DU PLESSIS V STRICKLAND: all you need to know

South Africa’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis will put his title on the line when he faces challenger Sean Strickland.

Du Plessis took down Strickland last January in Toronto, Canada, to become the middleweight champion and he is aiming to repeat the feat as UFC returns to Sydney, Australia. 

WHEN: 08 February

WHERE: Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena

SUPERSPORT BROADCAST DETAILS

TIME: from 5am

HOW TO WATCH: SS Action (SA and Africa), SS Grandstand (SA and Africa), SS Maximo 1 and SS Variety 3.

After capturing the middleweight title in January last year, Du Plessis has defended it once, securing a submission victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August last year.

HELPING HAND

Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, disclosed that reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira will lend his seasoned expertise to the outspoken fighter as he eyes a second shot at the 185-pound title.

After Pereira knocked out Strickland in 2022, the two formed a camaraderie and regularly train alongside each other.

UFC 312 will mark the second time “Poatan” corners Strickland, having previously been in his corner at UFC 297, where the American lost his title to Du Plessis in a gritty split decision.

Dricus is not the slightest bit concerned by this, however, laughing at the idea.

“He was in the corner in the first fight too. I mean, they don’t even speak the same language. It doesn’t really make much of a difference if he is or not. Strickland could barely understand his own coach who’s also American. How is he going to understand Alex Pereira?”, questions du Plessis.

FIGHTING STYLES

Du Plessis is more polished mixed martial arts fighter, skillful in every department while Strickland is an accomplished boxer and prefers to fight on his feet.