David Flower
Dailysports's expert
Dricus Du Plessis
Sean Strickland
On February 9, at UFC 312 in Sydney, a highly anticipated rematch will take place between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. Here’s a betting suggestion with great odds for this fight.
Fight Preview
Dricus Du Plessis is one of the most interesting figures in the UFC, particularly among title contenders. He introduces himself as "the first true African champion," emphasizing that he is the only fighter who was born, raised, and trains in his native South Africa without leaving his country. Before entering the UFC, Du Plessis was a successful kickboxer. However, his journey into mixed martial arts became even more significant when he won titles in EFC and KSW.
In EFC, he earned the belt by submitting his opponent, and in KSW, he knocked out reigning champion Roberto Soldic, becoming a true star. Since his UFC debut in 2020, Du Plessis has remained undefeated, winning all of his fights, including major bouts against Darren Till, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, and Sean Strickland. In his most recent fight, he successfully defended his title by submitting Israel Adesanya (which was recognized as the submission of the year by ESPN).
Sean Strickland is a true UFC gem, whose unusual behavior and flamboyance haven't stopped him from proving his value in the octagon. His fighting style is unique and sometimes defies simple description due to its unorthodox nature. Until 2023, Strickland wasn’t a star and was still climbing the rankings by defeating mid-tier fighters but losing to the top fighters.
However, everything changed in the fall of 2023 when he shocked Israel Adesanya, who was at the peak of his career and seemed invincible in the middleweight division. This was a stunning moment for Strickland, who showed that he was ready for the top. But in the very next fight, Strickland lost his title to Dricus Du Plessis, which demonstrated just how unpredictable MMA can be. Nevertheless, in his last fight, Strickland defeated Paulo Costa by split decision.
Head-to-Head
The two fighters first met in a title fight on January 20, 2024, where Dricus Du Plessis won by split decision, claiming the championship belt and leaving Sean Strickland without his title.
Fight Prediction
The first encounter between these fighters didn't meet expectations. The fight turned out to be less dynamic than anticipated, and in the final two rounds, both fighters seemed to struggle with their own fatigue rather than with each other, which made the fight rather dull. This time, we believe the fight will end early. Our bet is "Total Under 4.5" with odds of 2.55.
