Midnight Mania: DDP Denies ‘Fake Tough Guy’ Pact

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Dricus Du Plessis isn’t impressed by Sean Strickland’s “fake tough guy” act.

Earlier this week, the mouthy Strickland challenged Du Plessis to avoid mixing the martial arts, demanding his former foe stand-and-bang in their upcoming rematch at UFC 312. “Stillknocks” mixed it up effectively in their first fight back at UFC 297, winning a highly competitive split-decision by kicking, punching, and wrestling the volume boxer.

Already, Du Plessis has refused to take the bait and denied Strickland’s request. In a recent interview, the South African champion elaborated further and suggested Strickland take his talents to the boxing ring if he only wants to trade hands.

“Look, it’s a ridiculous thing to ask,” Du Plessis told Fox Sports. “If you want to make pacts about us just standing up, go do boxing. I don’t go into fights thinking I have to stand up, or take the guy down. I do what the situation tells me to do. That’s what MMA fighters do, I’m comfortable everywhere.”

“One hundred per cent, I think we are most likely going to keep it standing,” du Plessis continued. “I know I have the cardio, know I can push him back, and I know I have the power to knock him out, so for me that’s great. Then, if the opportunity comes to get a takedown, it’s a decision you have to make immediately. If you see the moment you take it.”

Aside from relying on his fighting instincts, Du Plessis also doesn’t buy into Strickland’s pacts in general. Per the current Middleweight kingpin, Strickland already failed to live up to a previous “to the death” deal made prior to their first fight.

“He said ‘to the death’ and I was ready for that,” Du Plessis explained. “You saw it, too, I went forward for 23 minutes of a 25 minute fight. But from him? It was jabs and teeps … Sean Strickland knows a lot of one-liners to sound tough, but I expose fake tough guys. And as for him now again saying ‘let’s make this pact?’ What’s the purpose of a pact after we saw what happened the last time? Plus, I’m not here to make pacts, I’m here to win.”

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