The UFC is set to make its return to Toronto with an exciting main event scheduled for UFC 297. Sean Strickland will be defending his middleweight title against Dricus du Plessis at the Scotiabank Arena. This will be Strickland’s first title defense since defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, and tensions are high between the two fighters after a heated press conference in December.
Strickland’s path to victory lies in his relentless forward pressure and volume striking. Despite being the underdog against Adesanya, Strickland managed to secure a victory by constantly marching forward and cutting off the cage. Adesanya had no answer to Strickland’s pressure, and he eventually wilted under the constant onslaught. Strickland will look to employ the same strategy against du Plessis, who tends to default to a high guard and disengage when pressed. By throwing combinations and evading du Plessis’ counters, Strickland can dominate the fight. Additionally, attacking the body will be crucial for Strickland, as du Plessis has shown vulnerability in that area. Ripping shots to the body will exploit du Plessis’ weakness and potentially break him down.
On the other hand, du Plessis relies on his physicality and power to overwhelm his opponents. While not as adept at pressuring as Strickland, du Plessis excels at imposing his mass on his opponents. In his recent fight against Robert Whittaker, du Plessis struggled to corner his opponent initially but eventually found success by taking the fight to the ground and unleashing his ground-and-pound skills. This will be du Plessis’ best path to victory against Strickland, as he possesses excellent top control and can deliver devastating strikes from that position. On the feet, du Plessis should look to land one big kill shot and utilize feints to open up opportunities against Strickland’s defensive movements. Most importantly, du Plessis cannot back up, as Strickland’s game does not work in reverse. By constantly pressuring Strickland, du Plessis can dictate the fight and potentially secure a win.
The build-up to this fight has been intense, with both fighters engaging in trash talk and a brawl at UFC 296. While they seem to have buried the hatchet this week, the emotional tension and pressure on Strickland could play a significant role in the fight. Strickland has been behaving erratically, lashing out at reporters and displaying signs of stress. In contrast, du Plessis appears calm and confident, carrying himself like a champion. This psychological aspect could impact the fight and potentially favor du Plessis.
In terms of prediction, this matchup is highly compelling due to the alignment of each fighter’s strengths against the other’s weaknesses. However, du Plessis is favored to win for two key reasons. First, he is a fast starter, while Strickland tends to start slow. Du Plessis may be able to finish the fight before Strickland can find his rhythm. Second, du Plessis has a proven ability to finish fights, which gives him an advantage in close matchups. If one fighter can finish while the other cannot, it puts pressure on the Decision Merchant to deliver a flawless performance for 25 minutes. Ultimately, the prediction is that Dricus du Plessis will defeat Sean Strickland via TKO in the second round.
The UFC 297 main event promises to be an exciting clash between two talented fighters with contrasting styles. Fans can expect an intense battle as Strickland looks to defend his title and du Plessis aims to claim it for himself. The Scotiabank Arena in Toronto will undoubtedly be buzzing with anticipation as these middleweights step into the Octagon.
