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Dricus Du Plessis had already secured a victory over Sean Strickland before stepping into UFC 312. This time, he was looking for a definitive statement—and he delivered.
Du Plessis (23-2) left no room for doubt on Saturday in Sydney, defeating Strickland (29-7) for the second time to claim the 185-pound title. While the South African champion couldn’t secure a finish, he dominated all five rounds, earning a unanimous decision with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46.
This performance stood in stark contrast to their first meeting in January 2024, which Du Plessis won by majority decision.
"I told you I came here looking for a knockout, but putting that man away is nearly impossible," Du Plessis said after the fight, having landed 129 total strikes. "I wanted a submission, a KO, or a complete five-round domination—and that’s exactly what I got."
What’s Next for Du Plessis?
After his victory, Du Plessis set his sights on light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who was in Strickland’s corner. While a move up in weight is an option, Du Plessis still has plenty of challenges at middleweight—including undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev.
Chimaev wasted no time reacting to the result, posting on X: "Biggest bulls--- is this fight."
One thing is certain: Strickland is no longer in the picture. The 33-year-old had been confident heading into the rematch, believing he won their first fight 13 months ago in Toronto. However, he struggled to gain momentum this time and became an easy target after Du Plessis broke his nose in the fourth round.
A perfectly placed right hand from Du Plessis did the damage, forcing Strickland to retreat as he repeatedly wiped at his nose. Strickland acknowledged the injury in his post-fight comments, admitting it took him out of the fight.
"The game plan was to stay composed, but when I saw him grabbing at his nose, it was like having a rocked opponent in front of me," Du Plessis said. "It took me 30 seconds to a minute to regain my focus. I don’t want to make a habit of going to decisions, but against someone like Strickland, it happens."
From the opening round, Du Plessis found success with his left head kick, repeatedly landing it throughout the fight. Strickland, meanwhile, struggled to match the pace, with his corner—led by Eric Nicksick—pleading with him to increase his output between rounds.
Heading into UFC 312, ESPN had Du Plessis ranked as the No. 9 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. After this dominant performance, his stock is only rising.
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