“My record speaks for itself,” Dricus Du Plessis vows to finish ‘33% finish rate’ Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis seeks to make history as South Africa's first UFC champion, facing a formidable challenge in Sean Strickland at UFC 297.

“My record speaks for itself,” Dricus Du Plessis vows to finish ‘33% finish rate’ Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis vows to finish Sean Strickland (Image via: IMAGO)

Dricus Du Plessis will take on Sean Strickland at UFC 297 to become the first South African UFC champion. Du Plessis has already caused controversy with his comments about ‘being African.’ The comment came at odds with the former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Du Plessis recently sat down with Jon Anik for ESPNA MMA, preluding his title fight.

In the interview, Du Plessis spoke highly of Sean Strickland and his desire to become a UFC champion. Moreover, he also predicted his fight against Strickland to not go the full distance. This is what he said.

You know, my record speaks for itself. I think I have 20 wins, two losses, and of my 20 wins, I have 19 finishes. One fight in my whole career didn't go the distance. So that stat in itself, and then you look at Sean Strickland, doesn't have a lot of finishes. I think his finish rate is 33%.
Dricus Du Plessis via ESPN MMA
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Even though Dricus Du Plessis has a bigger finishing rate in MMA, Sean Strickland is the betting favorite. Du Plessis showed cardio issues before his nose surgery, and Strickland has one of the best gas tanks in MMA. As the first PPV event of 2024, fans expect highly of UFC 297. With the forward marching style of Strickland and Du Plessis, fans can expect a wild fight.

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Du Plessis is undefeated in the UFC, with notable victories over Robert Whitaker, Derek Brunson, and Darren Till. Moreover, he was also the champion at KSW and EFC. In the UFC, only his fight with Brad Tavares went the distance. The South African’s prediction for UFC 297 is a finish of Strickland, but Strickland predicted a 5-round war.

Dricus Du Plessis talks about the South African MMA scene

UFC middleweight title challenger Dricus Du Plessis discussed his interest in bringing UFC events to South Africa. UFC CEO Dana White had the thought when Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou ruled over their respective divisions. In the interview with Jon Anik, Du Plessis highlighted South Africa’s track record in hosting blockbuster sporting spectacles like the FIFA World Cup and the Rugby World Cup.

Dricus Du Plessis
Dricus Du Plessis (via Imago/Peakpx)

Du Plessis stated South Africa could host a big UFC event, particularly if a South African champion existed. Du Plessis aims to do just that at UFC 297 and thereby headline a UFC event in South Africa. He credited his impressive UFC run as a factor for the growth of MMA in South Africa. Since he became the number one contender at middleweight after his victory over Robert Whittaker, the popularity of UFC and MMA in South Africa skyrocketed. However, he credited his success to his team and coach for their role in making him the fighter he is.

Du Plessis began his MMA career with Extreme Fighting Championships, a South African-based MMA promotion. He went 11-1 in the EFC, eventually becoming a champion in the welterweight and middleweight divisions. His only loss at EFC was to Garreth McLellan, who went on to fight in the UFC as a 20-year-old.

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