Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 312, winning by unanimous decision with a dominant performance that lacked dramatic moments, despite intense rivalry.
Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland went toe-to-toe for another five rounds. When the dust settled, it was an “And Still” moment for the reigning middleweight champ.
UFC 312’s main event reignited the rivalry from UFC 297, where du Plessis narrowly edged out Strickland in a split decision back in January 2024. This time around, du Plessis defended his title decisively, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46. No drama here!
From the get-go, du Plessis applied relentless pressure. Strickland’s famous jab? Not enough to deter him. Du Plessis attacked from unpredictable angles, keeping a pace that Strickland struggled to match. By Round 4, a well-placed strike even seemed to break Strickland’s nose.
Despite their heated rivalry, the rematch lacked fireworks. Khamzat Chimaev didn’t hold back, calling it the “biggest bullshit.” Ouch.
Check out more fighter reactions on social media below.
Well let me tell you something guys Sean sucks
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170)
Ddp just knows how to win night every body
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155)
Dricus Du Plessis is a top 5 P4P in the world. Put some respect on the champion!!! #UFC312
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo)
Dricus just dominant tonight. Too many weapons, pace, pressure and versatility for Strickland to handle. Sean proves his toughness once again tho. #ufc312
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian)