UFC 312: Du Plessis dominates Strickland, retains middleweight title

Dricus du Plessis left no room for debate as he dismantled Sean Strickland in their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney. The South African middleweight champion showcased a masterclass in striking and overall control, securing a decisive unanimous decision victory to retain his UFC middleweight title.

The judges scored the fight 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 in favor of du Plessis, a stark contrast to their first meeting 13 months ago, which ended in a controversial split decision. This time, du Plessis made sure there was no uncertainty, systematically breaking down Strickland over five grueling rounds, including a brutal sequence that left the American’s nose shattered.

“I would've loved another round, but that's not the game,” du Plessis stated in his post-fight interview. “I told you I wanted a submission, a knockout, or an absolute domination of a five-rounder. That’s what I gave.”

With the win, du Plessis improved his professional record to 23-2-0, cementing his place among the UFC’s elite. The victory also bolstered his claim for a top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. “I am a top-three pound-for-pound fighter as of tonight,” he declared. “And I’m coming for that No. 1 spot.”

Strickland, known for his resilience and relentless pressure, had no choice but to acknowledge du Plessis’ superiority in the octagon. “When that fer broke my nose, I was like, ‘Oh, that doesn’t feel right,’ popped it back in place, and kept fighting for you,” Strickland said, addressing the crowd after the fight. “The Dutchman is a bad mo***er. He kicked my ass fair and square, props to him.”

The loss drops Strickland’s record to 29-7-0 and forces him to reassess his path back to title contention. Meanwhile, du Plessis now stands as an undisputed force in the middleweight division, with his next challenge looming on the horizon. As talks swirl around potential matchups, one thing is certain—Dricus du Plessis is here to reign, and he has no plans of slowing down.