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Dricus Du Plessis Expects a Spectacular Finish in his UFC 297 headliner against Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 against Sean Strickland Dricus Du Plessis expects his title tilt with current middleweight world champion Sean Strickland to deliver an early contender…

Dricus Du Plessis expects his title tilt with current middleweight world champion Sean Strickland to deliver an early contender for Fight of the Year.

On Saturday (January 20), ‘Stillknocks’ will head to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto determined to cash in on his first shot at UFC gold. Standing in his way will be the reigning and defending 185-pound king, Sean Strickland, who is defending his strap for the first time since scoring it via a picture-perfect performance against Israel Adesanya last year.

Through six fights inside the Octagon, Du Plessis carries with him a perfect record and five highlight-reel-worthy finishes, but many fans remain skeptical about his gas tank, which has depleted fast in past scraps.

Looking ahead to his headliner in The Great White North, ‘DDP’ is confident that his cardio will be ready to go a full five rounds after undergoing a career-changing nose surgery, but he anticipates things to end both early and spectacularly come fight night.

“If this is a Sean Strickland fight of punching really, really, really soft and jab, jab, jab, if that’s the case – which it won’t be (because) I won’t allow it – then I’ll be there in the fifth round making sure I win this fight by decision,” Du Plessis told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “That’s what it takes to become the world champion. But in my honest opinion, this fight is not going the distance. There’s no way. He’s a guy who walks forward. I’m a guy who likes to go forward. I’ve said this and this is one thing. This is the fight game.

“Anything can always happen, but I can promise you this. I’ve never been involved in a boring fight in my life and I promise you I won’t because a boring fight is a choice. I know it’s not going to be boring. This is going to be one of those fights. If he can stay standing, if he can take what I give, this is a Fight of the Year contender, 100 percent” (h/t Yahoo! Sport).

Du Plessis erased some of the skepticism surrounding him after he pummeled former middleweight titleholder Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July. But one performance in particular still hovers over him, leaving a chip on his shoulder.

“I have one decision in my whole career, and that’s Brad Tavares,” Du Plessis said. “In that fight, we came to a situation where the fight basically, if you look at the punches thrown in that fight, just the punch count, look at that fight again. You’ll see what I’m made of. You look at a guy like Brad Tavares, who is truly one of the most durable guys in the world. When he got to that third round, he definitely won the first round. I won the second. In the third round, the commentators were saying, ‘Dricus is tired. He’s really tired.’

“It doesn’t matter how tired I am. I’m going to do what I need to do to win the fight. … This is the end of Dricus not as a champion. That ends next week, Saturday.”

Will Sean Strickland come out on top in his first middleweight title defense, or will Dricus Du Plessis once again prove the oddsmakers wrong?

Dricus du Plessis shuts down title fight with Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 297: ‘It makes absolutely no sense’

Ahead of his championship tilt at UFC 297 later this month, incoming title challenger, Dricus du Plessis claims the…

Ahead of his championship tilt at UFC 297 later this month, incoming title challenger, Dricus du Plessis claims the chances of him defending the belt should win in a clash against Khamzat Chimaev are slim to none – questioning the validity of the Chechen’s title aspirations.

Headlining UFC 297 this month in the organization’s return to Canada, du Plessis takes on incumbent welterweight kingpin, Sean Strickland in his first foray for the belt since landing in the promotion back in 2020.

Earning his title fight with a stunning win back in July during International Fight Week, du Plessis landed a shocking knockout win over former title challenger, Robert Whittaker in the pair’s championship-eliminator.

And as far as Chimaev is concerned, his October victory over former undisputed welterweight champion and prior pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman has earned him a title fight in his return to the Octagon.

Dricus du Plessis downplays Khamzat Chimaev fight after UFC 297

Claiming he has been guaranteed the victor of UFC 297’s headlining title fight, incoming challenger, du Plessis insists a fight with the unbeaten star makes no sense in his immediate fighting future.

“As far as I know Khamzat’s (Chimaev) a welterweight,” Dricus du Plessis told MMA Junkie during a recent interview. “What middleweight did he fight? He fought at middleweight, but he fought a welterweight [in Kamaru Usman]. Gerald Meerschaert? When was that? Was he even ranked? No, he wasn’t ranked. So, that makes absolutely no sense.”

“The UFC promised him a title fight?” Dricus du Plessis questioned. “Where in the world does that happen? And he says he’s fighting (Sean) Strickland. No, you’re not. If there’s a champion, if you get a title shot, I’m the champion, You’re not going to get a title shot. And Israel? That makes sense.”

Who wins in a future title fight: Dricus du Plessis or Khamzat Chimaev?

Dricus Du Plessis reveals conversation with dana white about pressing charges against Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis spoke with UFC CEO Dana White about potentially pressing charges against Sean Strickland after the reigning…

Dricus Du Plessis spoke with UFC CEO Dana White about potentially pressing charges against Sean Strickland after the reigning 185-pound champ attacked him in the crowd at the promotion’s final pay-per-view of 2023.

