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UFC 312 Recap: Dricus du Plessis Dominates Sean Strickland in a Thrilling Five-Round War
The highly anticipated rematch between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, lived up to all the hype—and then some. Both fighters left it all in the Octagon, but it was Du Plessis who emerged victorious after an epic five-round war, retaining his UFC Middleweight title and silencing any remaining doubters.
Round 1: A Tactical Battle
The fight started with both men testing each other’s range and skill. Strickland walked forward in his signature style, pawing at Du Plessis with his jab, while the champ mixed up his striking with hard leg kicks and a sneaky head kick that found its way through Strickland’s guard. Du Plessis landed a push kick to the thigh and threatened with a spinning back kick to the body, but Strickland countered with sharp punches to the body. It was a chess match of range and precision, with neither man clearly taking the edge in this opening round.
Round 2: Fireworks Erupt
The second round kicked off with intensity as Du Plessis focused on leg and body kicks, while Strickland unleashed teeps and counters. Du Plessis began landing his left hand consistently, while Strickland punished him with crisp counters to the face. The crowd erupted as the two fighters went toe-to-toe in one of the most action-packed rounds of the night. Du Plessis seemed to edge this round, landing more combos and controlling the pace, despite Strickland’s relentless counters.
Round 3: Mixing It Up
Round three saw Du Plessis elevate his game, mixing up his strikes and switching stances, keeping Strickland guessing. Strickland defended a takedown attempt but continued to eat heavy combos. The champ’s aggression and varied attack proved too much, and he seemed to take this round as well.
Championship Rounds: Heart and Grit
Round 4:
As the championship rounds began, both fighters showed tremendous heart. Round four was another brutal exchange, with Du Plessis pressing forward and busting up Strickland with fast combos. Strickland, bleeding heavily from his nose, countered with solid boxing and landed a few strong shots of his own. Still, Du Plessis’ pace, aggression, and striking variety once again earned him the round.
Round 5:
In the fifth and final round, Strickland needed a knockout to win, but Du Plessis stayed disciplined. The South African champion landed clean combos, including a devastating overhand right that repeatedly found its mark. Strickland defended another takedown attempt, but it was clear he was struggling as Du Plessis controlled the fight. When the final horn sounded, there was no doubt—Du Plessis had dominated the fight.
What’s Next for the Champ?
Du Plessis’ performance was a statement. He didn’t just win; he beat Sean Strickland at his own game, outboxing one of the toughest fighters in the division. After all the jokes and doubts, DDP proved he’s a champion through and through.
Now, the big question: Who’s next? Will it be a surging contender like Khamzat Chimaev or a rematch with a revitalized Israel Adesanya? And what’s next for Strickland? Can he bounce back and reclaim his spot as a top contender?
UFC 312 was one for the ages, and Fight.TV will be here to cover all the fallout. Let us know in the comments who you think should get the next shot at Du Plessis!