Sean Strickland’s Injury Claim Casts Shadow on Title Fight Outcome
In the aftermath of UFC 297, the MMA community remains divided over the middleweight title clash between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis. The event, held in Toronto, Canada, witnessed Du Plessis snatching the middleweight belt from Strickland in a split decision that has since sparked debates and controversies.
Sean Strickland, a former UFC champion, is vocal about what he believes was an unfair loss to Dricus du Plessis. The fight, described by many as a close and contentious battle, left both fighters with visible facial injuries. Strickland, however, claims that a critical headbutt, which he alleges was intentional, played a decisive role in the outcome.
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Directly post-fight, Strickland insisted that the facial injuries, particularly a significant cut, were the result of a headbutt, significantly impacting his performance. He even suggested that he could have won by disqualification due to Du Plessis’s action. His claim continued to resonate on social media, where he expressed his belief that he deserved victory: “I didn’t take the coward’s way out. The world knows I won that fight… The belt they gave you will never make you a champion.”
In response, Du Plessis displayed no remorse, quipping on the same social media post, “Why don’t you cry about it… AGAIN?”
The aftermath
Du Plessis setting his sights on Israel Adesanya for UFC 300, dismissing a potential bout with Khamzat Chimaev.
The dispute over the legitimacy of the win adds another chapter to the sport’s storied history of controversial decisions. As Strickland seeks validation and Du Plessis looks ahead, the MMA world continues to debate and discuss the fallout of UFC 297’s headline event.
