In the main event of UFC 312, the popular South African fight Drus Du Plessis Division of former enemy Sean Strickland with middleweight gold on the line.
UFC 312 represents the second title Rematch of the career of Dricus du Plessis, and he will certainly hope for a better result this time; Poorly disabled in what stands as his last professional loss in his KSW days.
'Still Knocks' also hopes to give a stamp to his intense rivalry with Sean Strickland and only a few days of the biggest fight of his MMA career, Du Plessis makes a number of daring predictions for how UFC 312 will take place.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty images
Dricus Du Plessis promises to finish Sean Strickland on UFC 312
Dricus Du Plessis won the UFC Middleweight Title in a razor decision on Sean Strickland in January 2024; So close that it could demonstrably wave in all directions.
Speaking with Triple M Radio, the South African champion has now promised that he will do a more definitive and dominant achievement this weekend at UFC 312 – one that will somehow end up with Strickland unconscious on the canvas.
“Throughout my career I have only been the distance twice and both have been incredible fights; I don't mind the distance if it is an entertaining fight, I have never had a boring fight in my life … and in this fight I know I can finish the job [inside the distance].
“I don't see this fight starting, I can see the championship rounds in rounds four and five but there is just no way we see the last bell … I am prepared for a stand-up war, me I am prepared for the ground game and I am willing to do what is needed [to win] This fight. “
Although the South African remains incredibly confident in his own skills and game plan, he understands that when it comes to someone who is as talented as Strickland, strategy can only bring you so far.
“It's hard to say because we have been there together, the power and speed felt – the unfamiliarity is not that great – but now everyone comes in with a plan of 'oh, we have seen what he is doing wrong, let's Do this'.
“We have our plans, they have their plans, so it can be exactly the same fight, just better, or it can be completely different at night. Unfortunately you can prepare the way you want in terms of game plan, but that goes out pretty quickly in every fight. “
Dricus Du Plessis reveals what he has learned from First Sean Strickland Fight
In their first fight on UFC 297, Strickland du Plessis 174-137 ran on important strikes, but it was 'still Knocks' who eventually got the nod thanks to his six successful Takedowns.
Du Plessis spoke with ESPN MMA earlier this week and would not only offer a rare compliment to Strickland for his defensive bravery, but hinted that he learned something to do to get the interruption this time.
“Defensively, Sean Strickland is one of the best hunters in the world, he is really good at that and he is really responsible for his defense, and he prioritizes defense over attack, so he does not necessarily give you the chance [to finish him].
“I think the pace was so high in that fight, but I only started to push the pace later in the fight where I should have been and now I know that I can push that pace of the word go.”
Although Strickland is perhaps known for its crazy striking output, according to the UFC statistics, it is actually Du Plessis who has the benefit and 6.18 important attacks per minute lands to Strickland's 6.01.
That said, Du Plessis is also tagged a little more than Strickland; Absorbing 4.85 significant strikes on average per minute absorb compared by 4.48 for his title -Uitdager.
Whatever way you look at it, the Rematch is so close to call as every recent title combat memory – UFC 312: Du Plessis vs Strickland 2 goes live from Australia on Saturday 8 February.
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