Du Plessis on rear-naked choke finish against Adesanya: 'I knew physically I was stronger'

Dricus du Plessis revealed that his strategy from the start was to knock out Israel Adesanya during their UFC 305 middleweight championship clash in Perth, Australia, on Sunday.

But the South African, known by his fight name 'Stillknocks,' chose a decisive rear-naked choke in the fourth round to secure victory as the opportunity arose for the submission.

Du Plessis, flanked by Springbok stars Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth during his walkout to the octagon after their Rugby Championship victory over Australia, successfully defended his title for the first time since claiming the crown in January.

WATCH | Bok stars Etzebeth, Kolisi go 'crazy' celebrating Dricus du Plessis' UFC win

"We saw that in the second round, when I got him. I knew that physically I was stronger than Israel Adesanya," Du Plessis said during his post-fight press conference.

"He is a master at getting back to his feet if you have his back. Whittaker had his back many times. How many guys have been able to get him down and not being able to do anything with it? 

"So, I got him down in the second round and landed a couple of hard shots. Every time he would get back to his feet, I did not fight him on it.

"I just kept control of the hips and landed big shots. He was so focused on my hands around the hips (in case of a take down) that he would not protect his face. [I attempted to] land the big shots, [to] maybe create a cut, that's what I was hoping for, landing big, hard punches and then get him back down to the ground.

"So, he has to do all that travel, get back up, carry my weight, hit him and hit him [then] in that fourth round, he was staggered from the blows. I could see when he went down. I landed big shots.

"I didn't plan on taking him down (for a