South African mixed martial arts fighter Dricus du Plessis defeated New Zealand's Israel Adesanya in the UFC 305 main fight in Perth on Sunday.READ | Dricus du Plessis: From controversy to class on stratospheric rise to SA sport's eliteDu Plessis, 30, secured the defence of his world title in the fourth round when he was able to wrestle Adesanya, 35, to the mat before securing a chokehold that forced the Nigerian-born fighter to tap out.
Du Plessis was accompanied into the Octagon by Springbok rugby stars Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, with his country's national anthem thundering around the venue.
The Boks were also in Perth having beaten Australia 30-12 in a Rugby Championship Test on Saturday.After Du Plessis' victory, Etzebeth and Kolisi could hardly contain their enthusiasm as they celebrated wildly.There was also mutual respect between Du Plessis and Adesanya afterwards, despite the build-up to the fight being tense between the two rivals."For me, [it was an honour] to share this Octagon with a legend.
Not potentially, but 100% a hall of famer. This man has done so much for this sport," Du Plessis said after his victory.Du Plessis also apologised for any disrespect caused in questioning Adesanya's African heritage in the build-up to the fight. "I'm really sorry that it came across that I disrespected the fact that he's from Africa.