Sean Strickland failed to become only the second two-time middleweight champion in UFC history this past Saturday in his UFC 312 rematch against Dricus du Plessis. While the pair fought to a competitive split decision in their January 2024 first meeting, Strickland offered far less resistance in the rematch, allowing du Plessis to cruise to a comfortable unanimous decision win and move to 2-0 in their series.
Strickland, 33, has drawn plenty of criticism for his lackluster performance and questionable effort in the aftermath of the loss. Speaking Monday on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show,” veteran analyst and former UFC fighter Din Thomas echoed sentiments that Strickland’s actions didn’t live up to his words.
“He knows who he is. He’s just not telling us that,” Thomas said. “That’s what fighters do. As a fighter, your job is to almost kind of conceal who you really are, because in those moments when you fight, you go out there and try to do your thing, but you know who you really are. I think he couldn’t hide from it this time.
“The difference is the spotlight. The lights, man — when them lights hit you, the real you shows up. The real you will expose yourself when the lights hit you, and that’s what’s happening to him. He’s not that guy. People think that I’m being mean. I’m not being mean. I’m not that guy. Not many people are that guy. Du Plessis is that guy, but [Strickland is] not. To go in there and be vulnerable and put your life on the line and go out there and fight really hard for 15 minutes — we all do hard stuff in life. But to do it in front of everybody when it’s time, I mean, it takes a special person. He might have been there a couple times in his career or whatever, but that’s not who he is now. We’ve seen it his last couple of fights. He’s just not willing to go in and be the dog that he told us he was.
“He wants to be,” Thomas continued. “Everybody wants to be. I think he means it. Every, ‘I’mma do this, I’mma do that, I’mma bust you up.’ But when you get out there and it’s time to do it, and you don’t do it — that’s not who you are. It’s not that you’re a fraud. You just gotta come to terms with it — that me passed. It happens to every fighter. At some point, in some careers, everybody is that guy. If you’re a good fighter, at some point you are, but you lose it. I think he might have just lost it.”
Du Plessis and Strickland each earned a single victory between their two fights — du Plessis submitted Israel Adesanya to defend his UFC middleweight title, while Strickland won a lackluster decision over Paulo Costa. Strickland had been vocal following his first “DDP” loss about his belief that he was robbed in the bout, and demanded to fight no more than the Costa fight to get his shot at the belt again.
Despite Thomas’ feelings about Strickland and his current place in the division, Thomas believed in Strickland’s tough talk and actually picked him to win his redemption in Sydney, Australia.
“He took that one fight against Paulo Costa, [then] he waited. He said, ‘I’m not doing another fight. I beat you the first time, I’m going to come back and beat you again.’ He said that. That was him, and he waited for this opportunity,” Thomas said of Strickland.
“I thought that his motivation would have been different [on Saturday].
In the lead-up to UFC 312, there were high expectations for Sean Strickland to reclaim his title from Dricus du Plessis. However, it seemed that Strickland’s mindset was not where it needed to be for him to come out on top. Instead of the fierce determination and belief in himself that was anticipated, Strickland fell short of delivering a winning performance.
Speculation arose regarding a potential staph infection that Strickland may have been dealing with during his training camp, as a visible sore was evident on his left arm. Despite questions about his health, Strickland denied any issues during the pre-fight press conference. While injuries or infections can impact an athlete’s performance, Thomas, a commentator on the fight, does not view them as valid excuses for Strickland’s lackluster showing.
Thomas emphasized that true champions rise above external distractions and setbacks to give their all in the moment. Regardless of any obstacles, a fighter with unwavering motivation and dedication will not allow anything to hinder their performance. Strickland’s defeat cannot be solely attributed to a potential staph infection; rather, it reflects a lack of the necessary mindset and drive to succeed.
On the other hand, du Plessis has continued to solidify his status as an unbeatable force in the Octagon with his second successful title defense against Strickland. Looking ahead, du Plessis is likely to face off against Khamzat Chimaev, a formidable contender who has been hailed as a future champion.
While Chimaev poses a significant threat with his explosive style, Thomas believes that du Plessis has the skills and durability to withstand his onslaught. In a potential matchup between the two fighters, Thomas predicts that du Plessis will outlast Chimaev’s early aggression and emerge victorious. The key factor, according to Thomas, will be du Plessis’ ability to manage the pace of the fight and capitalize on his well-rounded skill set.
In conclusion, the UFC 312 event shed light on the importance of mental fortitude and unwavering determination in the world of mixed martial arts. While setbacks and distractions may arise, true champions rise above them to achieve greatness in the Octagon. As du Plessis continues his reign as the UFC Middleweight Champion, all eyes are on his next challenge against Chimaev, where he will look to further solidify his status as one of the best in the sport.