Dricus du Plessis became the new middleweight champion following a five-round fight with Sean Strickland at UFC 297, winning by split decision with two judges scoring the fight 48-47 in his favor.
Dricus du Plessis made good on his vow. He emerged as the middleweight champion after a grueling five-round battle with Sean Strickland. This was the highlight of UFC 297, which took place in Canada last Saturday night.
Du Plessis showcased a clever blend of takedowns and footwork. He managed to put Strickland, known for his aggression, on the back foot during many of the fight’s key exchanges. He even managed to open a couple of cuts on Strickland’s face. All the while, du Plessis was careful not to let Strickland’s jab get the better of him.
The fight was a nail-biter, lasting all 25 minutes. Two of the judges scored it 48-47 in favor of du Plessis. The third judge, however, gave Strickland the same score. Despite this, du Plessis won by split decision, ending Strickland’s brief reign over the 185-pound division.
Du Plessis was reflective post-fight. “I honestly thought with the takedowns, I made sure on every round,” he said. He acknowledged the fight’s closeness and praised Strickland’s resilience. He also admitted that the first three rounds were a give-and-take affair. However, he was confident about his performance in the last two rounds.
He didn’t mince words about Strickland’s jab either. He described it as “super, super strong” and compared it to being hit with a rock. He stressed the importance of making Strickland move backwards. He also thanked Strickland for bringing out the best in him and expressed his honor in sharing the cage with him.
Strickland started the fight with a lead jab. This strategy had previously helped him win the belt. He also checked kicks from du Plessis and used a front kick to keep him at bay. Du Plessis, on the other hand, was loading up his punches. Strickland’s “death by a thousand cuts” approach remained consistent, as he continued to jab and follow up with a right hand.
Du Plessis managed to land another takedown. However, Strickland quickly scrambled free and reset in the center of the cage. By the end of the second round, du Plessis was showing signs of the constant jabs from Strickland. His left eye had started to swell significantly.
This didn’t stop du Plessis from pressing on. He became more aggressive, but his accuracy was lacking. Strickland continued to jab him relentlessly. As the fourth round began, du Plessis started to apply more pressure. He landed a well-timed inside elbow on Strickland, opening another cut on his head.
Strickland’s vision was clearly impaired as he tried to wipe away the blood. Du Plessis capitalized on this and took him down. He varied his attacks, not giving Strickland a moment’s respite.
As the fifth and final round approached, Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, urged him to give it his all. Strickland responded by jabbing du Plessis and blocking his takedowns. He also landed two solid right hands behind his jab, hitting du Plessis on the side of his head. Both fighters continued to exchange blows as time ran out, making for an exciting finish to the five-round battle.
The scorecards could have gone either way, but du Plessis emerged victorious. Strickland congratulated him and expressed his hope for a rematch. He admitted to being disappointed, but also acknowledged du Plessis as the new champion.
Du Plessis seems ready for his next challenge. He called out former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, urging him to return to the UFC. Given the animosity between the two, a match could be on the horizon. Meanwhile, Strickland might be waiting in the wings.