While Adesanya had been ahead on the scorecards going into the championship rounds, a critical error on the ground allowed Du Plessis to secure a rear-naked choke, ending Adesanya’s hopes of regaining the title.
In hindsight, Adesanya acknowledged his mistake, stating, “I felt strong and defended against his takedowns well. I simply made a foolish mistake on the ground, and he effectively capitalized on it with the Gable grip.”