Chael Sonnen expects more from Sean Strickland in rematch

Chael Sonnen sees Sean Strickland popping out with an additional hearth at UFC 312.

Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) runs issues again with middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) within the Feb. 8 headliner at Qudos Financial institution Area in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

Strickland misplaced his middleweight title to Du Plessis by cut up determination in a aggressive back-and-forth contest at UFC 297. Strickland is adamant that he gained the battle, however Sonnen disagrees.

“If there has ever been a man that seems to be one heck of loads higher than I knew he was, it’s Dricus Du Plessis,” Sonnen stated on “Good Man/Unhealthy Man” with Daniel Cormier. “The opposite aspect of that coin, Sean Strickland has talked himself up very a lot and has a excessive degree of confidence as a result of he believes he beat him the primary time. He believes he dominated him. That’s not what I noticed.

“As a matter of truth, I’m unsure Sean didn’t lose all 5 rounds on my scorecard. Very shut, actual tight, however on the finish of it, for those who bought to go a 10-9, I’m unsure I didn’t give all of them to Dricus. The one cause I’m saying that is I don’t need Sean to essentially fall for what he’s believing. I would like him to review this man, I would like him to have a special sport plan for this man, I would like him to actually take Dricus severe.”

With Strickland now the hunter not the hunted, Sonnen thinks that may deliver out additional added motivation from him.

“I do consider, Sean Strickland, when he was the champion of the world, didn’t care, or a minimum of that’s what he was saying,” Sonnen continued. “The second he misplaced that belt, boy that care meter went by way of the roof. And I do consider Sean goes to battle higher attempting to re-gain one thing than to defend one thing. That’s my very own perception, however that’s the battle to make. Winner attracts in (Khamzat) Chimaev, I can drink to that.”