Watch: After tears and near-neck break, Dricus Du Plessis and Adesanya share emotional backstage moment at UFC 305

In what is a beautiful display of sportsmanship, UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Israel Adesanya shared an incredible backstage moment following their intense battle at UFC 305. 

The two fighters, who had just engaged in a gruelling four-round contest, were seen embracing each other and exchanging gifts, with Du Plessis presenting Adesanya a jacket as a memento of their encounter.

This touching scene came on the heels of a dramatic main event at Perth's RAC Arena, where South Africa's Du Plessis successfully defended his UFC middleweight championship after making Nigeria's Adesanya cry. 

The bout concluded in the fourth round when Du Plessis secured a submission victory via rear-naked choke, marking Adesanya's first career submission loss.

The fight itself was a fierce display of skill and strategy. Both competitors came out strong, with Du Plessis employing a tactical mix of blitzes and leg kicks, while Adesanya utilised his renowned long-range attacks. 

The decisive moment came when Du Plessis executed a well-timed takedown, swiftly transitioning to Adesanya's back to lock in the fight-ending choke.

This victory extends Du Plessis' impressive unbeaten streak to 10 fights, spanning six years, and marks his first successful title defence since claiming the middleweight crown earlier in 2024. 

Despite the loss, "The Stylebender" Adesanya has expressed his determination to continue competing. The 35-year-old Nigerian acknowledged making mistakes in the fight but affirmed he has no plans to retire.

Nevertheless, the post-fight scenes between the South African Du Plessis and Nigeria’s Adesanya serve as a powerful reminder of the respect and sportsmanship that underlies the fierce competition in mixed martial arts.

It's a moment that will likely be remembered long after the details of the fight itself have faded.