In slightly below two weeks, Dricus Du Plessis will make the second protection of his middleweight strap in a much-anticipated rematch with Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Australia on Feb. 8. In what turned the most effective fights of 2024, each males left all the things within the cage on the Scotiabank Enviornment, with Strickland badly busting up the challenger’s face and Du Plessis bloodying the champion.
The bout was extremely shut on the scorecards, nevertheless it was the South African who in the end gained by break up resolution to turn out to be the most effective 185-lb competitor on this planet.
Sean Strickland Able to Run It Again
Whereas he did lose his belt by the thinnest of margins, Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) nonetheless proved that he’s a prime striker within the division after leaving the brand new champion’s face positively battered. Nonetheless, the place Dricus Du Plessis appeared to have the clear benefit was within the grappling division, touchdown six takedowns over the course of their first contest. Reaching out to middleweight king “Stillknocks” on social media through Full Violence, Sean Strickland has not too long ago set forth a wierd request for him, encouraging the champion to maintain the combat on the ft.
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“Hear, Dutchman, I’m going to wish you to be a person,” Sean Strickland started “and I’m going to wish you to face up, not go to your knees, and we’re going to wish to strike like males. I do know you wish to wrestle, and also you wish to choke individuals out and do some homosexual (expletive deleted), dude, however I’ll make a pact with you. You make a pact with me that we get up like males, and we settle this like males.”
Sean Strickland Returned to Victory Lane, Du Plessis Not Shopping for Request
Final seen at UFC 302 this previous summer season, Strickland bought himself again within the win column following his loss to Du Plessis by defeating former title challenger Paulo Costa by break up resolution.
Talking with Fox Sports activities Australia forward of their rematch, Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) seems to brush off Sean Strickland’s makes an attempt at maintaining takedowns out of their second encounter, reaffirming his combined martial arts combating fashion.
“Look, it’s a ridiculous factor to ask. If you wish to make pacts about us simply standing up, go do boxing,” Du Plessis stated. “I don’t go into fights considering I’ve to face up or take the man down. I do what the state of affairs tells me to do. That’s what MMA fighters do. I’m comfy in every single place.”
Although, the South African phenom did acknowledge that he very probably will stand with the American the entire time, highlighting that he has the fuel tank and energy to present the challenger a tough night time on the workplace.
“one hundred pc, I believe we’re most certainly going to maintain it standing. I do know I’ve the cardio, I do know I can push him again and I do know I’ve the facility to knock him out,” he stated. “So for me, that’s nice. Then, if the chance involves get a takedown, it’s a choice it’s important to make instantly. If you happen to see the second, you are taking it.”
In his final journey to the UFC Octagon, Du Plessis battled earlier five-time defending middleweight king Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, choking out “The Final Stylebender” to notch his first title protection.
