Two middleweight rivals will collide in the main event when the Octagon returns to Sydney.
In the build-up to the first fight between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland at UFC 297, things got slightly out of hand on several occasions.
Before fight week had even started there was the infamous brawl that took place between them in the crowd at UFC 296 after both men were seen on the PPV broadcast to be sat near each other.
There was also the press conference where following a lot of jabs back and forth, du Plessis appeared to get under the skin of the champion by referencing his difficult upbringing.
The road to February 8 hasn’t been nearly as tense but when you get either of these men in front of a mic at a press conference, you know they’re going to throw some insults around.
Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland exchange compliments in a sign of mutual respect
During the UFC 312 press conference, a temporary cease-fire was called into action when they were asked to pay their opponent a compliment.
Strickland started by giving props to the aggressive fighting style of the current champion, along with insulting him at the same time.
He said: “I mean dude, the guy fights like a f—— r—– on the short bus, how is that not a f—— compliment?
“I mean that’s all something we can strive to do is f—— go in there and want to f—— die so congratulations f—— Dricus, you fight tough.”
‘Stillknocks’ responded by making a similar statement, saying that he has respect for Sean Strickland because they have both proven that they aren’t just talk.
We got a Fight of the Night over five rounds between them last time and that has led to a mutual respect now existing.
“I guess I have to say the man is at least willing to throw down whether it’s in the stands or not and I got to respect that,” du Plessis said.
“If somebody disrespects you, you put them in their place and he’s willing to do that so that’s what a man does.”
- READ MORE: Sean Strickland addresses rumor he has staph infection ahead of Dricus du Plessis rematch at UFC 312
This will not change the way that Dricus du Plessis or Sean Strickland approach the fight
There may be less tension between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland on this occasion but that isn’t going to change the way that either man thinks about this fight.
The two top middleweights have very distinct styles and aside from the odd tweak here and there, they don’t change that depending on the opponent that is in front of them.
Du Plessis will try to land big powerful strikes with his explosive athleticism and unorthodox technique whilst the challenger tries to pressure his opponent, control the fight, and keep himself inside a defensive shell.
The question is whether we will get the same result as last time where ‘Stillknocks’ emerged victorious in a closely contested split decision verdict.