In a thrilling rematch, South African UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his title against his rival Sean Strickland in Sydney on Sunday. The fight concluded with a unanimous decision in favor of Du Plessis, with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46, enhancing his professional record to 23-2.
The bout was marked by intense action, with Du Plessis notably damaging Strickland’s nose, leading to a bloody spectacle. This victory not only solidified Du Plessis’s position as the premier 185-pound fighter in mixed martial arts but also marked another chapter in his rivalry with Strickland. Du Plessis had previously won the belt from Strickland in a controversial split decision in Toronto the previous year, which Strickland had vehemently disputed.
Reflecting on his performance, Du Plessis expressed his desire for a definitive finish, stating, “I wanted a submission, a knockout, or an absolute domination of a five rounder. That’s what I gave. I gave it my all.” His strategy was evident from the start, using head kicks in the first round to set the pace, followed by a relentless attack in the subsequent rounds.
Strickland, visibly shaken by the onslaught, especially in the fourth round where a significant right hook led to profuse bleeding from his nose, admitted in a post-fight interview, “He kicked my ass fair and square, props to him.” He also mentioned that his nose was broken during the fight.
Elsewhere on the main card, Chinese strawweight champion Zhang Weili defended her title for the third consecutive time against the previously undefeated American Tatiana Suarez. Zhang, considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in women’s MMA, secured a unanimous decision after a dominant performance that left Suarez with several cuts.
In another highlight, Brazilian heavyweight Tallison Teixeira knocked out Justin Tafa in a mere 35 seconds, maintaining his undefeated record at 8-0 with a powerful elbow strike to the nose.
These results have set the stage for intriguing future matchups in the UFC middleweight and heavyweight divisions.
Key Points:
UFC Middleweight Title Defense: South African Dricus du Plessis defended his UFC middleweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Sean Strickland in Sydney.
Scorecard: Judges scored the fight 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 in favor of Du Plessis, boosting his record to 23-2.
Previous Encounter: Du Plessis had previously won the title from Strickland in a close split decision in Toronto.
Fight Highlights: Du Plessis dominated with head kicks and combinations, significantly damaging Strickland’s nose, which bled heavily.
Post-Fight Comments: Du Plessis aimed for a knockout or submission but was satisfied with his performance. Strickland acknowledged the defeat and confirmed his nose was broken.
Other Main Card Fights: Zhang Weili defended her strawweight title against Tatiana Suarez, maintaining her status as a top pound-for-pound fighter. Tallison Teixeira knocked out Justin Tafa in the heavyweight bout in just 35 seconds.
