Israel Adesanya provided a memorable performance despite coming up short in his return to action at UFC 305.

This past Saturday — Sunday local time — in Perth, Australia, Adesanya ended the longest hiatus of his lengthy combat sports career. The 11-month absence culminated with the possibility of rebounding off a loss, making history, and spoiling the evening for the new champion Dricus du Plessis. Unfortunately for Adesanya, he did make some personal history, as he suffered his first submission loss when he tapped to a fourth-round face crank.

The finishing sequence began immediately after what appeared to be a taunt from “The Last Stylebender,” who pointed toward du Plessis similarly to Max Holloway’s iconic brawl initiations. However, Adesanya clarified he wasn’t trying to replicate “Blessed,” but just highlighting a slip before he was inevitably swarmed and finished by the champion. Earlier in the round, Adesanya thought things were heading towards a finish in his favor.

“He’s tough, he’s stubborn. That’s what it is,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Even if he’s tired, which one was it, I sprawled on him, was it round four? Beginning of round four, I hit him with one of the meanest sprawls because he just shot and I just put his face into the mat, and boom. I tried to kick his body and then told him to get up. [Referee] Marc [Goddard] was like, ‘Get up,’ and he laid there on the ground and took a breath, and I was like, ‘He is done,’ so I try to go for him.

“Even at that moment, he swang at me, so I was like, ‘F*ck.’ That stopped my momentum right there. He’s stubborn, most guys wouldn’t be able to do that while they are tired. He’s going to throw anyway because he needs to stop their momentum. He’s just going to throw anyway. At least it stops me in my tracks, so I have to reset and have to come again and it gives him a little bit of breathing space for a second or two.”

The bad blood built between the two ahead of the bout predominantly surrounded heritage differences. Du Plessis became South Africa’s first champion upon his coronation while Adesanya held gold before him as one of the first three original African UFC champions alongside welterweight and heavyweight champions, Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou.

Tensions were high in several meetings ahead of fight night. The immediate aftermath saw a respectful union of sorts as it was respectful in both directions and Adesanya is maintaining that going forward.

“I don’t think he’s a bad person. I don’t know him,” Adesanya said. “Again, like he said, we’re not friends. We don’t know each other, but we’re cool. I respect him. I said, ‘Look, he has the torch now. F*cking inspire the people.’

“He started this with division. I’d rather not do that. I’d rather just unity. I don’t care what it is, we need unity. Especially for the continent of Africa. I don’t want us to be fighting each other even though there’s other people who want that — people in Africa who want that. People outside of Africa who want division because that’s how they can control people. I’d rather unity.”

As one of the most active champions in UFC history, Adesanya won’t retire now that he’s gotten back in the mix. No specific timetable on when he’ll fight again has been decided, but it will come.

“I could fight this weekend,” Adesanya said. “We’ll see when [I return]. I just want to get back to the gym.”

TOP STORIES

Answers. UFC 305 mailbag: Dricus du Plessis as Schrödinger’s MMA fighter, plus more from a busy night in Perth

Progress. Judge sets new trial date for UFC antitrust lawsuit in 2025, settlement still possible

Onward. Israel Adesanya not desperate to rematch Dricus du Plessis after UFC 305 loss

Critique. Michael Bisping drags ‘pathetic individual’ Jake Paul over Mike Tyson fight: ‘You are a disgrace’

Strategy. Dricus du Plessis reveals game plan that beat Israel Adesanya, what he told him after UFC 305

Movement. MMA Pound-for-Pound Rankings: Is Dricus du Plessis a top-5 fighter in the world after UFC 305?

Battle. Judge overturns verdict, rules for Manny Pacquiao against agency that also represents Conor McGregor

Plans. UFC reveals schedule and locations for the rest of 2024, including UFC 309 and UFC 310

LET’S WATCH

UFC Vegas 96 promo.

Full fights.

PFL DC Fight Week Vlog.

MORNING MUSIC

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!

This month’s full playlist:

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Wordplay.

These guys.

Crazy!

Talent.

Here comes Bo from the top rope.

All in the footwork.

Observation.

Choices.

Grappling beefs are just different.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tresean Gore (5-2) vs. Antonio Trócoli (12-4); UFC Vegas 100, Nov. 9

FINAL THOUGHTS

I forgot to mention yesterday that I saw Foo Fighters on Friday. Absolutely exceptional show. Dave Grohl is the GOAT.

Thanks for reading!

EXIT POLL

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.