Following a heated verbal confrontation at the UFC Seasonal Press Conference last month, tempers boiled over inside T-Mobile Arena when Strickland and Du Plessis were seated in the same section for UFC 296. After politely asking Gilbert Burns’ family to move out of the way, Strickland lept over the seats and attacked Du Plessis, giving fight fans a preview of their highly anticipated middleweight title clash scheduled to go down on January 20 in Toronto.

Both fighters walked away from the incident unscathed, but given that Strickland initiated the scuffle, Du Plessis was given the option to press charges.

“I know Dana came to me and said, ‘Listen, this is the case. We’re really sorry about this,” Du Plessis told MMA Junkie. “Obviously, the police had him and charges can be pressed because that’s assault. It’s outside of a professional arena. They didn’t try to convince me otherwise at all. They literally said, ‘If you feel like that was uncalled for, we completely understand if you want to press charges and take this further.’

“I said, ‘No, no, no, no, no. Please no.’ We are two fighters. It was a good old scrap like we did before we became professionals. I just paused and was like, ‘I would even take the blame if that’s possible, just to make sure that nothing happens to him’” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Had ‘Stillknocks’ opted to press charges, it likely would have spelled the end of their anticipated title tilt in The Great White North.

“We know to come to Canada, they are very strict,” Du Plessis continued. “They are very, very strict in getting into the country. I just wanted to make sure that if the fight wasn’t in jeopardy. I never even think of Sean Strickland trying to get away. He’s the type of guy who’s always game. He’s a guy who will go out on his shield and do it with honor.”

“I took on his manliness. I was in his face. I told him, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ He stood up for himself. That’s what a real man does. I’m happy for him. I’m glad he has that in him. No matter what the situation, what the repercussions, he didn’t think about it. He said, ‘I’m standing up for myself,’ and rightfully so. That’s where the respect comes from because that’s exactly what I would’ve done.”

Dricus Du Plessis Is Ready to Drop the drama and focus on winning gold

With fight night closing in, Du Plessis is content to leave all the drama behind and focus on capturing his first UFC title.

“I hope it’s over now, but there’s not going to be one-ups. There are no one-ups. What’s going to happen, is going to happen. We’ll see how it plays out, but right now my focus is on the fight. I’m not here to be funny. I’m not here to try and create something that there’s not. I’m here to be the next champion of the world. That’s why I’m here. I’m not going to be here to try to one-up or get even further. I’m going to do what I’m going to do and he’s going to do what he’s going to do. But right now, it’s almost senseless to try to create more hype.”

“The hype has been created. That took care of itself. Right now, for me, this is business. The whole fight week is business. Everything I handle, I’ll handle it like business. Saturday night, I’ll be signing on the dotted line, closing the deal.”

UFC 297 will emanate from Scotiabank Arena. Strickland defends his title for the first time since scoring a stunning unanimous decision victory against Israel Adesanya to claim the crown in September. Du Plessis goes into his first title opportunity backed by six-straight wins inside the Octagon. Stillknocks’ earned his shot with a brutal second-round knockout of Robert Whittaker at UFC 290.

Sean Strickland closing as betting favorite to beat Dricus du Plessis in title grudge fight at UFC 297

Largely considered a live dog to successfully defend his middleweight title at UFC 297 later this month in Canada,…

Largely considered a live dog to successfully defend his middleweight title at UFC 297 later this month in Canada, Sean Strickland is closing, however, as quite an impressive betting favorite to topple incoming foe and arch-rival, Dricus du Plessis in ‘The Great White North’.

Strickland, the current undisputed middleweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 293 back in September, clinching the divisional crown in a massive upset win over former two-time gold holder, Israel Adesanya in Sydney, Australia.

As for du Plessis, the promotional perfect contender earned his first title charge back in July of last year at UFC 290 during International Fight Week, landing a blistering second round TKO win over Robert Whittaker.

Sean Strickland closing as betting favorite ahead of UFC 297

And slated to headline the promotion’s return to Canada later this month, Sean Strickland – likely to some surprise, is closing as short as a -130 betting favorite to beat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 – with the South African a +110.

If you’re interested in placing bets or wagers on this coming UFC 297, including the championship fight doubleheader, you can find out more about MMA betting in Canada through the link provided.

Sharing the stage during a heated press conference last month ahead of their massive UFC 297 title affair, Strickland and du Plessis traded fists and blows at UFC 296 on fighter row in Las Vegas ahead of their bout, with the two ramping up their developing rivalry in recent weeks.

And sharing his thoughts on Strickland’s emotional outburst which resulted in the pair’s scuffle, du Plessis claimed the former’s ‘hard-man’ mindset should not be credited as much as it appears to be by his fans.

