Even though UFC 312 is still far off, scheduled for February 2025, the buildup for its headline event — a rematch between division king Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland — is already making waves in the MMA world. The hype surrounding the fight is building, especially with recent updates shared by former UFC welterweight Dong Hyun Kim in an Instagram post from an MMA-oriented page. The caption in the post revealed that the former champ ‘Tarzan’ currently weighs 223 pounds ahead of his bout with ‘Stillknocks’, with a shocking statement: “Strickland cuts almost 40 pounds to meet the middleweight limit and used to cut to 170 pounds to reach the welterweight limit.”

In the post, Sean Strickland, a member of Xtreme Couture MMA, shared his weight outside of fight camp, revealing a shocking 223 pounds. This means that he would need to cut around 40 pounds to make middleweight. This update quickly caught the attention of reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis, who immediately fired back with a jab, commenting, “That’s rookie numbers.”, The comment by ‘Stillknocks’ added to the growing tension between the two fighters ahead of their February 2025 fight.

The undefeated Dricus Du Plessis made it clear that Sean Strickland’s weight did not intimidate him and seemed confident in his ability to take on the middleweight champion. The animosity between the two began earlier this year at UFC 297 in Ontario, Canada, when the two confronted each other, resulting in a heated altercation in the audience. With the upcoming rematch, the reigning champion has his sights firmly set on the title, and this rivalry is only intensifying as they approach their showdown.

For Sean Strickland, the fight is about more than just the title — it’s also about avenging his disappointing loss to Dricus Du Plessis. After bouncing back from his earlier loss to ‘DDP’ and beating Paulo Costa at UFC 301 this summer, Strickland’s focus remains sharp. However, Du Plessis is not taking the rematch lightly either. While the former champion has a determined mindset, Du Plessis recently opened up to his approach to the upcoming fight.

Dricus du Plessis reflects on concerns about Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 312

Dricus Du Plessis stands out as one of the most remarkable fighters signed by Dana White during the UFC’s pandemic-era recruitment wave, joining the likes of Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett. These athletes have exceeded expectations, cementing their reputations in the Octagon while maintaining undefeated streaks. Since making his UFC debut, the reigning middleweight champion has built an impressive career with eight fights, highlighted by victories over former champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. ‘Stillknocks’ most recent triumph came at UFC 305, where he secured a fourth-round submission win against Adesanya – becoming the first man to submit ‘Stylebender’ in his career.

Now, as the reigning middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis is gearing up for a highly anticipated title defense in a rematch against Sean Strickland. Despite his prior victory over ‘Tarzan’, ‘Stillknocks’ has acknowledged the unique challenges of facing a familiar opponent. During an appearance on ‘Breakfast with Martin’, he candidly shared his thoughts on the rematch: “When you step into the octagon, the biggest concern isn’t fear—it’s the unknown. You wonder how hard your opponent punches, how fast they are, and whether one strike could end it all. Until you’ve faced them, you simply don’t know what to expect. But now, with the element of surprise gone, it becomes easier to approach the fight without holding back.”

What are your thoughts on Sean Strickland’s recent weight gain? Do you think maintaining such a high weight outside of fight camp could pose a risk to him? Frequent fluctuations in weight can have serious health implications, especially since ‘Tarzan’ has witnessed the consequences firsthand through his friend Alex Pereira. What’s your perspective on this issue? Let us know in the comments down below.