The Ultimate Fighting Championship hosted its first pay-per-view event of 2024, which took place on January 20, 2024, in the shape of UFC 297. The event was stacked with exciting fights where the top mixed martial artists of the promotion fought in different weight classes. UFC 297 was held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. It was headlined by the former middleweight champion, Sean Strickland, and the Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title.
Sean Strickland is a leading figure on the UFC’s roster among its active fighters. Known for his unconventional and controversial opinions, Strickland recently saw massive progress in his career when the former middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, called him out for a title fight after the original challenger, Dricus du Plessis, withdrew due to an injury at UFC 293. Strickland succeeded in pulling off an upset when he defeated Adesanya by a unanimous decision and became the new middleweight champion.
Sean Strickland’s opponent for UFC 297, Dricus du Plessis, on the other hand, has witnessed a meteoric rise in the UFC. The South African-born UFC middleweight fighter was on an eight-fight winning streak, which included victories over Darren Till and Derek Brunson and a massive TKO win over Robert Whittaker while coming into the fight. Du Plessis entered the octagon as an undefeated contender for the promotion on January 20, 2023, at UFC 297 and left with a closely contested split decision win over Sean Strickland and becoming the new middleweight champion.
Sean Strickland vs Dricus du Plessis Stats
| Stats | Sean Strickland | Dricus du Plessis |
| Record | 28-6 (11 KOs) | 21-2 (9 KOs) |
| Championships | UFC Middleweight Champion | |
| Age | 32 | 30 |
| Height | 1.85m | 1.83m |
| Division(s) | Middleweight | Middleweight |
| Reach | 76” | 76” |
| Win Streak (Active) | 3 | 9 |
| Professional Debut | 2008 | 2013 |
Sean Strickland Losses
Sean Strickland has suffered six losses in his career as a professional mixed martial artist. His first loss came against Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir, he was defeated by Ponzinibbio by a unanimous decision. Strickland suffered his second loss against Kamaru Usman at UFC 210 by a unanimous decision.
Sean Strickland recovered from the loss suffered at the hands of Kamaru Usman and won his next fight, only to lose against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at UFC 224, where he lost by first-round KO. Returning to winning ways after the loss against dos Santos, Strickland established a six-fight winning streak before losing consecutive fights against Alex Periera at UFC 276 and Jared Cannonier at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland. Periera handed him a first-round KO defeat, whereas Cannonier bettered him by a split decision. Seaan Strickland faced Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 for in a middleweight title match and ended up losing by a split decision fro the sixth time in his professional career.
Sean Strickland Record
Sean Strickland holds a professional record of 28 wins and 6 losses as a mixed martial artist.
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 28-6 | Dricus du Plessis | Decision (split) | UFC 297 | January, 20, 2024 | 5 | 5:00 | Scotiabank Arena, Totonto, Ontario, Canada | Lost the UFC Middleweight Championship, Fight of The Night |
| Win | 28–5 | Israel Adesanya | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 293 | September 10, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | Won the UFC Middleweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 27–5 | Abusupiyan Magomedov | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov | July 1, 2023 | 2 | 4:20 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 26–5 | Nassourdine Imavov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov | January 14, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Light Heavyweight bout. |
| Loss | 25–5 | Jared Cannonier | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 25–4 | Alex Pereira | KO (punches) | UFC 276 | July 2, 2022 | 1 | 2:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 25–3 | Jack Hermansson | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland | February 5, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 24–3 | Uriah Hall | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland | July 31, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 23–3 | Krzysztof Jotko | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka | May 1, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 22–3 | Brendan Allen | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos | November 14, 2020 | 2 | 1:32 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (195 lb) bout. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 21–3 | Jack Marshman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva | October 31, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Middleweight; Marshman missed weight (187.5 lb). |
| Win | 20–3 | Nordine Taleb | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith | October 27, 2018 | 2 | 3:10 | Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | |
| Loss | 19–3 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | KO (spinning wheel kick and punches) | UFC 224 | May 12, 2018 | 1 | 3:40 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 19–2 | Court McGee | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
| Loss | 18–2 | Kamaru Usman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 210 | April 8, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Buffalo, New York, United States | |
| Win | 18–1 | Tom Breese | Decision (split) | UFC 199 | June 4, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 17–1 | Alex Garcia | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy | February 21, 2016 | 3 | 4:25 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 16–1 | Igor Araújo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee | July 15, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | San Diego, California, United States | |
| Loss | 15–1 | Santiago Ponzinibbio | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir | February 22, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Porto Alegre, Brazil | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 15–0 | Luke Barnatt | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Muñoz vs. Mousasi | May 31, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Berlin, Germany | |
