Because the blood sprayed out of Sean Strickland’s nostril and throughout his chest and the combat floor, UFC CEO Dana White realized one thing from cageside.
Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) misplaced the UFC 312 most important occasion to Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC), who largely dominated him. Nonetheless, White glowed about Strickland’s composure throughout a post-fight information convention.
“Sean is normally actually good at shutting individuals down, like Izzy (Adesanya), White advised reporters. “When he fought Izzy, Izzy felt prefer it appeared like he couldn’t get in a rhythm and he was in his face pressuring him the entire time. It looks like that’s what Dricus did. I’ll let you know one thing fascinating that I observed tonight for the primary time. I don’t know why. We’ll see in case you discover this. So, Sean Strickland, the way in which he acts main as much as fights, proper? Usually, when you’ve individuals who act the way in which that he acts, you see indicators of it in a combat. Who’s extra centered, skilled, and strong in a combat than he’s? When he will get harm, there’s no protruding the tongue, or ‘No, no, that didn’t harm me.’ The man stays centered, retains coming ahead. There’s by no means any trace of how he acts exterior the octagon when he’s in there. Absolute skilled the entire time. It’s truly fascinating. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that with a man who acts the way in which he does main as much as fights.”
The loss Saturday was a lopsided unanimous choice in Du Plessis’ favor. Strickland battled by a severely busted nostril for a lot of the combat, however didn’t stop. White praised his toughness and focus.
“I’ve by no means seen a man so strong {and professional},” White mentioned. “He will get his nostril damaged, snaps it again into place, and retains preventing. He will get hit with some nasty pictures. When he will get hit with massive pictures, he doesn’t begin shaking his head and begin doing the goofy issues that folks like that do (like) Mayorga. You possibly can go into any fight sport and also you’ve seen it. No person is extra skilled throughout the combat than this man is. It’s fascinating.”
Strickland, 33, has gone 1-2 since he received the UFC middleweight title in September 2023. Each of the losses in that stretch have are available in title fights vs. Du Plessis.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 312.
Be sure you go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of blended martial arts.
