Israel Adesanya’s reign as a dominant force in the UFC middleweight division took another significant hit on Saturday night as he was submitted by Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305. The loss has thrown the future of the former champion into question, with veteran referee John McCarthy suggesting a potential hiatus.
Adesanya entered the fight looking to reclaim the title he lost to Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Despite a strong start, a crucial mistake on the ground allowed du Plessis to secure a rear-naked choke victory. The defeat marks the first time Adesanya has lost the middleweight belt as a challenger.
The former champion’s recent struggles have coincided with the rise of Alex Pereira, who has thrice defeated Adesanya in kickboxing (twice) and MMA. Pereira’s emergence has solidified his position as a dominant force in the UFC, leaving McCarthy to wonder whether Adesanya can reclaim his position in the promotion.
The veteran referee believes Adesanya might benefit from stepping away from the octagon for some time. Appearing in a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, ‘Big John’ had this to say:
“Adesanya, you know, he’s one of those guys that the UFC loves…[But] Poatan [Alex Pereira] has basically taken over that spot and is the guy that’s now fighting all these fights.”
He added:
“There comes a point where you hit that meter where it’s too many fights. And you really need some time to get away from the sport, get yourself back, and I thought [Adesanya] tried to do that with this one, and it was close. You know, it was a close fight, almost won it, just not enough.”
Dricus du Plessis: Beef with Israel Adesanya “not fake” but legacy is what matters
Despite the intense rivalry leading up to the fight, Dricus du Plessis expressed immense respect for his opponent Israel Adesanya post-match.
Du Plessis clarified that the animosity between them was genuine, stating:
“I say this all the time – myself and Israel, the beef was not fake. The fact that we don’t like each other on a personal level was not fake – at least not from my side.”
However, he emphasized that these personal feelings were irrelevant inside the octagon. Acknowledging Adesanya’s significant contributions to the sport, du Plessis praised his opponent’s achievements:
“The respect I have for him in this sport and what he’s done can’t be denied. If you can’t see what Israel has done and appreciate that as a warrior… you’re an idiot.”
