“No bullsh**!” Dricus du Plessis SHOCKED after learning Dana White believed Sean Strickland won the fight

Dana White scored the main event of UFC 297 in Sean Strickland's favor.

“No bullsh**!” Dricus du Plessis SHOCKED after learning Dana White believed Sean Strickland won the fight

Dana White opted for Sean Strickland in UFC 297's round-by-round title showdown (Source: Twitter)

Sean Strickland faced a split decision skid to Dricus Du Plessis. The main event of UFC 297 has thus left many fight fans heartbroken on the disputable scorecard (47-48, 48-47, 48-47). Emphatetically enough, UFC CEO and taskmaster Dana White believes the same. While he admits the fight was close, he says the final round – and consequently the fight – went to ‘Tarzan.’

Even though White echoes fans’ opinion on the disputable scoring, he is not aiming to stretch it any further. Speaking at the UFC 297 post-fight conference, he said that he doesn’t plan an immediate rematch as of yet. However, he lauded Du Plessis and spoke on the chance of the next title contention happening in South Africa. Concurrently, here’s what the champion had to say about White’s doubtfulness:

Just for the record, are there some people that think I lost the fight?...Dana said... [it]? Well...bullsh*t!
Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 post fight press conference
YouTube video

Despite how he felt about the decision, White didn’t make a scene. He considers Du Plessis very deserving as the new middleweight titleholder. Despite his having had it 2-2 going into the last round, he mentioned there was some at the table who considered just the opposite; hence it was close.

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Concurrently, Strickland himself attributed his loss to a sudden headbutt, that caused a gashing wound on his face. But even he did not contest the decision adversely. Furthermore, he accepted his loss and posted a heart-warming IG video with his girlfriend, after the skid.

Dricus Du Plessis wins middleweight championship at UFC 297: UFC Fighters react

Dricus Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) dethroned Sean Strickland in an entertaining main event clashdown this Saturday night at UFC 297. The outcome of the tight fight was a split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) for Du Plessis. It could have easily gone Strickland’s way.

Dricus Du Plessis bags the heavyweight title at UFC 297
Dricus Du Plessis bags the heavyweight title at UFC 297 (Source: Instagram, @ESPNMMA, Twitter)

Strickland used a nasty piston-like jab to great effect early in the fight. Du Plessis not only struggled to defend it but also commended it later on. ‘Stillknocks’ called Strickland’s jab “super, super, super” good. The fighter turned things around in the 3rd round. His subsequent but controversial win has gained much fan traction.

Ultimately, here’s how a few peers have reacted to it.

The promotion’s top honcho, Dana White had also rewarded the final rounds to Strickland. One of the judges, Sal D’Amato, reciprocated that. But with the other judges scoring ‘against’, Du Plessis bagged the middleweight title. Despite the controversies around the scoring and judgment, Du Plessis was lauded by many fans and peers.

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