UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis recently opened up about the anxiety he experienced during his first fight against Sean Strickland and what fans can expect in their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 312.
During an appearance on “Breakfast with Martin Bester,” du Plessis shared his thoughts on the upcoming bout. “When I’m standing in the Octagon, the biggest anxiety you feel is how hard does this guy punch? How fast is he? Is he going to catch me with one shot and it’s over. You’ve never felt this personal physically, so you don’t know how hard he hits. Now almost the element of surprise is gone, which makes it a lot easier not to play it safe,” he said.
Dricus Du Plessis went on to explain that the pressure of fighting for a world title for the first time added to his anxiety. “In that fight [against Sean Strickland], my first-ever title fight in the UFC, fighting for a world title there’s a lot of pressure coming with that. So, in the beginning, you’re kind of playing it safe feeling the guy out. This time around, there’s going to be a feeling-out process, but I think it’s going to be a lot more action a lot quicker,” he added.
The first encounter between Dricus du Plessis and Strickland took place at UFC 297 in January 2024, where du Plessis narrowly edged out a split-decision victory to claim the middleweight title. The bout was a back-and-forth affair that left fans wanting more, and Strickland has been vocal about wanting a rematch ever since.
“I’m not going to hold back”- Dricus Du Plessis
As the rematch approaches, du Plessis is confident that the element of surprise is gone, and he is ready to bring his full arsenal to the Octagon. “This time around, I’m not going to hold back. I’m going to go in there and fight my fight,” he said.
The rematch is set to take place on February 8, 2025, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. With both fighters eager to settle the score, fans can expect an action-packed fight that will surely live up to the hype.
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