Du Plessis retains his middleweight belt with a unanimous resolution over a bloodied Strickland in Sydney.
Dricus du Plessis defended his UFC middleweight belt with a unanimous win over bitter rival Sean Strickland, destroying his opponent’s nostril in a bloody title combat in Sydney.
The 31-year-old received 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 on Sunday to spice up his win-loss report to 23-2 and cement his standing as blended martial arts’ prime fighter within the 185-pound (84kg) class.
Du Plessis first claimed the belt when he beat Strickland through a detailed cut up resolution in Toronto in January final yr, a bout the polarising American repeatedly insisted he had received.
The South African launched a profitable defence towards Nigeria-born Israel Adesanya in August, whereas Strickland rebounded with a tepid defeat of Brazil’s Paulo Costa to arrange the rematch.
“To come back in right here and attempt to knock this man out is subsequent to unattainable,” mentioned du Plessis, the primary South African to win a UFC championship. “I’d love one other spherical, however that’s not the sport.
“I wished 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 conflict was determined by the smallest of margins, however this time in Sydney it was all du Plessis.
In a measured begin he utilised his favoured head kicks, touchdown 4 in spherical one as Strickland responded with tentative jabs.
The amount of strikes elevated in spherical two with du Plessis delivering mixtures to the face that drew blood as he picked up the tempo.
Strickland lacked urgency and du Plessis rammed dwelling the benefit in a dominant spherical 4.
An enormous proper hook noticed blood come pouring from the American’s nostril, and one other rocked him onto the cage.
Strickland’s nostril was clearly bothering him as du Plessis went in for the kill within the fifth and final spherical, concentrating on it each time doable with out with the ability to ship a decisive knockout blow.
In a profanity-laden courtside interview afterwards, the American mentioned his nostril was damaged.
“I popped it again in place and saved combating for you,” he mentioned. “He kicked my a** honest and sq., props to him.”
Additionally on the primary card, Chinese language strawweight queen Zhang Weili efficiently defended her title for a 3rd straight time, dominating beforehand unbeaten American challenger Tatiana Suarez.
The ferocious Zhang, seen as the very best pound-for-pound feminine fighter within the sport, scored a unanimous win within the five-round combat that left Suarez with some nasty cuts.
“I used to be well-prepared for this combat. Tatiana may be very sturdy, however I simply targeted on myself,” mentioned Zhang, who stretched her report to 26-3.
