Du Plessis Defeats Strickland by Decision to Become Champion

History has been made! The UFC 297 main event between champion Sean Strickland and challenger, Dricus Du Plessis was what everyone had hoped for. It was a five-round war between the two middleweights. Towards the end, Strickland’s cuts were severe, and the commentary team questioned whether Du Plessis could see out of his severely swollen eye. At the end of the fight, no one was sure who won, and it came down to the judges scorecards. Du Plessis defeated Strickland by a split decision and became the first South-African born champion in UFC history. The first main event of 2024 was a massive success, and two new champions were crowned.

What’s Next for Both Fighters?

Since Strickland became champion in 2023, his popularity and time spent with the media has grown exponentially. He went from falling out of the top-ten, to becoming one of the most universally loved, and disliked fighters in the promotion. Whether you love or hate him, Sean’s popularity has grown too large for the UFC to ever let him go.

Dricus on the other side of the table, is now the hunted. He has what each middleweight wants. UFC gold, and his first title defense may come sooner rather than later. In April, Vegas is hosting UFC 300, and the promotion has not yet officially announced the main event. Former UFC champion, Israel Adesanya has a past with Du Plessis and this may be shaping out to be the main event. Regardless, we will see Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis make a return to the octagon in 2024.

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