Sydney, Australia — UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis wanted to end his rivalry with Sean Strickland with a dominant win at UFC 312 and he did just that on Saturday night.
“To go out there and beat him at his own game was a big, big priority. Because to go out there and fight the same fight as in Toronto, I could have done the exact same thing. But I didn’t,” Du Plessis told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“I told you guys the whole week, I’m going to try and knock him out, try and submit him, or if this went to decision, complete domination. And that’s what happened.”
Du Plessis (23-2) and Strickland kept most of the fight standing opting to strike with each other rather than wrestle. The champion thought Strickland would change his game plan to add more wrestling, but was a bit surprised when it didn’t happen.
Du Plessis actually thought Strickland might initiate wrestling, despite the middleweight champ being the one who landed the takedowns in their first meeting. “He tried at some stage, but it was too late. I just felt great.”
At one point in the fight du Plessis managed to break Strickland’s nose so bad that Strickland couldn’t stop grabbing his nose to check it. Bleeding profusely at that point Strickland managed to not get finished at that point even if the champion smelled blood.
“That was big win for me tonight, and it was a big performance. To stay calm — when I got his nose, I didn’t stay that calm, but that was me smelling blood. I got back where I needed to be, and it was an incredible performance. It felt great,” he said.
In Strickland’s corner was the UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Both Pereira and du Plessis have taken to social media and interviews talking of a potential matchup. Du Plessis sees other challenges at 185 pounds however with one name standing above the others.
“Khamzat’s first. I wish him – I said ‘please beat Ankalaev.’ No hate against Ankalaev, I just want to beat Alex Pereira. Nothing personal against Ankalaev, it was just, Pereira, he’s such a legend in this sport to me already that it would be amazing to beat him for my legacy. I want to be the greatest to ever do this. But Khamzat’s next,” said du Plessis.
“Khamzat is next. I want to make sure that this belt, the middleweight title, that there’s no question that I’m the GOAT of the middleweight division. And I know that, you have Anderson Silva, in my mind he is the GOAT of this division, and you have Adesanya who has done incredible things. But it’s not about how many times you defend it, it’s about who you fight, how you defend it, how you’ve done it, in what period of time have you done it, and who have you fought? And making sure there’s no question that I am the best middleweight, then going up.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Dricus du Plessis above.
