Dricus du Plessis doesn’t have time for Sean Strickland’s nonsense.
Du Plessis and Strickland will rematch for the middleweight title in the primary occasion of UFC 312 subsequent month, and earlier this week, Strickland referred to as for a gents’s settlement between the 2 to “get up like f*cking males.” Du Plessis rejected this concept outright and talking with Fox Sports activities Australia lately, the middleweight champion defined why.
“Look, it’s a ridiculous factor to ask,” Du Plessis stated. “If you wish to make pacts about us simply standing up, go do boxing. I don’t go into fights pondering I’ve to face up or take the man down. I do what the scenario tells me to do. That’s what MMA fighters do, I’m snug in every single place.”
Du Plessis and Strickland first fought final yr at UFC 297 the place du Plessis took the middleweight title from Strickland with a cut up determination win. In that bout, du Plessis scored six takedowns which can have contributed to his victory, so the champion clearly isn’t eager about eradicating that choice. Nonetheless, du Plessis does imagine their rematch will probably be largely the type of battle Strickland needs.
“A hundred percent, I feel we’re probably going to maintain it standing,” du Plessis stated. “I do know I’ve the cardio, know I can push him again, and I do know I’ve the facility to knock him out, so for me that’s nice. Then, if the chance involves get a takedown, it’s a choice it’s important to make instantly. Should you see the second you’re taking it.”
Du Plessis, after all, owes Strickland nothing within the type of pacts or negotiations, and as “Stillknocks” went on to say, actually, didn’t stay as much as his personal pre-fight discuss earlier than their first encounter.
“He stated ‘to the dying’ and I used to be prepared for that,” Du Plessis stated. “You noticed it, too, I went ahead for 23 minutes of a 25-minute battle. However from him? It was jabs and teeps. In opposition to Paulo Costa subsequent battle, similar factor. So to the dying?
“Sean Strickland is aware of a number of one-liners to sound powerful, however I expose faux powerful guys. And as for him now once more saying ‘Let’s make this pact?’ What’s the aim of a pact after we noticed what occurred the final time? Plus, I’m not right here to make pacts, I’m right here to win.”
UFC 312 takes place on Feb. 9 at Qudos Financial institution Enviornment in Sydney.
