UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is ready to run it back with old rival Sean Strickland, and the South African world champion says the American represents the toughest test of his career so far.
“For me right now, I think Strickland is the best middleweight in the world right now, behind myself, and he deserves to be here,” he told reporters at UFC 312 media day in Sydney, Australia.
”I know he’s an incredible, incredible fighter. He’s so good defensively, he’s tough, he’s hard to hit, and when you hit him, it doesn’t have that effect, as you know, on normal guys.”
Du Plessis and Strickland battled the full five-round duration at UFC 297, with “Stillknocks” taking the win by split-decision to capture the undisputed middleweight title.
But the close nature of that victory has meant that his “undisputed” crown has been disputed by Strickland and his supporters ever since. And even a brilliant performance to finish Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 hasn’t quietened the call for Du Plessis to face Strickland again.
Now the pair will face off in a title rematch in Sydney, with Du Plessis ready to go into the trenches with a fellow warrior of the Octagon in a bid to not just win, but win decisively to ensure there are no arguments over the winner this time around.
“This man is an apex predator,” said Du Plessis.
“So this is the toughest fight of my life coming up, and I’m ready for that, because I’m an apex predator, and he’s in my area right now.
“We’re going to go to that dark place from the get-go, and we’ll see who comes out. And I can’t wait for that, because even if this goes to decision again, it will be an all-out war, and there will be no doubt that I’m the best in the world.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4t9hqXkOEo
