Reacts to UFC 312 – Believes Strickland Talks a Lot but Fails to Deliver

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has openly criticized Sean Strickland following his title fight loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312. The event took place last weekend at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Leading up to the event, many fans and analysts felt that the main card was relatively weak in terms of star power. However, the co-main event delivered excitement, as Zhang Weili dominated Tatiana Suarez to retain her strawweight title.

In the main event, middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis defended his belt against Strickland in a five-round war. The South African champion secured a unanimous decision victory with scorecards reading 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46. Despite Strickland’s reputation as a relentless pressure fighter, he failed to pose a significant threat to du Plessis throughout the contest.

Not Impressed

Following the UFC 312 main event, many fans and analysts felt validated in their pre-fight expectations. Strickland relied heavily on jabs and teep kicks to maintain distance, but he failed to implement a more aggressive strategy. His pre-fight rhetoric had included statements about going “to the death”, yet his performance inside the cage did not reflect that mindset.

One of the most talked-about moments of the fight was when Strickland suffered a broken nose in the fourth round after absorbing a powerful right hand from du Plessis. The injury was severe, and Strickland shockingly adjusted his nose back into place during the fight. While some fans praised his toughness, others—including Luke Rockhold—were far less impressed.

Luke Rockhold Slams Strickland

During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Rockhold harshly criticized Strickland for failing to back up his pre-fight talk.

“We all heard this guy say ‘To the death, Dutchman, to the death.’ This motherfcker talks such a big game and then he btches out and basically quits in the fight after breaking his nose.”

Rockhold was particularly critical of Strickland’s reaction to the broken nose, questioning his mindset and priorities during a championship fight.

“You’re in a world title fight, that’s all you want, that’s all you’ve dreamed of, and you’re more worried about fixing your f*cking nose.”

Championship Mentality in Question

Rockhold’s criticism highlights a larger issue in the MMA community—the difference between fighters who embrace adversity and those who struggle to push through difficult moments in the octagon. While Strickland did not quit, Rockhold’s comments reflect a belief that the former champion should have fought with more urgency, especially with a world title on the line.

Strickland has been both praised and criticized for his gritty fighting style and outspoken personality. However, UFC 312 may have exposed limitations in his game when facing a relentless opponent like du Plessis.

As of now, Strickland has yet to respond to Rockhold’s comments, but given his history of outspoken rebuttals, a response may be coming soon.

Source: MMAnytt.se

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