Dricus du Plessis Retains UFC Middleweight Title in Dominant Fashion
Following his impressive title defense in Sydney, South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis made it clear that he still has unfinished business in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Du Plessis showcased his skills and outclassed American Sean Strickland for a full 25 minutes to retain his title at UFC312 in Sydney. The judges unanimously scored the fight in favor of the South African, solidifying his position as the top fighter in the middleweight division.
Just over a year ago, Du Plessis won the title from Strickland in a closely contested split decision. However, this time around, there was no doubt as Du Plessis delivered a dominant performance, breaking Strickland’s nose in the third round.
‘Kicked my ass’
Despite the injury, Strickland showed incredible resilience and refused to back down. After the fight, he acknowledged Du Plessis’ superiority, stating, “He kicked my ass fair and square, props to him.”
Du Plessis, known for his unique fighting style, remained composed throughout the bout. Reflecting on his performance, he mentioned, “The big thing for me was, I was more calm, more calculated. I got a bit carried away when I broke his nose. I smelt blood and my corner had to settle me down.”
With this victory, Du Plessis extended his winning streak in the UFC to an impressive nine fights.
Next in Line
While there have been talks of a potential move to the light heavyweight division for Du Plessis, he emphasized that there is still plenty to accomplish in the middleweight category. He expressed his desire to face undefeated Russian fighter Khamzat Chimaev next, stating, “Khamzat is next. I want to make sure that there is no doubt that I am the best middleweight and he deserves a hiding.”
When asked about his gameplan against Chimaev, a world-class freestyle wrestler, Du Plessis confidently replied, “My gameplan against him will be to outwrestle him.”
In the co-main event of the evening, Chinese strawweight champion Zhang Weili successfully defended her title for the third consecutive time by defeating Tatiana Suarez. Zhang, with a record of 26-3, highlighted her preparation and focus on herself leading to the victory.
