Dricus du Plessis is the UFC middleweight champion of the world after a split decision over Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
Du Plessis went five hard rounds – a first for him in his long MMA career – and captured two of three judges’ scorecards by scores of 48-47 to pick up his seventh UFC win and the middleweight title on Saturday night. One judge dissented 48-47 for Strickland, who was denied his first title defense after a massive upset win over Israel Adesanya this past year.
Here’s how fighters reacted to the UFC 297 main event between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland.
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) January 21, 2024
See you soon biplisi ufc300
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) January 21, 2024
Got Damn it Drake!!!
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) January 21, 2024
That was a fun fight! Congrats to the new champ! #ufc297
— Corey 'Overtime' Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) January 21, 2024
Bo Nickal really gonna get a middleweight title shot in the next 8 months #UFC297
— Joe Joe Giannetti (@Giannettimma) January 21, 2024
This fight shows how important a cut man can be. Blood looks bad and it never stopped once he got cut. It could have an affect on the scoring in close fights
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) January 21, 2024
Congratulations @dricusduplessis on becoming Champion of the world
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) January 21, 2024
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) January 21, 2024
Drake gotta stop bettin on mma https://t.co/oOeDPN9QuR
— Joe Joe Giannetti (@Giannettimma) January 21, 2024
Drake does it again
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 21, 2024
Congrats to new Champion @dricusduplessis
— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) January 21, 2024
Very good escalating Performance
Patience of both guys was inspirational
//\\ https://t.co/t64MS81TAY
Really didn’t expect Dricus to be able to fight that hard 25 minutes. Very impressed.
— Funky (@Benaskren) January 21, 2024
Damn I’m going 48-47 Strickland but I think very good chance DDP gets the nod.
— Funky (@Benaskren) January 21, 2024
3-2 DDP IMO #UFC297
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) January 21, 2024
Easy work
— Bo Nickal (@NoBickal) January 21, 2024
South Africa, you have a champion!
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) January 21, 2024
DDP looked great tonight.. cardio was solid, patient, and very smart, mixing in those takedowns and showing different looks..
Very impressive performance #UFC297
