“I always knew if I’m in trouble fighting one of the, if not the best strikers ever in this division, I need that takedown,” Du Plessis, 30, said after his first title defence since winning the belt in January.
“This man is the king of getting back up. No one can take him down and keep him there.”
Du Plessis had taken Adesanya down in the second round and attempted to choke him, but the challenger got back up and ripped into Du Plessis with kicks and punches to the body in the third round.
“Believe me, I do not want to get kicked by that man again,” Du Plessis said. “Izzy, if you decide to retire tonight, thank you.”
Adesanya, who has now lost three of his last four fights, said he intended to keep going.
“I just made a stupid, dumb mistake,” he said. “I’m 35, I’m doing the right things… watch this, I’m not leaving.”
