UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland believes that Dricus Du Plessis will pose a greater challenge than Israel Adesanya.
Strickland grabbed attention with a commanding victory over Adesanya in a five-round clash at UFC 293, securing the middleweight title. Now, as he prepares for his first title defense against Du Plessis, Strickland believes this upcoming fight will pose an even greater challenge than the one with Adesanya.
During the UFC 297 media day (as transcribed by MMA Fighting), Strickland discussed Du Plessis, who is coming off a knockout win against Robert Whittaker at UFC 290.
“I think it’s going to be a harder fight than Izzy. The thing about Dricus is he just likes to fight. Is he the best? Probably not. But, he goes in there and just fights to win. That is a hard fight, man,” Strickland said. “I have trained with a lot of guys that I’m way better than and they just mentally want to be there and it makes it a tough fight. I’m better than him. I’m a better grappler, better jiu-jitsu. What are your accolades? You beat a dead horse, Derek Brunson?
“I mean, is he even in the UFC? They cut him after that, that performance was so terrible. Derek Brunson, I think he might have died on the stool. We need to bring back TRT, thank God USADA is gone, so we can bring back Derek Brunson. I mean, come on, now and then you go fight Whittaker. Whittaker was a great fight, but it’s like is that Whittaker we have ever seen? Whittaker f*****g quit, maybe he’s that good, but I think he fought two dead horses, put them out to pasture.”
Sean Strickland thinks Dricus du Plessis is a "harder fight" than Israel Adesanya, but does't rate his two latest wins very highly.
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 17, 2024
“I just think he fought two dead horses. Put ‘em out to pasture.” #UFC297 pic.twitter.com/Y2bMxF2l2B
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