Dricus Du Plessis Dominates Sean Strickland in UFC 312 Title Rematch

Dricus Du Plessis solidified his reign as UFC middleweight champion with a commanding victory over Sean Strickland in their rematch at UFC 312. The fight, held at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, showcased a more composed and calculated Du Plessis, who controlled the bout from start to finish, earning a unanimous decision victory with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46.

From the opening round, Du Plessis took a measured approach, mixing up his striking and targeting different areas of Strickland’s defense. Unlike their first encounter, where Strickland landed a higher volume of strikes, the champion shut down much of his opponent’s offense this time. Strickland, known for his durable stand-up game, struggled to find his rhythm against Du Plessis’ relentless pace and improved striking accuracy.

As the fight progressed, the champion’s power and precision began to wear on Strickland. Round 2 saw blood drawn on both fighters in an intense exchange, but Du Plessis kept the pressure high, landing the more significant shots. Strickland’s corner urged him to increase his output in Round 3, but Du Plessis remained a step ahead, even securing a takedown, though he was unable to capitalize on it.

The defining moment of the fight came in Round 4 when Du Plessis shattered Strickland’s nose with a perfectly timed right hand. Blood poured from the injury as Strickland retreated, visibly affected by the damage. Sensing the opportunity to end the fight, Du Plessis went on the attack, landing a barrage of strikes. However, Strickland managed to survive the round, telling his corner between rounds that he had reset his own nose.

Entering the fifth round, Strickland needed a finish to reclaim the title, but Du Plessis remained in control, refusing to allow any last-minute heroics. The champion continued to press forward, landing strikes with greater efficiency and dictating the pace until the final horn. As the decision was announced, there was no doubt about the outcome—Du Plessis had successfully defended his title for the second time and extended his UFC record to 9-0.

With this victory, Du Plessis has now bested Strickland twice and added another dominant performance to his résumé. While Strickland earned his rematch after a hard-fought win over Paulo Costa, he was unable to solve the puzzle that Du Plessis presented. Looking ahead, the champion is expected to face Khamzat Chimaev in his next title defense, a matchup already generating significant buzz. However, Du Plessis may have even bigger aspirations, as he stared down UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira after the fight, signaling his ambitions beyond the middleweight division.

Following the event, Du Plessis made his intentions clear. “I am a top-three pound-for-pound fighter as of tonight, and I’m coming for that number one spot,” he declared in his post-fight interview. Whether he faces Chimaev next or pursues a showdown with Pereira, Du Plessis has firmly established himself as one of the most formidable champions in the UFC today.

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