Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Bohn

Dricus Du Plessis vows to prove he ‘wasn’t gifted a belt’ in UFC 312 rematch vs. Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis is determined to clear up any questions about his first fight with Sean Strickland in Saturday’s UFC 312 title rematch.

After Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) took the middleweight title from Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in a debated split decision at UFC 297 in January 2024, the pair will run it back in the main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+). Both men are highly confident they deserved the nod in the first meeting and plan to leave no doubt in the sequel.

While Strickland, 33, strives to regain the belt he felt “robbed” of 13 months ago, Du Plessis, 31, looks to close this chapter of the story. He doesn’t see the controversy around the first result, despite UFC CEO Dana White claiming he scored it for Strickland.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.