dricus du plessis | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Drake slaps eye-Watering $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis in UFC 297 title grudge fight

Drake places $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 Canadian rapper and songwriter, Drake has once more continued in his recent vein of high-profile betting ahead of a…

Canadian rapper and songwriter, Drake has once more continued in his recent vein of high-profile betting ahead of a massive Octagon landing – this time placing a staggering $700,000 wager on Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 tonight – having previously betted against the newly-crowned champion last September.

Drake, who landed a reported payout in excess of $1,000,000 back in December after betting on welterweight champion, Leon Edwards to defeat former interim titleholder, Colby Covington at UFC 296, has turned those winnings into another high-profile wager.

Losing half a million back in September whilst betting on UFC 293, Drake incorrectly predicted a victory for former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya in Australia, with the above-mentioned, Strickland upsetting the apple cart and the bookmakers with his stunning unanimous decision upset victory.

Drake places $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to win at UFC 297

However, tonight, in his home town, Drake has bet a staggering $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to beat incoming title challenger, promotional-perfect contender, du Plessis – with a successful flutter set to net the Canadian just shy of $1,400,000 in returns.

Attempting to lodge his first successful defense of the middleweight title tonight in Toronto, Strickland meets Pretoria native, du Plessis – who is riding what many have described as a surprising underdog line ahead of UFC 297.

In the midst of perfect run since his UFC landing back in 2020, last July during International Fight Week, du Plessis turned in a stunning second round TKO win over former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker in the pair’s officially billed title-eliminator in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And in a chilling warning at last night’s ceremonial weigh-ins, former EFC and KSW championship winner, du Plessi claimed that Strickland – who called for a death fight with himself at UFC 297, will see his wish granted in ‘The Great White North’.

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

UFC 297 Title Challenger Dricus Du Plessis Lunges at Sean Strickland During Final Face-Off

Dricus Du Plessis couldn’t wait to get up close and personal with Sean Strickland during their final face-off. On…

Dricus Du Plessis couldn’t wait to get up close and personal with Sean Strickland during their final face-off.

On Saturday night, January 20, ‘Stillknocks’ will look to end Strickland’s reign at the top of the middleweight division early as the two sensational strikers square off in the highly anticipated UFC 297 headliner. Last month, things reached a boiling point between the fighters when ‘DDP’ made some disparaging remarks about Strickland’s traumatic upbringing. 24 hours later, ‘Tarzan’ lept over a row of seats and attacked Du Plessis inside T-Mobile Arena as UFC 296 unfolded in front of them.

Since then, Strickland and Du Plessis have seemingly buried the hatchet with the 185-pound king suggesting that he has nothing, but respect for his opponent despite threatening to stab him at one point.

During their final face-to-face encounter ahead of fight night, Du Plessis could barely contain himself and practically lunged at Strickland, forcing security to briefly step in and ensure there was no repeat of last month’s insanity.

STRICKLAND vs DU PLESSIS! #UFC297 is LIVE TOMORROW on @ESPNPlus PPV! pic.twitter.com/bfkzZ6o1b0

— danawhite (@danawhite) January 19, 2024

“I ain’t got no predictions, but like they say, be careful what you wish for,” Du Plessis told Jon Anik at the ceremonial weigh-ins. “He asked for it. Your wish has been granted, my friend.

DDP’ goes into his first UFC title opportunity riding an eight-streak with six of those wins coming inside the Octagon. Du Plessis earned his shot with a brutal second-round knockout of former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July.

As for Sean Strickland, the unlikely middleweight king will defend his title for the first time since stunning fans around the world with a dominant five-round performance against two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya last year. Strickland has already made a name for himself thanks to his outspoken nature and sometimes vile commentaries that have redefined love-hate relationships for fight fans.

Next, he’ll look to build his legacy as one of the promotion’s all-time great 185-pounders and it all starts in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Watch the full UFC 297 ceremonial weigh-ins below:

Sean Strickland Buries the Hatchet with Dricus Du Plessis, Blames ‘Cuck’ Sean O’Malley for Bad Blood

Sean Strickland attacked Dricus Du Plessis in the stands at UFC 296 last month and has since threatened to…

Sean Strickland attacked Dricus Du Plessis in the stands at UFC 296 last month and has since threatened to stab him, but the reigning middleweight titleholder wants you to know that it’s nothing personal.

According to Strickland, the rift that had him throwing hands with his South African opposition last month rests squarely on the shoulders of UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. During the trio’s appearance at the promotion’s seasonal press event in December, ‘Sugar’ threw some shade at Strickland by bringing up his troubled childhood.

UFC champs Sean Strickland and Sean O'Malley got into it at the press conference. pic.twitter.com/PinqkrkijB

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 16, 2023

Following O’Malley’s lead, Du Plessis further targeted Strickland’s traumatic past, bringing things to a boiling point that eventually spilled over into the crowd inside T-Mobile Arena 24 hours later.

“Here’s the thing, it was never f*cking personal,” Strickland said during the UFC 297 press conference. “You had the cuck Sean O’Malley say some stupid sh*t he knows nothing about. I go hard on everybody. You don’t think I deserve some sh*t? I go hard on all you motherf*ckers. I’m proud of the motherf*cker. You don’t see me lose character often, this motherf*cker got me there” (h/t MMA Mania).

Sean Strickland Promises Fight Fans a ‘War’

It’s certainly not the first time Du Plessis has found himself in a heated confrontation with a UFC champion. Following his impressive second-round KO of Robert Whittaker in July, then-champion Israel Adesanya entered the cage for a racially-charged staredown that had fight fans chomping at the bit to see them square off inside the Octagon.

