The UFC’s middleweight division is very interesting at the moment, and right in the eye of the storm are champion Dricus Du Plessis and former champ Sean Strickland. This bout is filled with everything – thrash talk, egos, high drama, and enough history to fuel the fireworks a second time. We all know the outcome of the first fight – a razor-thin, split-decision victory for the South African in a fight that was even on the feet. Du Plessis edged Strickland out with the grappling exchanges. Now the question is – what can Sean Strickland bring to the table in the rematch, to change the outcome from the first fight?

Not anything new, according to MMA insider Brendan Schaub who thought that ‘Tarzan’ had won the first bout. In the latest episode of his podcast Thicc Boy, he gave his thoughts on Strickland’s approach for the rematch. Schaub said, “This fight; when you look at the first fight – if you look at [where] DDP had success, and [where] Strickland had success, there is not much more Strickland can do with the skill set. Apply pressure, defensive striking, volume punching. He’s gonna land more shots because he throws more shots. But he is not a power puncher, he’s not going to finish DDP. That’s not happening. He is not a finisher.”

‘Big Brown’ added that even though the American UFC star applies pressure and exhausts his opponents over time, Du Plessis has a game plan for Strickland’s style. Schaub continued, “So if I’m looking at this from a non-biased viewpoint, after watching the first fight – DDP and his team who are very smart have a lot more advantages in this fight because they can do a lot more. And I don’t know what more Strickland can do. I think DDP is going to use more of his wrestling. Because takedowns win rounds this is going to be a decision.”

In fact, according to Dricus Du Plessis‘s coach Morne Visser, after undergoing surgery in 2023, the middleweight champion is better than ever. Before the surgery, ‘Stillknocks’ had an issue with his sinuses that only let his body take in 8% oxygen through both his nostrils. And the surgery evidently made huge changes. In his first fight after the medical procedure, he KO’d Robert Whittaker at UFC 290. He then beat Strickland to gain the belt and defended against Israel Adesanya with an emphatic submission victory.

Now, Dricus Du Plessis is set for his second title defense against the man he stole the belt from. Will he be able to replicate his success? The more pressing question is, will we see a finish from him? And what about Sean Strickland? What does he need to do to change this outcome this time around? Well, listening to his corner would be a first.

Sean Strickland’s coach worried about ‘Tarzan’ not listening to his corner

The funny thing is Sean Strickland knows he lost the grappling exchanges. How do we know this? From his usual request to champion for a stand-up fight, of course. But people speculate that this is a cop-out and that Strickland might actually initiate the takedown sequence. Xtreme Couture head coach Erik Nicksick was questioned by Mike Heck of MMA Fighting on SBN, “Let me ask you, true or false – Sean Strickland shoots a takedown in this fight”. 

Nicksick, who has coached Francis Ngannou during his PFL debut was unsure. According to the coach, Ngannou stuck to the game plan and listened to his team which won him the fight against Renan Fereira. But Strickland is different—Nicksick said that he might not listen. “I want to say, true. Maybe. I don’t know. The difference is like, Francis [Ngannou] –  Francis will listen, you know? Like with Sean like, I don’t know like. Half the time, is he even paying attention? So, I just go because I have the best seat in the house, you know?”, Nicksick said with a deep, exasperated sigh tinged with laughter.

So will Strickland stand and bang, or will he surprise DDP with a takedown to throw him off? What do you think? Let us know in the comments down below.