PERTH, Australia – In an electrifying night of fights at UFC 305, Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title, submitting former champion Israel Adesanya in the fourth round. The victory solidified Du Plessis as a rising star in the division and marked a significant moment in the ongoing rivalry between the two African-born fighters.
The 185-pound middleweight belt had changed hands four times in consecutive title fights leading up to UFC 305, but Du Plessis ended that streak with a dominant rear-naked choke victory over Adesanya. This win marked the first title defense of Du Plessis’ career after he won the championship earlier in January in a split decision against Sean Strickland.
Du Plessis, 30, showcased his strength and power throughout the fight, controlling the bout against Adesanya, a renowned kickboxer. After weathering a competitive first few rounds, Du Plessis capitalized on a left hand that rocked Adesanya in the fourth round, eventually finding his opening to lock in the fight-ending submission.
Adesanya, who had previously bested current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, has now lost three of his last four bouts. This loss to Du Plessis was the first submission defeat in Adesanya’s storied mixed martial arts career.
Tensions between Adesanya and Du Plessis had been simmering for over a year, largely fueled by Du Plessis’ claim to be the UFC’s first “true African champion” due to his training and residence in South Africa. Adesanya, born in Nigeria but raised in New Zealand, took offense to the claim, leading to a heated rivalry that played out during pre-fight events.
The two first met face-to-face for a stare-down after Du Plessis’ TKO win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290. At that time, Adesanya was the reigning champion, and Du Plessis had just secured his spot as the top contender. The buildup to UFC 305 saw emotional moments, including Adesanya becoming overwhelmed during the pre-fight press conference while discussing his family.
Despite the personal animosity, both athletes displayed respect after the fight, with Adesanya embracing Du Plessis in the Octagon. Adesanya reflected on his journey, noting that his UFC career began in the same RAC Arena where he now faced his latest defeat. Although disappointed, Adesanya made it clear that retirement was not an option, promising fans that he would return stronger.
In the aftermath of Du Plessis’ victory, former middleweight champion Alex Pereira hinted at a potential return to the 185-pound division. Pereira, who moved up to light heavyweight after his loss to Adesanya, became the light heavyweight champion earlier this year. On social media, Pereira suggested he might come back to middleweight “one more time,” adding fuel to speculation about a potential rematch with Du Plessis or Adesanya.
In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France delivered an emphatic first-round knockout against Steve Erceg in the flyweight division. Kara-France had been on a two-fight skid but put an end to that streak with a powerful left hand that floored Erceg. The victory, a much-needed rebound for Kara-France, puts him back in the conversation for a title shot against reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
Other Notable Performances
Dan Hooker vs. Mateusz Gamrot: Hooker won a split decision in a hard-fought lightweight contest, delighting the Australian crowd. Hooker showed resilience against Gamrot’s relentless takedown attempts and landed some significant strikes, including a massive left hook that staggered his opponent. Hooker has now won three consecutive bouts and looks primed for more high-profile matchups in the division.
Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik: In a controversial split decision, Rozenstruik emerged victorious after a slugfest with heavyweight knockout artist Tai Tuivasa. Despite the close fight, one judge scored all three rounds for Tuivasa. The unusual scoring led to the judge being pulled from officiating later bouts in the event. Tuivasa remains a fan favorite but has now lost five straight fights dating back to 2022.
Carlos Prates vs. Li Jingliang: Carlos Prates celebrated his 31st birthday in style with a spectacular second-round knockout of Li Jingliang in the opening bout of the main card. Prates, a rising welterweight star, improved to 3-0 in the UFC with his highlight-reel finish, continuing his impressive start to his career with the promotion.
Fight of the Night and Performance Bonuses
The bout between Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot was awarded Fight of the Night, with both fighters earning bonuses for their performances. Meanwhile, Kai Kara-France and Carlos Prates earned Performance of the Night bonuses for their spectacular knockouts.
UFC 305 delivered a memorable night of action in Perth, with Dricus Du Plessis solidifying his place as the middleweight champion and Kai Kara-France reigniting his title hopes. With exciting developments in multiple divisions and potential rematches looming, the landscape of the UFC continues to evolve, setting the stage for future clashes among the sport’s elite fighters.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Restricted free agent forward Isaac Okoro has agreed to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Okoro’s new deal is worth $38 million, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed or announced by the team.
ESPN.com first reported the agreement, citing Okoro’s representation.
The fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Okoro is Cleveland’s best perimeter defender, often drawing the assignment of guarding the opponent’s top scorer. Okoro also has worked to improve his offensive game.
The 23-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 69 games — 42 starts — last season for the Cavs, who beat Orlando in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to eventual champion Boston.
Okoro shot a career-best 39% on 3-pointers, forcing teams to come out and guard him.
His agreement caps an extraordinarily busy summer for the Cavs that began with coach J.B. Bickerstaff being fired and replaced by Kenny Atkinson. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year, $150 million extension in July, ending months of speculation that he wanted out of Cleveland.
Also, power forward Evan Mobley signed a five-year, $224 deal and center Jarrett Allen signed a three-year, $91 million extension.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., won 61 per cent of her first-serve points and broke on just one of her six opportunities.
Stakusic had upset top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night to advance.
In the opening round, Stakusic defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Frech won 62 per cent of her first-serve points and converted on three of her nine break point opportunities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk’s long single with the bases loaded provided the Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off 4-3 win in the 11th inning of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
With the Cardinals outfield in, Kirk drove a shot off the base of the left-field wall to give the Blue Jays (70-78) their fourth win in 11 outings and halt the Cardinals’ (74-73) two-game win streak before 30,380 at Rogers Centre.
Kirk enjoyed a two-hit, two-RBI outing.
Erik Swanson (2-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning for the win, while Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez (1-5) took the loss.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman enjoyed a seven-inning, 104-pitch outing. He surrendered his two runs on nine hits and two walks and fanned only two Cardinals.
He gave way to reliever Genesis Cabrera, who gave up a one-out homer to Thomas Saggese, his first in 2024, that tied the game in the eighth.
The Cardinals started swiftly with four straight singles to open the game. But they exited the first inning with only two runs on an RBI single to centre from Nolan Arendao and a fielder’s choice from Saggese.
Gausman required 28 pitches to escape the first inning but settled down to allow his teammates to snatch the lead in the fourth.
He also deftly pitched out of threats from the visitors in the fifth, sixth and seventh thanks to some solid defence, including Will Wagner’s diving stop, which led to a double play to end the fifth inning.
George Springer led off with a walk and stole second base. He advanced to third on Nathan Lukes’s single and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked in his 95th run with a double off the left-field wall.
Lukes scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Spencer Horwitz. Guerrero touched home on Kirk’s two-out single to right.
In the ninth, Guerrero made a critical diving catch on an Arenado grounder to throw out the Cardinals’ infielder, with reliever Tommy Nance covering first. The defensive gem ended the inning with a runner on second base.
St. Louis starter Erick Fedde faced the minimum night batters in the first three innings thanks to a pair of double plays. He lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
ON DECK
Toronto ace Jose Berrios (15-9) will start the second of the three-game series on Saturday. He has a six-game win streak.
The Cardinals will counter with righty Kyle Gibson (8-6).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
