Two middleweight rivals will collide in the main event when the Octagon returns to Sydney.
In the structure of the first fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland on UFC 297, things got out of hand several times.
Before Fight Week even started, there was the notorious fight that took place between them in the crowd on UFC 296 after both men were seen on the PPV broadcast to sit together.
There was also the press conference where Du Plessis followed back and forth after many Jabs.
The road to February 8 has not been so tense, but if you get one of these men for a microphone during a press conference, you know they are going to throw some insults.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Dricus du Persis and Sean Strickland Exchange compliments in a sign of mutual respect
During the UFC 312 press conference, a temporary cease-fire was taken into action when they were asked to pay their opponent a compliment.
Strickland started giving props on the aggressive fighting style of the current champion, along with insulting him at the same time.
He said: “I mean guy, the man fights as a finish – in the short bus, how is that not finished – – compliment?
“I mean, that is all we can strive to do is f— —- and want f— —- so congratulations f— – dricus, you fight tough.”
'Stillknocks' responded by making a similar explanation and saying that he has respect for Sean Strickland because they both proved that they are not talking alone.
The last time we got a fight of the night past five rounds between them and that led to a mutual respect that now exists.
“I think I have to say that the man is at least willing to throw whether it is in the stands or not and I have to respect that,” said Du Plessis.
“If someone doesn't respect you, put them in place and he is willing to do that, so that's what a man does.”
This will not change the way Dricus du Plessis or Sean Strickland approaches the fight
On this occasion there may be less tension between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland, but that will not change the way one of the two people thinks about this fight.
The two top middle weights have very different styles and apart from the strange tweak here and there, they do not change that, depending on the opponent that stands for them.
Du Plessis will try to land great powerful strikes with his explosive athletics and unorthodox technology, while the challenger tries to put pressure on his opponent, control the fight and keep them in a defensive scale.
The question is whether we will get the same result as the last time where 'Still Knocks' victor came forward in a well -controversial split decision judgment.
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