UFC 305 took place on August 17th, 2024 and the results saw Dricus Du Plessis retain the promotion’s middleweight title in a fantastic performance. He was taking on one of the biggest challenges of his career, as he was welcoming the former king of the division in his return. Israel Adesanya had taken almost a whole year off from competing in the sport since losing the middleweight title to Sean Strickland, and naturally fans were excited to see him make his comeback. It was also Du Plessis’ first title-defense since he won the belt from Strickland earlier this year, and he was putting his seven-fight undefeated streak in the UFC on the line with it.
In the end it unfolded like a more modern version of the classic striker vs grappler matchup, as Adesanya won the most of the exchanges on the feet and won his fair share of the rounds as a result. Du Plessis used his grappling advantage to good success though, landing several takedowns over the course of the fight. It was one particular takedown in the fourth round that gave him the win though, as Adesanya exposed his back while defending it. Du Plessis leapt in to action and managed to put one hook in while locking up a rear-naked choke over Adesanya’s jaw. He cranked it with everything he had and eventually forced Adesanya to tap, getting his hand raised after a fantastic fight.
UFC 305 Full Results
Dricus Du Plessis defeats Israel Adesanya via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (Round 4, 3:38)
Du Plessis retains the UFC middleweight world championship
Kai Kara-France defeats Steve Erceg via TKO – Punches (Round 1, 4:04)
Dan Hooker defeats Mateusz Gamrot via Decision – Split (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Jairzinho Rozenstruik defeats Tai Tuivasa via Decision – Split (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
Carlos Prates defeats Li Jingliang via KO – Punch (Round 2, 4:02)
Preliminary Card
Valter Walkter defeats Junior Tafa via via Submission – Heel Hook (Round 1, 4:56)
Ricardo Ramos defeats Joshua Culibao via Decision – Split (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Casey O’Neill defeats Luana Santos via Decision – Unanimous (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Jack Jenkins defeats Herbert Burns via TKO – Retirement (Round 3, 0:48)
Tom Nolan defeats Alex Reyes via Decision – Unanimous (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Song Kenan defeats Ricky Glenn via Decision – Unanimous (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
Jesus Santos Aguilar defeats Stewart Nicoll via Submission – Guillotine Choke (Round 1, 2:39)
The full UFC 305 event replay, including all of the above results and Dricus Du Plessis winning in the main event, is available to watch on UFC Fight Pass.