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 in a dominant unanimous decision victory at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. The judges scored the fight 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 in favor of Du Plessis, who controlled the bout from start to finish. The South African champion broke Strickland’s nose in the fourth round with a clean right hand, further solidifying his dominance in the fight.
Du Plessis, now 23-2 in his career, expressed his desire for a decisive finish but acknowledged Strickland’s durability, stating, “To knock out that man is next to impossible.” Strickland, who had previously claimed he was robbed in their first meeting in January 2024, struggled to mount significant offense and was visibly affected by the broken nose. Despite occasional jabs and counters, Strickland’s corner urged him to increase his output, but he was unable to turn the tide.
With the victory, Du Plessis has firmly closed the chapter on his rivalry with Strickland and now looks ahead to potential challenges in the middleweight division, including undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland, meanwhile, falls to 29-7 and faces an uncertain future in the division.
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