Highlights

  • Strickland had a strong start with his jabs, but Du Plessis gained ground with takedowns and power punches in the middle rounds.
  • Dricus had a convincing second round with aggressive power punches, takedowns, and maintained pressure on the champion.
  • In the final round, Strickland fought aggressively to secure a finish, but Du Plessis maintained his success and concluded the fight strongly.

The judges' scorecards read 48-47 for Strickland, 48-47 for Du Plessis, and 48-47 for Du Plessis, resulting in a split decision victory for Du Plessis.

The fight was a closely contested bout with both fighters having a lot of success implementing thier game plans. Strickland fought behind the jab with a strong start but the South African challenger had success in the middle rounds with his takedowns and power punches.

Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis Round-By-Round

Dricus Becomes A UFC Champion

In the opening round, Sean Strickland employed a strategy of fighting behind his jab and applied pressure on Dricus Du Plessis. Despite Du Plessis attempting to close the gap, Strickland adeptly defended numerous leg kicks. While Du Plessis successfully executed a takedown, he was unable to inflict any significant damage on the champion. Strickland secured the round with his superior success in striking.

Entering the second round, Strickland persists in his strategy of utilizing stiff jabs, while Dricus responds with aggressive power punches. Strickland skillfully evades the majority of his opponent's attacks while effectively landing his jab. Du Plessis gains ground with his powerful overhand, securing another takedown on the champion. Although Strickland manages to stand back up, Du Plessis maintains the pressure. It proves to be a significantly improved round for Dricus, and he takes it convincingly.

In the third round, Dricus persists in applying pressure, despite dealing with a swollen left eye. The challenger successfully forces Strickland to fight defensively, consistently outstriking the champion. Strickland maintains precision with his jab, but Dricus shows no signs of slowing down. In a closely contested round, Dricus emerges victorious, showcasing his effective aggression and striking prowess.

In the fourth round, Strickland seems to be the fresher of the two fighters, finding more success in the striking department. The champion effectively connects with his powerful right hand during the exchange of heavy blows. Although Dricus manages to secure another takedown, Strickland promptly gets back to his feet. Dricus enjoys significant success in striking before executing yet another successful takedown. Strickland is now bleeding heavily from his eye, while his opponent maintains an aggressive pace.

In the fifth and final round, the challenger, likely ahead on the scorecard, maintains his success. Strickland adopts a more aggressive approach, leading to intense exchanges of hard punches between the two fighters. Strickland successfully defends against two takedown attempts and unleashes his power hand in an effort to secure a finish. The champion concludes the fight on a strong note, claiming the final round with his determined and powerful performance.