UFC 312 - Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis 2
Peter Maiorano

UFC 312 – Strickland vs. du Plessis 2

Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis are set to face off in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 312 on February 9, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. Their first encounter on January 20, 2024, at UFC 297 saw du Plessis secure a split decision victory, capturing the UFC Middleweight Championship.

Sean Strickland

  • Record: 29-6
  • Fighting Out Of: Anaheim, California, USA
  • Style: High-pressure striking, strong jab, solid defense
Recent Fights:
  • Win – Paulo Costa (June 1, 2024) – Decision (split) – UFC 302
  • Loss – Dricus du Plessis (January 20, 2024) – Decision (split) – UFC 297 (Lost UFC Middleweight Championship)
  • Win – Israel Adesanya (September 10, 2023) – Decision (unanimous) – UFC 293 (Won UFC Middleweight Championship)

Dricus du Plessis

  • Record: 22-2
  • Fighting Out Of: Pretoria, South Africa
  • Style: Power striking, strong grappling, high endurance
Recent Fights:
  • Win – Israel Adesanya (August 18, 2024) – Submission (face crank) – UFC 305 (Defended UFC Middleweight Championship)
  • Win – Sean Strickland (January 20, 2024) – Decision (split) – UFC 297 (Won UFC Middleweight Championship)
  • Win – Robert Whittaker (July 8, 2023) – TKO (punches) – UFC 290

Matchup Analysis

Striking
  • Strickland: Aggressive, high-volume striking, strong jab
  • du Plessis: Heavy power punches, unpredictable angles
Grappling
  • Strickland: Strong takedown defense but rarely offensive with grappling
  • du Plessis: Excellent wrestling and submission threat
X-Factor
  • Strickland: Durability and ability to maintain a relentless pace
  • du Plessis: Explosive finishing ability both standing and on the ground

Common Opponents

Israel Adesanya
  • Strickland: Won by Unanimous Decision (UFC 293)
  • du Plessis: Won by Submission (UFC 305)

Prediction

Dricus du Plessis’ well-rounded skill set, including his dangerous grappling and power, gives him a slight edge. If Strickland can keep the fight standing and control the pace while also becoming a little more active than the first fight, he has a clear path to victory. Expect a closely contested war that could go the distance. However, look for Du Plessis to find the submission in round 4 after three closely contested rounds.

Thank you for reading my UFC 312 – Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis 2 article. For more UFC insights, visit my Pete’s Sports UFC Page and follow me on Twitter/X. For MMA, Boxing, and other sports articles, check out Pete’s Sports Blog and subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more videos. Image credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images.

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