After weeks of tensions and provocations, they finally faced each other.
Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, two of the best fighters in the middleweight category, were opposed on the night of Saturday to Sunday in Toronto (Canada) for the -84 kg belt.
And after five contested and particularly close rounds, it was Du Plessis who won, thus becoming the first South African crowned UFC champion.
First on the defensive against his opponent's jabs, the 30-year-old fighter suffered before making the difference during the fourth round.
“Every time he hit it felt like it was a stone.
It took a little time, but I knew he was going to get tired,” admitted the new champion after the fight.
“I knew it would be a close fight.
For all the people who said I couldn't last five rounds, I proved it.
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🔥🔥🔥 WHAT AN END OF FIGHT!
The belt will be decided!
#UFC297 #RMCMMA pic.twitter.com/GOaRhorhJS
— RMC Sport Combat (@RMCSportCombat) January 21, 2024
Face bloodied, Strickland, who defended for the first time his belt acquired thanks to his victory against Israel Adesanya in September 2023, was forced to lose by split decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48) .
A fight in the stands
This fight was eagerly awaited by MMA followers, curious to observe the reunion between the two men, who came to blows on the sidelines of UFC 296 in Las Vegas, December 17, 2023. Strickland had jumped on Du Plessis in the stands of the T-Mobile Arena, in the middle of the crowd, after the South African provoked him at a press conference.
“Did your father beat you?
You'll see what it's like to be beaten,” said the new champion, referring to his opponent's difficult childhood.
After his victory, “Stillknocks” nevertheless seemed to want to bury the hatchet.
“You’re a good guy, I have a lot of respect for you.
We stayed professional,” he said of Strickland.
"I'm pretty banged up right now... But UFC 300 sounds amazing."
Dricus Du Plessis isn't ruling out a quick turnaround after #UFC297, and he thinks Israel Adesanya needs to be his first title defense.
pic.twitter.com/JA0BZKBpkD
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 21, 2024
Despite a very damaged face at the end of this enormous fight, Du Plessis is already looking to the future and has already asked, at a press conference, Israel Adesanya to come out of retirement for the first defense of his belt.