The Ultimate Fighting Championship has always been a platform for fierce rivalries and dramatic rematches, but few have generated as much hype as the middleweight title rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland at UFC 312. Their first encounter was a closely contested battle, with Du Plessis emerging victorious via a narrow split decision. This outcome has left fans and analysts in a divided state, setting the stage for a much-awaited rematch. As the MMA community buzzes with predictions and analyses, it is important to delve into the fighters’ backgrounds, their previous bout, and the factors that could influence the outcome of their upcoming clash.
Background of the Fighters
Dricus Du Plessis
Born in South Africa, Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis has rocketed up the middleweight rankings with a remarkable balance of striking and grappling abilities. With 22 wins and only 2 losses on his professional record, he has scored 9 knockout and 11 submission victories. Since joining the UFC in 2020, he has not lost a single fight, defeating Markus Perez, Trevin Giles, Brad Tavares, Darren Till, Derek Brunson, and Robert Whittaker. His forward pressure and finishing ability make him a very tough opponent for anyone in the division.
Sean Strickland
A U.S. fighter with great knockout acumen and an unorthodox style, Sean “Tarzan” Strickland is a professional mixed martial artist who has achieved 29 wins against 6 losses, with 11 of his wins coming via knockout and 4 via submission. After dropping back down to middleweight in 2020, Strickland reeled off six straight victories, showcasing his precision in striking and toughness. Despite losses against Alex Pereira and Jared Cannonier, Du Plessis responded with victory over Nassourdine Imavov and then Abusupiyan Magomedov, thereby winning the title of middleweight champion by overcoming Israel Adesanya. No one knows for sure what type of fight one will get.
The First Contest
The initial contest between Du Plessis and Strickland occurred during January 2024. That was a classic back-and-forth fight and both fighters certainly had their periods. Du Plessis used the characteristic forward pressure, trying to close the gap and use grappling, whereas Strickland sought to keep it standing with the help of strikes and movement. After five bloody rounds, a split decision verdict was given to Du Plessis, who many fans along with Strickland felt deserved not to be the case. The fight might have gone in either direction.
Paths to Victory in the Rematch
With the rematch looming, analysts have taken apart the various strategies each fighter might use to win.
Dricus Du Plessis
For Du Plessis, the secret to victory will be to keep up his relentless forward pressure and mix his striking with takedown attempts. In their first bout, his ability to close the distance and engage in clinch situations disrupted Strickland’s rhythm. Through cleaning up his submissions and having a good guarantee to get submissions or control time inside the cage, Du Plessis should neutralize the striking advantage by Strickland. Moreover, if he really puts emphasis on bodywork, it could play a huge pay-off in wear Strickland down over time in the bout.
Sean Strickland
The way of winning for Strickland relies heavily on distance maintenance and high usage of better striking. In the rematch, he will need to be much more aggressive with a higher volume of strikes, which will put Du Plessis on the back foot. Adding in some uppercuts might expose Du Plessis when he is trying to move forward, and incorporating the occasional takedown attempt would keep Du Plessis off balance. Strickland has to do better in his takedown defense and avoid extended clinch situations in which Du Plessis can use his wrestling advantage.
Predictions from the Experts
The MMA community is split when it comes to predictions for this rematch. Some analysts believe that Du Plessis’s relentless style and ability to adapt are enough to take him to victory again, perhaps even more devastating than the first. Others argue that the opponent, being wiser from the first encounter, will rectify his mistakes and out-strike Du Plessis to steal back the title. Most notably, former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya came in and believes Du Plessis will get his title again due to how tough he’s being and capable of withstanding the offense by Strickland.
Factors Shaping the Contest
Several factors will determine how the contest of this rematch might end:
- Cardio and Endurance: Both fighters have proven to be capable of going the distance, but the high pace set by Du Plessis could test Strickland’s cardio, especially if the fight involves extensive grappling exchanges.
- Adaptation and game planning: Who makes the better adjustments from the first fight probably has an advantage in this fight. Certainly, strategy changes include improved striking defense from Du Plessis as well as enhanced takedown defense from Strickland.
- Mental Strength: The psychological factor cannot be ignored. Strickland might have lost some of his confidence due to the close decision loss, and Du Plessis might feel the pressure of proving his legitimacy as champion.
- Injury and Recovery: Any injury or issue from training camps might affect performance, though both fighters have not reported significant concerns leading up to the rematch.
Conclusion
The battle at UFC 312 between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland is indeed set to be the most compelling contest this year, which would go on to describe the future direction of the middleweight division. With the two contenders having all tools to secure victory, the fight is expected to be a knockdown contest. As fans and analysts eagerly await the showdown, the consensus is that this rematch will either solidify Du Plessis’s reign as champion or mark the resurgence of Strickland at the pinnacle of the division.
