50-45, 50-45, 49-46: Dricus Du Plessis defended his UFC middleweight title and authored another chapter of dominance in the Qudos Bank Arena. The South African champion fortified his throne with a masterclass that left no room for doubt, but the night simply didn’t end the way Sean Strickland had hoped. He couldn’t reclaim the title back.

To make matters worse, ‘Tarzan’ walked away not only with a tough loss but also with a shattered nose—courtesy of the South African juggernaut. Despite the setback, Strickland’s grit didn’t go unnoticed. His unwavering determination and ‘poker face’ earned high praise from UFC boss Dana White, who lauded his professionalism in the post-fight press conference. The head honcho said:

“Absolute professional the whole time. It’s actually fascinating. The guy stays focused and keeps coming forward. There’s never any hint of how he acts outside the octagon when he’s in there. Absolute professional the whole time. It’s actually fascinating.” However, Du Plessis had a different perspective on the fight.

During the post-fight press conference, the 185lbs king acknowledged Strickland’s resilience but was quick to challenge a reporter’s description of how the fight unfolded. When asked, “The fact that when you broke his nose, a lot of fighters would have wilted—that’s usually the beginning of the end. But Sean, after getting it fixed a bit, went right back into it and stood in front of you to throw down.” Du Plessis immediately corrected the statement, responding:

“No, no, no. He was in front of me, but he was moving backward. He didn’t stand his ground; otherwise, the crowd wouldn’t have been booing.”

Looking for clarification, the reporter followed up, “But in that moment, when you broke his nose, did you think you were going to put him away?” Du Plessis reflected on the moment, saying, “Yes, I did. I did. I saw him—he was definitely rattled. I could see him going backward. My coaches—I could hear them saying, “Chill, chill.” They were telling me to relax, but I thought, “Ah, here we go.” I honestly thought I was going to [finish him]. But it just shows the caliber of fighter he is, the caliber of heart he has. He’s deserving of all the hype. What a tough, tough person. I have all the respect in the world for him.”

He further said, “In fights, especially at this level, the poker face is amazing. I have a terrible poker face. When I am tired, you can see I am tired. Just know that I’m not going away. I don’t care if you know I’m tired. I’m just not giving up. People have the poker face and people don’t just give up. I thought that he [Strickland] might [give up] but you know he became awkward in a sense where he was doing… He started looking down, just looking away and throwing as hard as he could and the punches didn’t hurt me.”

With UFC 312 now in the books, Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis appear to have put their heated rivalry behind them. What began as a feud built on personal jabs and intense animosity seemed to fade after the final bell. ‘Tarzan’, showing no bitterness toward the South African, simply offered three words: “God bless you.” But how does Du Plessis feel about the American contender?

Dricus Du Plessis reveals what he told Sean Strickland after breaking his nose! And it is ugly!

“MF looks like a Disney prince,” a fan commented after coming across an old viral picture of UFC middleweight star Sean Strickland on social media. The image, which resurfaced years later, showed a very different side of ‘Tarzan’—one that contrasts sharply with the bald, brash fighter fans know today. Now recognized for his rugged persona and outspoken nature, Strickland has amassed a massive following. However, when he first stepped into the Octagon, he looked nothing like the fighter he is today.

Unlike most competitors who transition from wrestling or striking backgrounds, Strickland pursued pure MMA with minimal training. Back then, his long hair and youthful appearance made him almost unrecognizable compared to his present-day image. Over the years, the American has evolved into a battle-tested veteran, embracing a rougher, more hardened demeanor. But not everyone is a fan of his transformation.

Reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis took a direct shot at Strickland’s appearance not just during his post-fight media interview but also when they were inside the octagon. ‘Stillknocks’ revealed: “I told him he was ugly, obviously, when we fought. Because he’s not a pretty person to see. When I saw him after that, when I hit him on the nose, I went, ‘Wow.’ I couldn’t believe he got uglier. I was like, ‘Woah.’ And he did. I was like, ‘Your nose is so screwed up, man’.”

The UFC 312 main event saw both men go to war in a grueling, striking battle. How do you rate Sean Strickland’s performance at UFC 312? Do you agree with Dana White’s praise of his resilience and professionalism, or do you align with Dricus Du Plessis’ critique of his strategy in the fight? Share your thoughts below!