South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis delivered a commanding performance to defeat Sean Strickland by unanimous decision at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, successfully defending his middleweight title.
The 31-year-old showcased superior striking and controlled the fight from start to finish, securing his second victory over the American. The judges scored it 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 in Du Plessis’ favor.
“I told you guys, knocking him out is next to impossible. I wanted a submission, knockout, or absolute domination over five rounds, and that’s what I gave,” Du Plessis said after the fight. “I am a top-three pound-for-pound fighter as of tonight, and I’m coming for that number one spot.”
In the co-main event, China’s Zhang Weili successfully defended her strawweight title with a dominant performance against Tatiana Suarez. Despite being the pre-fight underdog, the 35-year-old outclassed the American in both striking and grappling to win by unanimous decision.
This fight marked a rematch of their previous encounter, where Du Plessis claimed a split-decision victory. Strickland, 33, had argued that he should have won their first bout, but there was no controversy this time as Du Plessis decisively outperformed him.
Strickland, who had former light-heavyweight and middleweight champion, Alex Pereira in his corner, faced criticism for his controversial comments during fight week but was still well-received by fans during his walkout.
Du Plessis, however, remained unfazed, dictating the pace from the start. While Strickland relied on his jab and front kick, Du Plessis delivered more varied and impactful strikes.
A defining moment came in round four, when a powerful right hand from Du Plessis appeared to break Strickland’s nose, forcing him to retreat as blood poured down his face. Despite his resilience, Strickland struggled to mount any significant offense and was ultimately outclassed.
After the fight, Du Plessis turned his attention to Pereira, responding to the Brazilian’s previous comments about a potential fight by asking: “Is there no one else?”
