“I’m Not Quitting” – Adesanya Responds to Critics After Dricus du Plessis Defeat

Israel Adesanya has declared his intention to continue his fighting career despite suffering a fourth-round submission loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth. This defeat marked Adesanya’s first-ever submission loss and saw du Plessis retain his middleweight title.

The fight began with du Plessis establishing an early lead through multiple leg and high kicks, while Adesanya responded with precise counterstrikes. In the second round, du Plessis took Adesanya to the ground and threatened with a submission attempt. Although Adesanya escaped, he remained on the defensive for most of the round.

Adesanya rallied in the third round with effective body shots, weakening du Plessis, but the South African champion managed to deliver some powerful strikes of his own. In the fourth round, du Plessis landed a hard shot that stunned Adesanya and followed up with a rear-naked choke, forcing Adesanya to tap out.

Post-fight, du Plessis praised Adesanya’s resilience, saying, “Nobody can take him down and keep him there.” Despite the loss, Adesanya remained defiant in his interview, stating, “I’m not f***ing leaving! I’m 35, doing all the right things. I know you all want to see me lose and be down.”