Strickland spoiled those plans with his dominant decision victory over ‘The Last Stylebender’ two months later, but ‘Tarzan’ has promised fans a bloody brawl in the UFC 297 headliner.

“Here’s the thing about Dricus, he ain’t f*cking Izzy — Dricus likes to fight,” Strickland continued. “He likes to fight and he’s a hell of a fight. Do you know what that means? We’re going to be d*ck to d*ck, nipple to nipple in that range f*cking fighting. I hope after we’re done, win or lose, we’re f*cking bloody and we put on a show for you f*cking guys. Applaud him and encourage him. Because we want a f*cking war!”

UFC 297 goes down on January 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. The winner of Strickland vs. Du Plessis may find themselves tasked with taking on former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya, who will be sitting cageside for Saturday’s festivities.

Dricus Du Plessis Eyes Future Title Clash with Alex Pereira Once He Takes Care of Business at Middleweight

Dricus Du Plessis would be happy to step inside the Octagon with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira after taking…

Dricus Du Plessis would be happy to step inside the Octagon with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira after taking care of a bit of business at middleweight.

Emanating from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Du Plessis will step into the main event spotlight at UFC 297 determined to cut short the reign of reigning middleweight king Sean Strickland. Hours ahead of their highly anticipated title tilt, Du Plessis and Strickland made an appearance at a pre-fight press event on Thursday. Also in attendance was 205-pound champ Alex Pereira.

With Pereira’s presence looming large at the media scrum, reporters were curious to know if either Strickland or Du Plessis would be interested in challenging ‘Poatan’ should they come out on top on January 20.

Strickland, who already carries a first-round knockout loss to Pereira on his resume, was unusually quiet, but ‘Stillknocks’ happily chimed in.

“100% [I would challenge Pereira],” Du Plessis declared. “100% – after this I have a whole division to take care of before I start thinking of that… Whether it’s him, whether it’s someone else I don’t care. After this division, that’s what I’m after.”

Strickland was quick to retort, “Alex, after I put him away you can put him away next. Don’t worry, we got you Dricus.”

As of this writing, Sean Strickland is listed as a slight favorite to retain his title at UFC 297, sitting at a -115 on DraftKings. Du Plessis is a -105 at the moment with the anticipated line movement expected to make the fight essentially a pick’em by the time they make their walks to the Octagon on Saturday night.

Video – Sean Strickland shares surprising embrace with Dricus du Plessis ahead of UFC 297 title fight: ‘Best of luck’

Revealing plans earlier this week to “stab” incoming title challenger, Dricus du Plessis if the South African elected to…

Revealing plans earlier this week to “stab” incoming title challenger, Dricus du Plessis if the South African elected to target his childhood trauma ahead of their UFC 297 championship clash, middleweight titleholder, Sean Strickland shared a cordial – and surprising embrace with the Pretoria native during an encounter in Canada.

Strickland, the current undisputed middleweight champion, is slated to headline UFC 297 this weekend in Canada, taking on surging promotional-perfect challenger, du Plessis in a title clash atop the promotion’s return to ‘The Great White North’.

Winning gold at UFC 293 back in September of last year in Australia, outspoken champion, Sean Strickland landed a stunning upset win over Israel Adesanya, defeating the former two-time gold holder with a unanimous judging win.

As for du Plessis, the surging challenger has been sidelined since he landed a stunning second round TKO win over former titleholder, Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week.

However, last month, Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis were engaging in a tense brawl on fighter row ahead during UFC 296, with the former claiming he bit du Plessis during the fracas, before UFC officials and security corralled the duo.

Claiming he would “stab” du Plessis if the former goaded him for his childhood trauma and issues with his late father this week, Sean Strickland claimed also that he would likely go to jail openly if he got involved physically with the South African during Thursday’s press conference or Friday’s weigh-ins.

Sean Strickland hugs it out with Dricus du Plessis ahead of UFC 297

However, in a surprise cordial encounter today in Canada, Strickland ran into du Plessis and his girlfriend – with the hugging during an embrace, and shaking hands – before both of them wished each other well and best of luck ahead of Saturday’s title fight.

Israel Adesanya picks Dricus du Plessis to beat Sean Strickland at UFC 297: ‘Does it go the distance? No’

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya will surely have a keen eye on proceedings at UFC 297 this…

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya will surely have a keen eye on proceedings at UFC 297 this weekend, and has made a bold prediction that arch-rival, Dricus du Plessis will not just beat – but finish soon-to-be common-opponent, Sean Strickland in Canada.

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 293 back in September in Australia, dropping his championship belt in a unanimous decision loss to Strickland – with the bout coming as one of the biggest upsets in recent Octagon memory.

As for South African challenger, du Plessis, the Pretoria native has been sidelined since he earned his championship tilt off the back of a stunning second round TKO win over former champion, Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week.

Israel Adesanya picks Dricus du Plessis to win title at UFC 297

And weighing up the option of fighting Adesanya in his immediate future ahead of UFC 297, promotional-perfect contender, du Plessis has been picked to emerge with the middleweight title in tow by Adesanya.

“I’m gonna go with Dricus [du Plessis] (to beat Sean Strickland at UFC 297), “Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Does it go the distance? I’m gonna say no. Not that I don’t respect Sean (Strickland) or his skills, the guy beat me, so, of course I respect his skills.”

Himself sidelined through an undisclosed injury in the time since his championship fight loss to Strickland, Adesanya claimed he would not be able to return to training full time until potentially the end of February – amid continued links to a return to the Octagon at UFC 300 in April.

Do you agree with Israel Adesanya’s prediction for the UFC 297 main event?