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Dricus Du
Plessis knew the scorecards have been going to be shut, however he was
assured he did sufficient get the nod in opposition to Sean
Strickland within the UFC 297
headliner.
“It was an in depth struggle, make no mistake – however I assumed I had it.
When that cut up choice got here, I assumed, ‘That is, one hundred pc,
50-50.’ After they stated ‘And new …,’ it felt like 15 years of labor
and sacrifice collectively in a single single sentence. It feels surreal.
It’s superb,” Du Plessis stated at Saturday’s post-fight press
convention.
“I assumed I did sufficient to win the struggle. It undoubtedly was an in depth
struggle. He received the primary spherical and I made the mandatory changes.
… On the finish of the day, I went toe-to-toe with the self-proclaimed
greatest boxer within the UFC.”
Strickland obtained off to a powerful begin behind his jab, however Du Plessis
obtained higher because the struggle progressed, mixing in takedowns along with his
placing to maintain his opponent off stability. Finally, that was
sufficient for the South African to win a closely-contested cut up
choice, although many observers thought Strickland deserved to
retain his title.
Regardless of the shut nature of the struggle, UFC CEO Dana White didn’t
seem like enthusiastic about reserving a direct rematch.
“Finally, these two are going to finish up combating once more, I’m
positive,” White stated. “However we’re not desirous about a direct
rematch proper now.”
Du Plessis, in the meantime, has turned his consideration to Israel
Adesanya. The 2 have been constructing animosity within the second half of
2023 — particularly after Du Plessis referred to himself because the UFC’s
“actual” African champ — however when “Stillknocks” was unable to compete
at UFC 293, Strickland stepped in and upset “The Final Stylebender.”
With Adesanya hinting at a return sooner or later this yr, Du
Plessis sees the struggle as a really perfect subsequent transfer.
“It’s nothing private,” Du Plessis stated. “It’s not private at
all. That’s simply the struggle the followers need to see. I need to struggle
one of the best competitors. There’s a variety of guys I’m going to be
combating, however the followers need to see Israel
Adesanya vs. Dricus Du
Plessis. There’s a variety of hype that was already constructed on
it.
“If the followers, there’s a way they begin backtracking and the followers
don’t actually need to see Adesanya, we don’t try this struggle. It’s
fantastic to me. I don’t care who it’s. However that’s simply the struggle on
prime of my head that I feel the individuals need to see and would get a
lot of individuals excited.”
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