UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis says his mindset heading right into a battle is what separates him from the remainder.
Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) defends his title in opposition to Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in a rematch, which headlines Saturday’s UFC 312 occasion at Qudos Financial institution Enviornment in Sydney. The principle card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
Du Plessis has discovered immense success within the octagon, which has result in wins over the likes of Robert Whittaker, Strickland, and most not too long ago Israel Adesanya. He attributes his accomplishments to his mindset within the cage.
“Once I go in there, if the ref doesn’t cease it, I’m not stopping,” Du Plessis advised Mark Bouris. “I could be sitting on you for 10 minutes bashing your face and if the ref doesn’t say cease, I’m not stopping. That’s the query that me, as a modern-day gladiator has to ask myself: Am I nonetheless keen to die Completely. That’s simple.
“It’s, are you keen to kill a person in entrance of his household? Sure, I’m, and that’s why I’m the world champion. I say sure to that query each single time. However that’s Dricus ‘Stillknocks’ Du Plessis. That’s not Dricus the man that you simply see proper right here.”
Separation from Strickland
Strickland challenged Du Plessis to a striking-only battle after getting taken down six instances of their first battle at UFC 297. Nevertheless, Du Plessis thinks Strickland’s phrases don’t match his combating fashion.
“That was precisely what we did the final time,” Du Plessis mentioned. “He mentioned, ‘To dying, let’s go, let’s battle to dying,’ and the person threw a jab and a teep for 5 rounds. And that is stats, you possibly can verify it. For 23 minutes, I went ahead. He went ahead for 2 minutes.
“That may be a very clear indication of who’s there to battle and who’s there to defend. He’s not banging. And pay attention, very efficient fashion, however let’s not go and act as if Sean Strickland’s fights are entertaining. The person has eight cut up choices – six victories and two losses. That’s not someone who’s on the lookout for an thrilling battle.”
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