UFC 312: Dricus du Plessis Defeats Strickland – Wins by Decision Again
This Time, the Judges Were Unanimous
Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title by defeating Sean Strickland via unanimous decision at UFC 312, which took place on February 9, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. The judges scored the fight 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 in favor of du Plessis.
This marked the South African champion’s second title defense after he first won the belt from Strickland in January 2024 and later defended it against Israel Adesanya in August of the same year. Heading into UFC 312, Strickland had rebounded from his loss by defeating Paulo Costa at UFC 302. Determined to reclaim his belt, Strickland insisted before the fight that he never truly lost their first encounter.
A Slow-Paced Start to the Title Fight
The fight started at a measured pace, with Strickland, true to his style, standing upright and using his jab to control the distance. Du Plessis attempted to break through Strickland’s defense with a combination of low kicks and body shots but had limited success early on.
Toward the end of the first round, du Plessis launched one of his signature explosive attacks, but Strickland managed to withstand the pressure. The second round followed a similar pattern, though du Plessis landed a kick that partially connected with Strickland’s cheek. While the champion seemed to be gaining momentum, the fight remained uneventful.
Visa detta inlägg på Instagram
TRENDING:
- Alex Pereira Spars with Karate Combat President
- UFC Embedded – Watch Episode Four Ahead of UFC 312 Now
- Sean Strickland Slams UFC and Rivals Ahead of UFC 312
The Fight Heats Up in the Later Rounds
The third round unfolded much like the previous two, but the fight started opening up when Strickland found success with his right hand. However, he also absorbed several powerful shots, resulting in heavy bleeding from his face. In the fourth round, du Plessis landed a devastating right hand that broke Strickland’s nose, significantly affecting the American’s performance. Despite the injury, Strickland displayed his trademark toughness and fought on.
The fifth and final round mirrored the earlier rounds. Strickland pushed forward despite his bloody face, while du Plessis remained composed and avoided unnecessary risks. With no finish in sight, the fight went to the judges, who were unanimous in their verdict—Dricus du Plessis retained his title with a clear-cut decision victory.
What’s Next for the Middleweight Champion?
After the fight, du Plessis showed respect for Strickland’s resilience and expressed excitement for his next challenge in the middleweight division. “He’s a tough opponent, but I proved why I’m the champion,” du Plessis said in his post-fight interview.
With two successful title defenses under his belt, the South African champion has solidified his status as the dominant force in the middleweight division. The big question now is: Who will be his next challenger—Khamzat Chimaev, Robert Whittaker, or perhaps a trilogy fight against Strickland?
Source: MMAnytt.se
