UFC 297: Sean Strickland vs Dricus Du Plessis Highlights

MMAWeekly.com

22 Jan 202404:04

Summary

TLDRThe UFC middleweight title fight between champion Sean Strickland and challenger DDP draus dupes at UFC 297 is recapped. It was a close fight that went the distance, with dupes scoring takedowns and landing heavy kicks while Strickland utilized his jab and defense. Ultimately dupes won a split decision in a major upset to become the new middleweight champion. He called out Israel Adesanya afterwards as a potential next opponent.

Takeaways

😊 UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland took on #2 contender DDP draus dupes in Toronto
🥊 Strickland possessed great boxing skills and toughness, while dupes had power, size and a wild style
🤼‍♂️ It was a very close fight with both fighters landing significant strikes
👊 dupes landed more strikes overall and secured several takedowns of Strickland
⚖️ dupes won a close split decision to become the new UFC middleweight champion
👏 dupes has significantly improved every time he fights and brings an entertaining style
🏆 dupes is now 21-2 overall and riding a 9 fight win streak
💪 He has 10 submission wins and 9 KO/TKO wins with 8 first round finishes
🥇 dupes is the first ever South African born UFC champion
👀 dupes called out Israel Adesanya for his next fight

Q & A

When and where did the Strickland vs. Dupes fight take place?
-The fight took place on Saturday, January 20th, 2024 at Scotia Bank Arena in Toronto.
What were the betting odds for the fight?
-The betting odds had Strickland as a -110 favorite and Dupes as a +1110 underdog.
How did Dupes win the fight?
-Dupes won by split decision after five close rounds. He landed more strikes overall and secured several takedowns that likely earned him extra points on the judges' scorecards.
What was Dupes' record coming into the fight?
-Coming into the fight, Dupes had a professional MMA record of 20 wins and 2 losses.
What title was at stake in the Strickland vs. Dupes fight?
-The UFC Middleweight Championship was at stake. Strickland entered as champion after defending the belt multiple times.
What made the fight so anticipated?
-It was an anticipated matchup between the champion Strickland and the dangerous top contender Dupes, who brought explosive athleticism and power along with an aggressive style.
What were Strickland's main strengths entering the fight?
-Strickland's main strengths were his technical boxing, defense, cardio conditioning and incredible toughness.
How did Strickland try to approach the fight against Dupes?
-Strickland looked to use his jab and walk Dupes down, keeping pressure on him rather than letting Dupes dictate the exchanges.
What did Dupes call for after winning the title?
-After winning, Dupes called out top middleweight contender Israel Adesanya for a future matchup.
How did Jake Hatton summarize his thoughts on the fight?
-Hatton was very emotional and impressed with Dupes' performance. He felt the fight was very close but well-earned, calling Dupes' rise incredible after years of hard work finally paid off.

Outlines

00:00

😀 UFC Middleweight Title Fight Breakdown

Paragraph 1 provides an overview and breakdown of the UFC middleweight title fight between champion Sean Strickland and challenger DDP Draus Dupes. It describes their records, backgrounds, strengths, and betting odds going into the matchup.

😲 Round-by-Round Fight Recap

Paragraph 2 gives a detailed round-by-round recap of the fight action and key moments. It highlights Dupes' effective takedowns and kicks, Strickland's defense and jab, and the back-and-forth exchanges as the fight progressed.

😮 Dupes Wins Split Decision

Paragraph 3 covers the judges' decision, with Dupes winning by split decision to become the new UFC middleweight champion. It describes Strickland's surprise at the decision and Dupes' emotional reaction to achieving his dream.

😃 Dupes' Improvements and Exciting Style

Paragraph 4 analyzes Dupes' improvements with each fight and his fan-friendly style. It expresses excitement to see him fight again after the championship win over Strickland.

📊 Key Stats on New Champ Dupes

Paragraph 5 provides key stats on the new champion Dupes including his record, finishes, win streak, and notable wins over top contenders like Whitaker and Brunson.

😎 What's Next for Dupes?

Paragraph 6 looks ahead to what's next for the new champion. It mentions Dupes calling out his desired next opponent, and asks readers for thoughts on his performance and who he should fight next.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡UFC

UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is the largest MMA promotion company in the world. The video talks about the recent UFC 297 middleweight championship fight between Sean Strickland and DDP draus dupes. The UFC provides the platform and organization for these elite MMA athletes to compete.

💡middleweight champion

The middleweight champion refers to the fighter who holds the championship belt in the UFC's 185-pound weight class. In this video, the reigning middleweight champion was Sean Strickland, who was defending his title against the challenger DDP draus dupes.

💡split decision

A split decision occurs when two judges score the fight for one fighter, while the third judge scores for the other fighter. The video mentions that DDP won the close fight by split decision, meaning two judges scored it for him while one judge had Strickland winning.

💡takedown

A takedown refers to getting your opponent to the ground through wrestling and grappling techniques. The video cites DDP using effective takedowns throughout the fight to disrupt Strickland's striking rhythm.

💡Striking

Striking involves stand-up fighting techniques like punching, kicking, knees, and elbows. Strickland was finding success early with his crisp jab, while DDP landed hard body kicks and high kicks.

💡Fight of the Night

Fights that display extraordinary effort and determination between the athletes are awarded Fight of the Night bonuses. Given that Strickland vs. DDP featured nonstop action, power shots exchanged, and constant momentum swings, it would be deserving of Fight of the Night honors.

💡Title challenger

The title challenger refers to the fighter who is competing against the current champion in an attempt to take their belt. DDP entered as the #2 ranked middleweight contender and title challenger versus champion Strickland.

💡Cardio

Cardiovascular endurance and conditioning is critical in MMA fights scheduled for 5 rounds of 5 minutes each. The video mentions Strickland possessing great cardio as one of his strengths.

💡Gladiators

The video describes Strickland and DDP as "two modern-day Gladiators", referring to how MMA fighters resemble the intense, unarmed combat between Gladiators during Ancient Roman times.

💡Pound-for-pound

Pound-for-pound rankings determine the best fighters in the world across all weight classes. The video cites Strickland as the #7 pound-for-pound UFC fighter, meaning his skills and record stand out even when compared against much larger or smaller fighters.

Highlights

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