Dricus Du Plessis is set to clear up any questions on his first battle with Sean Strickland in Saturday’s UFC 312 title rematch.
After Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) took the middleweight title from Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in a debated cut up determination at UFC 297 in January 2024, the pair will run it again in the principle occasion at Qudos Financial institution Area in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+). Each males are extremely assured they deserved the nod within the first assembly and plan to go away little question within the sequel.
Whereas Strickland, 33, strives to regain the belt he felt “robbed” of 13 months in the past, Du Plessis, 31, appears to shut this chapter of the story. He doesn’t see the controversy across the first end result, regardless of UFC CEO Dana White claiming he scored it for Strickland.
“For me, the cut up determination was the most important shock to me,” Du Plessis advised reporters at UFC 312 media day. “I didn’t suppose it was a cut up determination. … I’m very comfortable that they made this battle. I used to be asking for this battle up till the Khamzat (Chimaev) win (over Robert Whittaker) occurred, after which I might’ve most popular that battle, however I’m actually comfortable this battle’s occurring as a result of now I can go and say, ‘What are you going to say?’ I’m going to place this to mattress. All of the silly followers who imagine he gained that battle, I can simply exit and put this behind me.
“I didn’t get fortunate. I wasn’t gifted a belt. I fought for 5 rounds ahead. Twenty-three minutes ahead in a 25-minute battle warrants a win. That’s the man who’s attempting to battle, not the man who’s attempting to level.”
Though there was a craving from followers for Du Plessis to make his subsequent title protection towards the unbeaten Chimaev, the champion is in the end proud of the scenario. He sees Strickland as a severe menace, and there’s no scarcity of motivation for him on a number of layers.
“I believe Strickland is the perfect middleweight on this planet proper now, behind myself, and he deserves to be right here,” Du Plessis stated. “I do know he’s an unimaginable, unimaginable fighter. He’s so good defensively. He’s powerful. He’s onerous to hit and if you hit him it doesn’t have that impact as on regular guys. This man is an apex predator. That is the hardest battle of my life arising, and I’m prepared for that as a result of I’m an apex predator and he’s in my space proper now.
“We’re going to go to that darkish place from the get-go and we’ll see who comes out. And I can’t await that as a result of even when this goes to a call once more, it is going to be an all-out battle and it is going to be little question that I’m the perfect on this planet.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 312.
Make sure to go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of blended martial arts.