| Win | 14–0 | Bubba McDaniel | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 171 | March 15, 2014 | 1 | 4:33 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 13–0 | Matt Lagler | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Split Decision | August 29, 2013 | 1 | 4:59 | Highland, California, United States | Defended the KOTC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–0 | Yusuke Sakashita | Decision (unanimous) | KOTC: Worldwide | July 5, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Manila, Philippines | Defended the KOTC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–0 | Bill Albrecht | KO (punch) | KOTC: Restitution | February 7, 2013 | 1 | 2:41 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Defended the KOTC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–0 | Josh Bryant | Decision (split) | KOTC: Unification | December 8, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Highland, California, United States | Defended and unified the KOTC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Brandon Hunt | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Hardcore | April 26, 2012 | 1 | 3:24 | Highland, California, United States | Won the KOTC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–0 | Brandon Hunt | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Steel Curtain | December 17, 2011 | 1 | 3:48 | Norman, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Brett Sbardella | KO (punches) | KOTC: Demolition | August 6, 2011 | 1 | 1:03 | Walker, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Donavin Hawkey | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Platinum | November 25, 2010 | 1 | 1:21 | Durban, South Africa | Return to Middleweight. |
| Win | 5–0 | Adriel Montes | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Underground 63 | October 2, 2010 | 2 | 1:05 | Laughlin, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | George Interiano | Decision (unanimous) | Long Beach Fight Night 7 | January 3, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | William Wheeler | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Jolted | October 3, 2009 | 1 | 1:55 | Laughlin, Nevada, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Brandon Ellsworth | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Last Resort | March 14, 2009 | 1 | 1:28 | Laughlin, Nevada, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Tyler Pottett | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Protege | March 22, 2008 | 2 | 1:53 | Laughlin, Nevada, United States | Welterweight debut. |
Dricus du Plessis Record
Dricus du Plessis has an impressive professional mixed martial arts record of 21 wins and 2 losses to his name.
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 21-1 | Sean Strickland | Decision (split) | UFC 297 | January 20, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Won the UFC Middleweight Championship, Fight of The Night |
| Win | 20–2 | Robert Whittaker | TKO (punches) | UFC 290 | 08-Jul-23 | 2 | 2:23 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | UFC middleweight title eliminator. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 19–2 | Derek Brunson | TKO (corner stoppage) | UFC 285 | 04-Mar-23 | 2 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–2 | Darren Till | Submission (face crank) | UFC 282 | 10-Dec-22 | 3 | 2:43 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 17–2 | Brad Tavares | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 276 | 02-Jul-22 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–2 | Trevin Giles | KO (punches) | UFC 264 | 10-Jul-21 | 2 | 1:41 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 15–2 | Markus Perez | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen | 11-Oct-20 | 1 | 3:22 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 14–2 | Brendan Lesar | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC 83 | 14-Dec-19 | 1 | 4:15 | Gauteng, South Africa | Defended and unified the EFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–2 | Joilton Santos | TKO (punches) | KSW 50 | 14-Sep-19 | 2 | 3:04 | London, England | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 12–2 | Roberto Soldić | KO (punches) | KSW 45 | 06-Oct-18 | 3 | 2:33 | London, England | Lost the KSW Welterweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–1 | Roberto Soldić | TKO (punches) | KSW 43 | 14-Apr-18 | 2 | 1:37 | Wrocław, Poland | Won the KSW Welterweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 11–1 | Yannick Bahati | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC 62 | 19-Aug-17 | 1 | 1:30 | Gauteng, South Africa | Won the EFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–1 | Maurício da Rocha Jr. | TKO (punches) | EFC 59 | 13-May-17 | 1 | 3:58 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
| Win | 9–1 | Rafał Haratyk | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC 56 | 09-Dec-16 | 2 | 3:34 | Gauteng, South Africa | Middleweight bout. |
| Win | 8–1 | Martin van Staden | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC 50 | 17-Jun-16 | 3 | 3:59 | Gauteng, South Africa | Won the vacant EFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | Bruno Mukulu | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC 46 | 12-Dec-15 | 2 | 2:50 | Gauteng, South Africa | Catchweight (176 lb) bout. |
| Win | 6–1 | Dino Bagattin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC 40 | 06-Jun-15 | 2 | 3:33 | Gauteng, South Africa | Welterweight debut. |
| Win | 5–1 | Darren Daniel | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC 37 | 21-Feb-15 | 1 | 4:50 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Garreth McLellan | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC 33 | 30-Aug-14 | 3 | 2:12 | Gauteng, South Africa | For the EFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Donavin Hawkey | TKO (punches) | EFC 27 | 27-Feb-14 | 1 | 4:50 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
| Win | 3–0 | JC Lamprecht | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC 24 | 10-Oct-13 | 3 | 1:54 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
| Win | 2–0 | Bruno Mukulu | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC 23 | 12-Sep-13 | 1 | 2:34 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
| Win | 1–0 | Tshikangu Makuebo | TKO (knee injury) | EFC 21 | 25-Jul-13 | 1 | 1:18 | Gauteng, South Africa | Middleweight debut. |
FAQs
A. He has a professional MMA record of 28 wins and 6 losses.
A. Dricus du Plessis has a professional MMA record of 21 wins and 2 losses.
A. Sean Strickland has won 11 fights by knockout.
A. Dricus du Plessis has won 9 fights by knockout.
A. Dricus du Plessis is the current UFC middleweight division.
