

In the first three rounds, the fight was close and competitive, with Adesanya's striking on display and beginning to turn the tide. But in the fourth, Du Plessis put it in overdrive and connected with punches that sent Adesanya to the canvas, where he jumped on his back and locked in the fight-ending back choke.

After the title defence, Du Plessis said, "I was fighting the greatest striker in the division, so I needed that takedown. At this level, it's hard to keep people down and he's the king of getting back up. But I'm still here, 'And Still', baby!"

In the co-main event, "Don't Blink" Kara-France put his No. 4 flyweight ranking on the line against recent title contender No. 9 ranked Steve "Astroboy" Erceg. Erceg looked smart and tactful but Kara-France wasn't about to let his power be denied, and he got the finish via a first round TKO.

Following the bout, Kara-France said, "I had to take time away, balance all my other priorities, but with my team City Kick Boxing, this is what we love, this is what we do. We knew Steve was going to be crafty.

"I couldn't just let the cannon go, I had to set it up. And that's when we found the finish. I want all my actions to be with my loudest voice. Who do you think I should fight next for the title?!"

Also on the main card, Dan Hooker and Jairzinho Rozenstruik earned close decision wins against Mateusz Gamrot and Tai Tuivasa respectively, while Carlos Prates opened the main card with a second-round stoppage of Li Jingliang.

On the preliminary card, Ricardo Ramos and Casey O'Neill earned decision wins, while Jack Jenkins and Valter Walker claimed stoppage wins after the early prelims saw China's Song Kenan give Ricky Glenn a rude welcome to the welterweight division

Song got out the best of his kicking arsenal after getting dropped in the first round. Glenn got his takedowns and clinches shrugged off and Song walked away with the unanimous decision.

Following the win, Song said: "Ten years ago I trained with Leech and Zhang Weili, so this was like a homecoming. I believed my advantage would be in striking, but he was really tough."

Also on the early preliminary card, Tom Nolan outworked Alex Reyes after Jesus Aguilar opened the event with a first-round submission win over Stewart Nicoll. Here is a look at the final results of UFC 305:

UFC 305 Results

• Middleweight World Championship Bout: Dricus Du Plessis defeated Israel Adesanya by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:38 of Round 4
• Flyweight Bout: Kai Kara-France defeated Steve Erceg by TKO (strikes) at 4:04 of Round 1
• Lightweight Bout: Dan Hooker defeated Mateusz Gamrot by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• Heavyweight Bout: Jairzinho Rozenstruik defeated Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
• Welterweight Bout: Carlos Prates defeated Li Jingliang by KO (left hand) at 4:02 of Round 2
• Heavyweight Bout: Valter Walker defeated Junior Tafa by technical submission (ankle lock) at 4:56 of Round 1
• Featherweight Bout: Ricardo Ramos defeated Josh Culibao by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Women's Flyweight Bout: Casey O'Neill defeated Luana Santos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
• Featherweight Bout: Jack Jenkins defeated Herbert Burns by TKO (strikes) at 0:48 of Round 3
• Lightweight Bout: Tom Nolan defeated Alex Reyes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Welterweight Bout: Song Kenan defeated Ricky Glenn by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
• Flyweight Bout: Jesus Aguilar defeated Stewart Nicoll by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:39 of Round 1