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On Sunday, South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis will face Sean Strickland in the highly anticipated middleweight title fight at UFC 297, taking place at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.

With a perfect record of six wins in six fights, four by technical knockouts, du Plessis, from Hatfield, Pretoria, has established himself as a formidable force in the UFC.

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According to Daily Maverick, the current champion, Sean Strickland, acknowledges the challenge du Plessis poses and believes that the upcoming fight might be more difficult than his previous encounter with Israel Adesanya.

Strickland, who won the title from Adesanya at UFC 293, respects du Plessis’s determination and acknowledges his superior skills in grappling and jiu-jitsu.

The rivalry between the two fighters intensified at UFC 296 in Las Vegas, where a spontaneous brawl broke out. This altercation followed a heated exchange during a pre-fight press conference where du Plessis referenced Strickland’s difficult childhood.

Despite the earlier conflict, both fighters are now focused on the upcoming bout, with du Plessis focusing on claiming the title.

Strickland’s unpredictability is a concern for du Plessis, especially after their previous altercation. However, du Plessis chose not to pursue legal action to avoid jeopardising the upcoming fight.

Strickland’s victory over Adesanya last year was unexpected, adding an element of surprise to his fighting style. Interestingly, Adesanya has expressed support for du Plessis in the upcoming fight.

The title bout between du Plessis and Strickland is scheduled to take place at around 5am on Sunday.

This fight is not only a personal achievement for du Plessis but also a potential historic moment for South African MMA.

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Picture: Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis / Facebook

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