Dricus Du Plessis Defends UFC Middleweight Title Against Sean Strickland
Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his UFC middleweight title for the second time, defeating Sean Strickland via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) in the main event of UFC 312 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The South African champion outworked Strickland from the outset, landing heavier strikes and controlling the fight. A pivotal moment came in the fourth round when Du Plessis shattered Strickland’s nose with a clean right hand, leaving the American bloodied but determined to continue. Despite Strickland’s resilience, Du Plessis maintained his dominance, securing a decisive victory and cementing his status as the division’s top fighter.
This rematch, following Du Plessis’ controversial split-decision win over Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024, put their rivalry to rest. Du Plessis, now 23-2 in his career, extended his winning streak to 11 fights, with all nine of his UFC victories coming consecutively. Strickland, who had previously upset Israel Adesanya to claim the title, struggled to match Du Plessis’ output and urgency throughout the bout.
The victory solidifies Du Plessis’ reign as middleweight champion, with potential challenges from contenders like Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov on the horizon. Strickland, meanwhile, will need to regroup after falling short in his bid to reclaim the title.
Main Card Results | UFC 312: Du Plessis vs Strickland 2
See The Fight Results, Watch Post-Fight Interviews With The Main Card Winners And More From UFC 312: Du Plessis vs Strickland 2, Live From Qudos Bank
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