Dricus Du Plessis Dominates Sean Strickland in Rematch
UFC 312 delivered a thrilling night of action at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The stacked fight card culminated in a dominant performance by middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.
The South African fighter retained his title with a commanding unanimous decision win over Sean Strickland, securing his second victory over the American in just over a year. Therefore, it is no surprise that Dricus du Plessis is also Betway’s latest global ambassador!
Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2
Dricus Du Plessis showcased his striking superiority and tactical approach in a one-sided rematch against Sean Strickland. Unlike their first encounter, which ended in a controversial decision, this bout left no doubts about the winner. Dricus dominated throughout and fought with honour and class.
Round-by-Round Breakdown
- Round 1: Du Plessis pressed forward while Strickland stayed on the back foot. The South African landed solid jabs and leg kicks, setting the pace early.
- Round 2: Du Plessis increased his aggression, mixing up his striking with body shots and overhand rights. Strickland struggled to counter effectively and remained defensive.
- Round 3: The champion continued his dominance, using his reach advantage to keep Strickland at bay. The American attempted to push forward but repeatedly ate counters.
- Round 4: Du Plessis landed a clean right cross, breaking Strickland’s nose. Blood streamed down as Strickland pawed at the injury, visibly shaken. However, Stillknocks did give him 30 seconds to compose himself.
- Round 5: Du Plessis maintained his composure and kept Strickland on the back foot, cruising to a unanimous decision victory (50-45, 50-45, 49-46).
In his post-fight interview, Du Plessis expressed respect for his opponent, stating, “Sean is an absolute animal and deserves all the credit for his toughness.” Meanwhile, Strickland conceded defeat, saying, “He kicked my (expletive) fair and square. Props to him.”
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Other UFC 312 Fights
Co-Main Event: Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez
Strawweight champion Zhang Weili defended her title with a clinical performance against Tatiana Suarez. Despite Suarez’s renowned wrestling skills, Zhang nullified her opponent’s grappling and secured a dominant unanimous decision win (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).
Tallison Teixeira vs. Justin Tafa
Tallison Teixeira made a statement in his UFC debut, knocking out Justin Tafa in just 35 seconds. The Brazilian heavyweight remains undefeated, now boasting an 8-0 record.
Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato
Jimmy Crute and Rodolfo Bellato battled to a draw (28-28, 29-27, 28-28) in a hard-fought welterweight contest. Crute had hoped for a decisive victory but recorded his second draw in three fights.
Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado
Jake Matthews claimed a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Francisco Prado in a welterweight clash, opening the main card with a strong performance.
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Who Will Dricus Du Plessis Face Next?
Du Plessis has made his intentions clear, Khamzat Chimaev is next. The South African champion remains focused on cementing his legacy as the greatest middleweight of all time and sees Chimaev as the next challenge to overcome.
“I want to be the greatest to ever do this. But Khamzat is next. Khamzat is next. I want to make sure that this belt, this middleweight title, leaves no question that I’m the GOAT of the middleweight division,” Du Plessis said in his post-fight interview.
While he acknowledged his respect for light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and expressed interest in a future superfight, Du Plessis emphasized that his immediate priority is defending his title against Chimaev. Pereira, who is set to defend his belt against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, remains a long-term goal, but for now, all eyes are on a blockbuster showdown between Du Plessis and the undefeated Chechen contender. Therefore stay tuned for Dricus du Plessis next fight!
Solidified His Legacy
UFC 312 will be remembered as the night Dricus Du Plessis cemented himself as the undisputed middleweight champion. His ability to neutralize Strickland with superior striking and fight IQ leaves little doubt about his place at the top of the division. With an entire nation behind him, South Africa’s first UFC champion continues to prove that he’s here to stay. Now, all eyes are on what’s next for “Stillknocks” as he extends his reign at 185 pounds.