“It is what it is,” Dricus du Plessis said during a recent interview. “I’m glad he (Sean Strickland) cried and got it out, it’s the end of that. I think we give him a lot more credit than he deserves in terms of mindset. I don’t think he thinks about anything.”

“I think he goes out there and he fights, he fights the way Sean Strickland fights,” Dricus du Plessis explained. “He always has and he’s an incredible fighter. I have a lot of respect for him as a fighter.”

Enjoying a stunning run of fights and victories consecutively since he landed in the UFC back in 2020, du Plessis has turned in recent stoppage wins over former title challenger, Darren Till, as well as PFL newcomer, Derek Brunson – to go with his July knockout stoppage of Whittaker in ‘Sin City’.

Initially earmarked to fight the above-mentioned rival, Adesanya at UFC 293 back in September ‘Down Under’, du Plessis was ruled from the bout with the City Kickboxing striker due to a lingering injury, with now-champion, Strickland drafting in in a reworked fight to take du Plessis’ title claim, and land the crown himself.

Prior to his decision win over Adesanya, Strickland snapped a two-fight losing skid with a decision win over the incoming Nassourdine Imavov, as well as the once-highly-touted prospect, Abusupiyan Magomedov.

Who wins at UFC 297 in Canada: Sean Strickland or Dricus du Plessis?

Dricus du Plessis reacts to Sean Strickland’s emotional outburst ahead of UFC 297 fight: ‘I’m glad he cried’

Reacting to a recent outburst of emotion from undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland ahead of the pair’s title fight…

Reacting to a recent outburst of emotion from undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland ahead of the pair’s title fight in Canada later this month at UFC 297, Dricus du Plessis claimed he was “glad” to see the outspoken titleholder in tears, and questioned his supposed hardened mindset as a result.

Strickland, the current undisputed middleweight champion, is slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 297 later this month in a trip to ‘The Great White North’ – in search of his first successful title defense.

Winning gold in the most unlikely of circumstances back in September, the outspoken Strickland turned in a one-sided unanimous decision win over two-time champion, Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in a massie upset judging win.

And as for du Plessis, the promotional-perfect finisher earned his first shot at Octagon gold courtesy of a blistering win over former undisputed champion, Robert Whittaker last July during International Fight Week, laying waste to the New Zealander with a second round TKO at UFC 290.

Dricus du Plessis challenges Sean Strickland at UFC 297

Engaging in a recent brawl and scuffle in the crowd at UFC 296 last month with Strickland amid a war-of-words between the two, Pretoria native, du Plessis has claimed he was “glad” to see the champion in tears during a recent podcast appearance with comedian, Theo Von, where he recounted stories from his abusive childhood.

“It is what it is,” Dricus du Plessis said during an interview with MMA on Point. “I’m glad he (Sean Strickland) cried and got it out, it’s the end of that. I think we give him a lot more credit than he deserves in terms of mindset. I don’t think he thinks about anything.”

Who wins at UFC 297 this month: Sean Strickland or Dricus du Plessis?

Israel Adesanya urged to make UFC return in fight against Dricus du Plessis: ‘That build up was gonna be insane’

Former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has been urged to chase a fight with incoming title challenger, Dricus du…

Former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has been urged to chase a fight with incoming title challenger, Dricus du Plessis in his return to the Octagon by former two-weight UFC gold holder, Daniel Cormier, pointing to a perceived massive build up to an eventual pairing.

Adesanya, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder twice during his gold laden Octagon tenure, has been sidelined since he dropped gold back in September in an upset unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in Australia.

And initially claiming he is set to remain sidelined until 2027 at the very earliest, Adesanya has now revealed he is planning a return to the Octagon in the not too distant future, amid claims from Chael Sonnen that the City Kickboxing staple should make it his business to feature at UFC 300 next April.

Israel Adesanya has been backed to fight Dricus du Plessis next

According to the above-mentioned Hall of Fame inductee, Cormier, Adesanya should also make sure he stands opposite du Plessis next – particularly if the South African beats soon-to-be common-foe, Strickland this month at UFC 297.

“That build was gonna be so crazy,” Daniel Cormier said on his official YouTube channel. “So, if you watch (Sean) Strickland fight (Dricus) du Plessis in January, you still preserve that match up regardless for (Israel) Adesanya, right? du Plessis wins, title fight for Adesanya. Build the whole thing. du Plessis loses, fight versus Adesanya, build that whole thing. You save that matchup regardless, because if you put in there with Khamzat (Chimaev), it’s a great fight.”

“It makes all the sense in the world, it would seem like a number one contender fight, but if Khamzat gets through him (Israel Adesanya), now you might lose that fight with du Plessis if he wins,” Cormier continued. “Save du Plessis-Adesanya at all costs.”

Who wins in a future title pairing: Israel Adesanya or Dricus du Plessis?