Dricus du Plessis Defends Middleweight Title with Dominant Victory Over Sean Strickland at UFC 312
Dricus du Plessis solidified his dominance over Sean Strickland in a lopsided rematch at UFC 312, defending his middleweight title with a unanimous decision victory. The fight, held at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, saw du Plessis break Strickland’s nose in the fourth round, leaving the challenger bloodied and struggling to keep pace. Judges scored the bout 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 in favor of the South African champion, who extended his win streak to nine fights.
Du Plessis (23-2) controlled the fight from start to finish, landing significant strikes and effectively neutralizing Strickland’s (29-7) defensive style. Despite Strickland’s toughness and attempts to rally, he failed to match du Plessis’ aggression and precision. The victory marked du Plessis’ second successful title defense and further cemented his status as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC.
In his post-fight comments, du Plessis expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, “I am a top-three pound-for-pound fighter as of tonight, and I’m coming for that No. 1 spot.” Strickland, meanwhile, acknowledged the loss, saying, “The Dutchman is a bad motherf***er, he kicked my ass fair and square, props to him.”
The rematch closed the chapter on their rivalry, which began with du Plessis’ controversial split-decision win over Strickland in January 2024. Strickland had previously upset Israel Adesanya to claim the middleweight title in 2023, but his recent performances have raised questions about his future in the division. Du Plessis, however, remains focused on his reign, tying Chris Weidman for the third-longest win streak in UFC middleweight history.
Looking ahead, du Plessis speculated that Strickland’s next opponent could be Israel Adesanya, suggesting a potential rematch between the two. Adesanya, who recently suffered a knockout loss, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame during the event, adding another layer of intrigue to the middleweight division’s future.
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