Du Plessis keeps his middleweight belt with a unanimous choice over a bloodied Strickland in Sydney.
Dricus du Plessis defended his UFC middleweight belt with a unanimous win over sour rival Sean Strickland, destroying his opponent’s nostril in a bloody identify battle in Sydney.
The 31-year-old gained 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 on Sunday to spice up his win-loss file to 23-2 and cement his situation as combined martial arts’ lead fighter within the 185-pound (84kg) division.
Du Plessis first claimed the belt when he beat Strickland by way of a related fracture choice in Toronto in January closing yr, a bout the polarising American time and again insisted he had gained.
The South African introduced a a hit defence in opposition to Nigeria-born Israel Adesanya in August, presen Strickland rebounded with a tepid defeat of Brazil’s Paulo Costa to arrange the rematch.
“To come in here and try to knock this man out is next to impossible,” mentioned du Plessis, the primary South African to win a UFC championship. “I’d love some other around, however that’s no longer the sport.
“I wanted a submission, a knockout or an absolute domination of a five-rounder,” he added. “That’s what I gave. I gave it my all.”
The Toronto crash was once made up our minds through the smallest of margins, however this age in Sydney it was once all du Plessis.
In a steady get started he utilised his favoured head kicks, touchdown 4 in around one as Strickland replied with tentative jabs.
The quantity of moves higher in around two with du Plessis handing over combos to the face that drew blood as he picked up the life.
Strickland lacked urgency and du Plessis rammed house the merit in a dominant around 4.
A excess proper hook noticed blood come pouring from the American’s nostril, and some other rocked him onto the cage.
Strickland’s nostril was once obviously bothering him as du Plessis went in for the execute within the 5th and closing around, concentrated on it every time conceivable with out being in a position to bring a decisive knockout fritter.
In a profanity-laden courtside interview afterwards, the American mentioned his nostril was once damaged.
“I popped it back in place and kept fighting for you,” he mentioned. “He kicked my a** fair and square, props to him.”
Additionally at the major card, Chinese language strawweight queen Zhang Weili effectively defended her identify for a 3rd instantly age, dominating prior to now unbeaten American challenger Tatiana Suarez.
The ferocious Zhang, open as the most productive pound-for-pound feminine fighter within the recreation, scored a unanimous win within the five-round battle that left Suarez with some nasty cuts.
“I was well-prepared for this fight. Tatiana is very strong, but I just focused on myself,” mentioned Zhang, who stretched her file to 26-3.
