Dricus Du Plessis Gears Up for Legacy-Defining Fight Against Sean Strickland at UFC 312

South African middleweight sensation Dricus Du Plessis faces a crucial challenge this Sunday at UFC 312 in Sydney. The 31-year-old will defend his title for the second time, taking on former champion Sean Strickland at the Qudos Bank Arena. Du Plessis, who has made a name for himself by defeating legendary fighters like Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, enters the fight with an impressive unbeaten streak in the UFC.

Should Du Plessis succeed in defending his title against Strickland, he will extend his unbeaten run in the UFC to nine fights, marking an incredible five years without a loss. With so much at stake, Du Plessis has made it clear that he intends to go for a finish from the very start.

“I’m going out there looking for that finish from the first bell,” Du Plessis said ahead of the fight. “And if it has to go to the last bell, I’ll be looking for that knockout from the word go to the end of that fight.”

Despite having gone the full five rounds with Strickland in their first encounter a year ago, Du Plessis is confident in his ability to bring a decisive end to the bout, even if it means going the distance again.

Before the Strickland rematch was confirmed, many expected Du Plessis to face Chechen fighter Khamzat Chimaev. While Du Plessis acknowledges that Strickland deserves the rematch as the No. 1-ranked contender, he admitted that he would have preferred to fight the undefeated Chimaev, whose fighting style is known for creating explosive moments in the cage.

“The rematch was the next one up,” Du Plessis shared. “I would have preferred that Khamzat (Chimaev) fight, but he (Strickland) was the one – and here we are.”

Du Plessis also expressed his frustration with the lack of excitement surrounding the Strickland rematch, especially with a title fight on the line. Despite the UFC 312 card featuring two title bouts, the event hasn’t generated as much buzz due to Strickland’s relatively less exciting fighting style.

However, Strickland’s dominant performance and ranking make the rematch a logical next step in Du Plessis’ quest for continued dominance in the middleweight division.

Since their first encounter, both fighters have developed a mutual respect for each other. Strickland praised Du Plessis for his gritty fighting style and willingness to engage in brutal exchanges. “That’s all something we could strive to do, to go out there and want to die,” Strickland commented. “Congratulations Dricus for fighting tough.”

Du Plessis, in turn, acknowledged Strickland’s heart and toughness, noting that the American fighter was more than willing to go to war. “The man is at least willing to throw down. I got to respect that,” said Du Plessis. “You can expect a war once again, absolutely. Two guys trying to kill each other.”

With both fighters bringing immense intensity and a shared respect for each other’s toughness, UFC 312 is shaping up to be another thrilling chapter in the middleweight division. For Du Plessis, this fight represents a chance to solidify his legacy as one of the sport’s best, while Strickland looks to reclaim his title and prove that he’s still a force in the UFC.

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com