Dricus Du Plessis Plans to Prove to “Stupid Fans” he “Didn’t Get Lucky” in First Sean Strickland Bout
By FCF Staff
Dricus Du Plessis has a second opportunity to defeat Sean Strickland again this weekend at UFC 312, and the middleweight champ intends to silence his critics.
Du Plessis (22-2) and Strickland (29-6) are booked to fight in the headliner of UFC 312, which is taking place Saturday in Sydney, Australia. In their first encounter last January, Du Plessis took the middleweight belt from Strickland via a split decision win.
While talking to the media ahead of Saturday’s contest, Du Plessis reported he intends to close the Strickland chapter of his career (quotes via MMA Junkie.com).
“For me, the split decision was the biggest shock to me,” Du Plessis said. “I didn’t think it was a split decision. … I am very happy that they made this fight. I was asking for this fight up until the Khamzat (Chimaev) win (over Robert Whittaker) happened, and then I would’ve preferred that fight, but I’m really happy this fight’s happening because now I can go and say, ‘What are you going to say?’ I’m going to put this to bed. All the stupid fans who believe he won that fight, I can just go out and put this behind me.
“I didn’t get lucky. I wasn’t gifted a belt. I fought for five rounds forward. Twenty-three minutes forward in a 25-minute fight warrants a win. That’s the guy who’s trying to fight, not the guy who is trying to point.”
Since their first bout, Du Plessis recorded a submission win over former champ, Israel Adesanya, in August, and Strickland defeated Paulo Costa by split decision in June.