Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his Middleweight Championship at UFC 312, defeating Sean Strickland via unanimous decision with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46. During the intense bout, Du Plessis landed a brutal strike that broke Strickland's nose, leaving him bloodied and struggling to continue.
The fight, held at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, saw Strickland start slow but briefly gain momentum with a well-placed switch kick in the first round. However, Du Plessis quickly turned the tide by targeting his opponent’s legs and landing powerful strikes, including a left hand and another switch kick in the second round.
By the third round, Strickland’s front leg was visibly damaged, and Du Plessis capitalized with an elbow strike and a spinning back fist. The fourth round proved to be decisive, as Du Plessis delivered a devastating blow that fractured Strickland’s nose, causing heavy bleeding. Despite Strickland’s resilience, the South African fighter maintained control and secured a dominant victory.
Du Plessis Reflects on his win over Sean Strickland
After the fight, Du Plessis admitted he aimed for a knockout but acknowledged Strickland’s incredible toughness. "I was trying to finish him, but knocking him out is nearly impossible," he said. "I gave it everything, and I’m sorry I couldn’t put him away. It was tough to see him grabbing at his nose like that, and it took me a moment to regain my composure."
Du Plessis emphasized that his strategy was to remain calm under pressure, even when he saw the damage he inflicted on Strickland. He added, "The plan was to stay composed, but when you see your opponent hurt like that, it’s like facing someone who’s already rocked,".
