Sean Strickland Has ‘Unfinished’ Business With Dricus Du Plessis: ‘I’m Gonna Piece Him Apart’

Sean Strickland had the biggest win of his career after he defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 to become the new UFC middleweight champion. Seeking to build up on the momentum, Strickland of Anaheim, California (29-6) lost the title against Dricus Du Plessis of Welkom, South Africa (22-2) by split decision in his first defense at UFC 297 in January 2024. More than a year later, they’ll meet in a rematch for the title in the main event of UFC 312 Saturday at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. 

“Me and Dricus have been thinking about this since we fought, before we fought,” Strickland told Brett Okamoto of ESPN. “It is gonna be f*****g war. He (Du Plessis) wants it. I want it. I’m confident, he’s confident. But I think I’m gonna piece him apart.”

A Bitter Loss Leaves Strickland Feeling ‘Unsettled’

In a closely contested five-round stand-up battle, Du Plessis scored six takedowns against Strickland, who had previously been taken down just once in his UFC middleweight career. During a very crucial fourth round of the contest, the defending champion’s left eye was cut open on a right elbow from the challenger.

Following repeated right hands from “Stillknocks,” Strickland’s eye was flowing heavy with blood.

“The hard thing was when I got that cut, it really changed the dynamic of the fight,” said Strickland. “But I just think with this fight, it just needs to be a dog fight. More pressure, less skill.”

The blood continued to affect the Anaheim native’s vision in the fifth round, as he wiped his eye several times. Though he landed hard right hands of his own to finish the fight strong. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Du Plessis, while the third judge had it 48-47 in favor of Strickland.

“Just this one was the most unfinished,” said Strickland. “Just considering the head butt, the scorecards, the striking, the numbers. This one felt a little bit more unfinished. And I got no ill will toward Dricus. But we got s**t to settle, and he knows it too.”

“Tarzan” bounced back from the defeat with a split decision win against Paulo Costo of Belo Horizonte, Brazil (14-4) last June. The former UFC middleweight champion’s striking was unmatched, with Costo hitting the canvas twice in the first two rounds.

The Du Plessis Era Begins at Middleweight

Du Plessis met Adesanya of Lagos, Nigeria (24-5) in his first title defense at UFC 305 last August. Each had their moments as they slugged it out continuously through four rounds. A relentless Du Plessis secured four takedowns against Adesanya, along with 3:39 of control time.

With about 1:30 left to go in the fourth round, the middleweight champion landed three consecutive right hooks and took control of Adesanya’s back on the ground. The South African native got “The Last Style Bender” to tap at 3:38 of the round on a rear naked choke, handing Adesanya the first submission defeat of his career.

Since his UFC debut in 2020, Du Plessis has a record of 8-0, with six of his victories coming by way of stoppage or submission. He became the first UFC champion of South African descent in history after he dethroned Strickland for the UFC middleweight title.

With the middleweight division crowning four different champions in the last two years, Du Plessis will look to retain the title for a second time with another victory over Strickland.

See the full preview interview with Sean Strickland here.

“I’ve done everything in my power to win this f*****g fight,” said Strickland. “And I believe I will.”