Dricus Du Plessis wins split decision over Sean Strickland to claim middleweight title.
In a closely contested battle on Saturday night at UFC 297 in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, Dricus Du Plessis secured a split decision victory over Sean Strickland, claiming the middleweight title. Du Plessis maintained forward pressure throughout the fight, seldom yielding ground. While Strickland displayed effective jab work early on, his performance tapered off as the contest progressed. Du Plessis, growing more comfortable, honed in on his range, making his blitzes against Strickland increasingly impactful.
Both fighters bore visible marks, with Du Plessis’ right eye nearly swollen shut and Strickland sustaining significant cuts on the right side of his face. Du Plessis strategically incorporated well-timed takedowns, addressing pre-fight concerns about his stamina. These doubts were decisively dispelled in the five-round clash, culminating in Du Plessis securing victory with judges’ scores of 47-48, 48-47, and 48-47.
Post-match, Du Plessis issued a callout to former champion Israel Adesanya, with whom he has unresolved differences.
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