Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland February 8 2025 – UFC 312 is getting closer, and the tension builds for the upcoming Middleweight Title Bout. A spectacular fight between Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis and Sean Strickland promises to not disappoint. This bout features two fighters with impressive records: Du Plessis with a 22-2-0 record and Strickland with a 29-6-0. We are just two days away from the fight at Stackhouse Sydney, so let’s see if Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis gets that neck of Sean Strickland.
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland February 8 2025 Fight Details
| When: | Saturday, February 8, 2025 | Time: 10:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | UFC Fight Pass |
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland Tale of the Tape
| Du Plessis | Strickland | |
| Wins/Losses/Draws | 22-2-0 | 29-6-0 |
| Average Fight Time | 12:21 | 15:39 |
| Height | 6′ 1″ | 6′ 1″ |
| Weight | 185 lbs. | 185 lbs. |
| Reach | 76″ | 76″ |
| Stance | Switch | Orthodox |
| Strikes Landed per Min. | 6.18 | 6.01 |
| Striking Accuracy | 49% | 42% |
| Strikes Absorbed per Min. | 4.85 | 4.48 |
| Defense | 54% | 61% |
| Takedowns Average/15 min. | 3.04 | 0.78 |
| Takedown Accuracy | 50% | 64% |
| Takedown Defense | 50% | 77% |
| Submission Average/15 min. | 0.9 | 0.2 |
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland Betting Odds
| Fighter | Moneyline |
| Du Plessis | -165 |
| Strickland | +140 |
The odds at the moment are favoring Du Plessis, which makes him more likely to win the title due to his impressive fighting style and victory against a top fighter like Adesanya. Strickland’s odds of +140 allude to him being an interesting underdog solely due to his recent displayed outstanding resiliency and tactics in the game.
Dricus Du Plessis
Dricus du Plessis is an upfront unparalleled fighter in the middleweight division where he possesses a mix of striking and grappling skills which can disintegrate his opponent. Du Plessis, a South African mixed martial artist and UFC fighter, has a record of 22-2. He lands a striking pace of 6.18 SLpM at an impressive 49% striking accuracy. The middleweight contender also boasts a grappling average of 3.04 takedowns per 15 minutes at a 50% accuracy.
He seems to possess great fighting ability as he averages 0.9 submissions every 15 minutes. This helps him strive toward finishing fights on the ground. One of the most incredible stats is him defeating one of the current Top Contenders out there – Israel Adesanya, which speaks a lot of his capability and elevates his confidence heading into this fight.
Sean Strickland
Sean Strickland comes into the octagon with a strong 29 wins and 6 losses. Strickland fights orthodox and has a decent striking game. At his peak, he achieves 6.01 significant strikes per minute which is accompanied by a striking defense of 61%–this will be quite useful in nullifying some of the blows that Du Plessis tends to throw in. He also has a weak takedown average of 0.78 per 15 minutes but his takedown defense is solid at 77%. This will be helpful in countering the grappling attempts of Du Plessis.
Strickland’s latest win against Paulo Costa shows he can rise to the occasion against elite competition, furthering his unique skill set. His robust approach to fights makes him a suitable opponent who is capable of outmaneuvering Du Plessis – something that stems from his years of experience.
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland Summary
Taking everything into consideration, it seems Dricus Du Plessis has a slight edge, owing to his recent accomplishments on top of a high-profile duel. His blend of striking and grappling provides the ability to catch Strickland, who might be a solid defender, off-balance.
Still, Sean Strickland’s pedigree and striking defense should be viewed with great respect as those provide him the ability to capitalize on any mistakes Du Plessis makes, and possibly win if he can prolong the bout and test Du Plessis’s stamina. While the odds are certainly in du Plessis’s favor, Strickland’s grit certainly makes this contest much more competitive than most will give it credit for. For the UFC fans, this is surely a good one as every ounce of battle will feel strategic and both fighters will claim victory.
