Can Dricus Du Plessis Overcome Sean Strickland Once Again?
After an improbable victory at UFC 305 over Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis looks to keep his winning streak alive as he takes on number one-ranked Sean Strickland in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 312. This is a matchup that the fans have been asking for after a controversial first bout. The fight was a non-stop brawl which is normally unfamiliar for Strickland's fighting style. Dricus and Strickland have very unusual fighting styles that could make for another instant classic.
The first fight started with Strickland doing what he does best, keeping his range and picking Dricus apart with his jabs and teep kicks. It looked like it might be another masterclass striking performance by Strickland until Dricus was able to make it ugly. Making Strickland brawl and overextend himself allowed Dricus’s welding exchange to finally connect and cut Strickland in his left eye which hindered him for the rest of the fight. Dricus was able to land six of his 11 takedowns in the first fight but was not able to keep Strickland down for any of those takedowns. He only was able to control him for a total of two minutes and eight seconds in the entire fight. So how will the fight this Saturday play out?
Strickland always says he’s going to throw down and have a slugfest when in reality his fighting style is not accustomed to those types of exchanges. Dricus lives in unconventional brawls and loves when fighters are retreating and he can blitz them and use it to try and secure a takedown. I think Dricus is going to be more aggressive and successful than he was in their first fight. When he does secure takedowns I believe he will be able to get damage done on the ground and potentially finish Strickland at some point in the fight. We will see again a different level to Dricus’s game and his overall growth.
If Dricus is once again able to beat Strickland what is potentially next in line for the dominate Middleweight Champion? I believe a fight against Khamzat Chimaev would put Dricus in serious conversation for a shot at becoming a double champ. The Middleweight division right now has a lot of fighters who deserve a shot at the belt but what Dricus has accomplished in a short time should not be overlooked. He is on a fast trajectory to one day overtake both Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva as the Middleweight GOAT.
