Israel Adesanya, the former UFC middleweight champion known for his sharp striking and psychological warfare, recently opened up about a pivotal moment in a fight that had the MMA world on the edge of its seat.
In a candid interview, Adesanya recounted a shocking moment in the fourth round of his bout with rising contender Dricus Du Plessis—a moment when it appeared that Du Plessis was on the brink of defeat.
The fight, which took place amid high tension and significant buildup, was billed as a potential changing of the guard in the middleweight division. Adesanya, who had been a dominant force in the division for years, faced a formidable challenge in Du Plessis, a fighter with an unorthodox style and a relentless pace that had earned him a string of impressive victories.
Throughout the fight, both men had their moments, but it was in the fourth round that the tide seemed to turn dramatically. Adesanya, speaking about the moment, said, “There was a point in that round where I knew I had him. He looked done—his eyes were glazed, and I could see he was struggling to keep up. It was one of those moments where you can feel the fight slipping away from your opponent.”
Adesanya, known for his ability to read his opponents and capitalize on their weaknesses, pressed forward, landing a series of strikes that left Du Plessis visibly shaken. “I was connecting with everything,” Adesanya continued. “His defense was breaking down, and I could sense the finish was near.”
However, what happened next was unexpected. Despite appearing on the verge of being finished, Du Plessis managed to dig deep and survive the onslaught. Adesanya described his shock at Du Plessis’ resilience: “I couldn’t believe he stayed in there. I was throwing everything at him, and he just wouldn’t go down. That’s when I realized this guy has heart—he’s got that warrior spirit.”
The fight continued, and while Adesanya controlled much of the action, Du Plessis’ ability to withstand the punishment and keep pushing forward earned him the respect of fans and fellow fighters alike. “It’s not often you see someone come back from that kind of beating,” Adesanya admitted. “He was exhausted, hurt, but he kept fighting. You have to respect that.”
In the end, the fight went the distance, with both fighters earning praise for their performances. For Adesanya, the fourth-round exchange was a reminder of the unpredictability of the sport and the toughness of his opponent. “Fights like that remind you that anything can happen in the octagon,” Adesanya said. “You can be seconds away from finishing it, but if your opponent has the will to survive, it changes everything.”
The bout between Adesanya and Du Plessis has since been hailed as one of the most intense battles in recent middleweight history, with both fighters enhancing their reputations in the process. While Adesanya may have come close to finishing the fight in the fourth round, the fact that Du Plessis survived and continued to fight on speaks volumes about his toughness and determination.
For Adesanya, the fight was a valuable lesson in the unpredictability of MMA and a testament to the never-give-up attitude that defines the sport. As he looks ahead to future challenges, Adesanya remains confident in his abilities but acknowledges that in the octagon, anything can happen.
“That moment in the fourth round was a reminder,” Adesanya concluded. “You can never count someone out until the fight is truly over. Dricus showed that, and it’s something every fighter has to respect.”
