Sean Strickland, a fighter not known to shy away from contentious banter, has once again stirred up the hive. As UFC 312 inches closer, he continues to make headlines with his daring call-out. This time, he’s invited Dricus Du Plessis to partake in a pact for their rematch, enticing him to limit the contest solely to striking without any ground game involved. This, he believes, would facilitate a thoroughly striking-based conflict and provide an enticing spectacle for fans.
Strickland made waves by delivering his challenge vis-à-vis an Instagram video, wherein he mooted the idea of a rematch with Dricus Du Plessis, sans takedowns. As a fighter whose name is synonymous with erratic striking, Strickland’s ambition for an unalloyed stand-up battle showcases his confidence in his modus operandi, while simultaneously goading Du Plessis to maintain the showdown purely above the canvas.
Per usual, Strickland didn’t hesitate to use provocative language to incite DDP. He called upon him to ‘fight like a man’ and ensure an unforgettable encounter for the viewers. Quoting Strickland, ‘Hey, Dricus, you need to stand up like a real man… I’m aware you take pleasure in choking opponents out on the ground and other grappling tactics.’
Strickland’s audacious proposal for a takedown-free facing did not go unnoticed within the fanbase. They inundated the social media post’s comments, lambasting the fighter for his unorthodox suggestion. Several fans reminded Strickland that what they were participating in was MMA, a sport far more diverse than boxing, insinuating that his stratagem might be an outcome of his possible apprehension of Dricus Du Plessis’ grappling prowess.
Critics argued that Strickland was attempting to contort the battle rules to suit his fancy, by proposing to confine it only to striking. Further, they emphasized the possibility of him wanting to evade DDP’s potential superiority in ground fights, hinting that Strickland might be seeking comfort in a field he dominates.
Meanwhile, following his triumphant title defense against the formidable Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis is exuding confidence. In a conversation about his upcoming fight, he perfunctorily rejected Strickland’s fighting technique as monotonous and lacking in sizzle.
Du Plessis expressed his belief that there was nothing extraordinary about Strickland’s recent fights, categorizing his tactics as much too direct and lackluster. He insinuated that Strickland’s run-of-the-mill performances did nothing to pump up the excitement among the audience. Sharing his views, DDP stated, ‘He remained the same. His fight was as dull as always, just advancing with jabs and teeps. It did not leave us on the edge of our seats… Though it was not a poor performance, it was arguably his most unremarkable one to date.’
The existing hostility between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis adds an extra layer of intrigue to their forthcoming rematch. Strickland’s advocacy for a fight limited to striking has indeed peaked fans’ anticipation and curious spectators are eagerly awaiting to see if he will bring a new edge to his game plan to floor DDP.