Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland believes he has better striking skills than current champion Dricus du Plessis, especially when comparing their fights against Israel Adesanya.
While not the flashiest fighter in the UFC, Strickland has been a tricky puzzle for many fighters. ‘Tarzan’ utilizes a sharp jab, stabbing teeps, a great gas tank, and impeccable defense to pressure his opponents into fighting his fight.
His style culminated in his masterwork against Israel Adesanya, an incredibly accomplished kickboxer and then-middleweight champion. Sizeable underdog Strickland secured a decision against Adesanya, jabbing him pillar to post and knocking him down in the first round.
Du Plessis dethroned Strickland at UFC 297 in 2024. ‘Stillknocks’ went on to submit Adesanya in his first title defense and, comparing their fights with ‘Stylebender,’ Strickland has concluded that he’s the better striker.
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Sean Strickland believes he has better striking than Dricus du Plessis after Israel Adesanya performances
On the UFC 312 Countdown, Strickland remarked that Du Plessis “does nothing right” and that Adesanya beat him in the striking before the submission.
“The thing about Dricus is he does nothing right but it always works out,” Strickland remarked. “. . . I think my striking’s lightyears better than his. Izzy was beating him in striking; I dogwalked Izzy.”
Strickland lost his title to Du Plessis in a highly contentious split decision. It was a near 50-50 split on media members’ scorecards, and fans had Du Plessis losing the fight, per MMA Decisions.
Sean Strickland gets a second chance at greatness at UFC 312
Strickland and Du Plessis will face off for the middleweight throne in the main event of UFC 312 on February 8. The full card is as follows, subject to change:
Main Card
- (C) Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland; Middleweight title fight
- (C) Weili Zhang vs. Tatiana Suarez; W. Strawweight title fight
- Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira; Heavyweight
- Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato; Light Heavyweight
- Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado; Welterweight
Prelims
- Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos; Featherweight
- Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borschev; Lightweight
- Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil; W. Flyweight
- Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria; Bantamweight
- Jonathan Micallef vs. Kevin Jousset; Welterweight
- Park Hyun-sung vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel; Flyweight