Sean Strickland shocked the UFC world when he dominated middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. After claiming the belt, Strickland was met by the rising South African contender Dricus Du Plessis. Despite being the betting favorite and putting together a solid performance, Strickland began 2024 with a close loss to Du Plessis.
As Dricus Du Plessis aims to defend the middleweight belt against Israel Adesanya on August 17 at UFC 305, it was widely assumed Strickland was up next for a chance to redeem himself. Thanks to a quote from UFC Commissioner Dana White, there’s no more reason to just assume.
Dana White Claims Sean Strickland Up Next For Title Fight
Dana White has the final say in UFC scheduling as the commissioner of the fight league. During a post-fight press conference for Dana White’s Contender Series 67, White was asked about the future of Sean Strickland in the middleweight division after Du Plessis versus Adesanya.
“He’s ranked No. 1 in the world,” White told reporters. “He deserves the fight if that happens. But you never know what can happen and how these fights can play out. … Strickland deserves it.”
As third-ranked Robert Whitaker gears up to take on undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in October, some questions loom on who gets the next shot at gold. Lucky for Sean Strickland and his fans, he will get another opportunity to become UFC royalty.
Sean Strickland’s Middleweight Belt History
When Sean Strickland entered UFC 293 as an injury substitute for Du Plessis, he closed as a +500 underdog to defeat Izzy Adesanya. But Strickland put together a perfect display, executing top-tier defense and top-notch striking to dismantle one of the greatest middleweights of all time.
“Strickland entered the fight with the best strike defense among active middleweights at 62.4%. Unofficially, Strickland defended 65% of Adesanya’s strikes throughout the five rounds and caused Adesanya to land just 24 of 178 head strike attempts (14%),” according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Sean Stickland was unable to defend the belt when matched up against Dricus Du Plessis. The loss was a split decision, raising questions among UFC fans. Strickland outstruck Du Plessis 183 to 140, attempting 61 more total strikes. Most of Strickland’s strikes were concentrated in the first and final rounds, while Du Plessis increased his output as the fight progressed. Strickland had a clear advantage in significant strikes, landing 173 out of 408 attempts, giving him a solid 42% accuracy rate. Strickland was especially dominant from distance, landing all of his significant strikes from range.
However, the fight became a contest of clinch work, with Dricus Du Plessis outclassing Strickland in that area. Throughout the five rounds, ‘Stillknocks’ successfully took Strickland down six times out of eleven attempts, controlling the fight for two minutes and eight seconds. The bout was closely contested, leading to varying scorecards among viewers, but the judges ultimately awarded the win to Dricus Du Plessis.
Sean Strickland’s Most Recent Fight
Following his unfortunate loss to Dricus Du Plessis, Sean Strickland accepted a matchup against Paulo Costa and returned to elite form. Dismantling Costa over the five-round fight, spectators (and Dana White) were quite surprised after one judge scored the fight in Costa’s favor. Sean Strickland landed 26 more strikes on 136 more attempts versus Costa, seemingly unaffected by Costa’s power and leg kicks.
During the fight, Costa struggled to gain any meaningful momentum. He was knocked down in the first round and took a powerful jab in the third that left him stunned. In the fifth round, Strickland unleashed a barrage of jumping kicks and punches in the final seconds, overwhelming Costa with a relentless assault. The fight was so one-sided that Dana White personally took the opportunity to rip the judge who scored the fight in Costa’s favor.
“That wasn’t weird, it was f**king nuts is what it was,” White said reacting to the scorecard in the Strickland vs. Costa fight. “It’s insane. That guy should never [judge] another big fight again. They should kick him back down to the minor leagues and let him work on his judging… How anybody who isn’t an absolute f**king lunatic could call that fight a split decision. I don’t even know what to say about that. It’s insane. That guy shouldn’t be judging big fights,” ranted White.
The performance by Sean Strickland proved to any of his doubters that he was still in championship form, despite the narrow loss of the belt.
Who’s Next In Line?
As Sean Strickland goes on to fight one of two familiar foes for another chance at the belt, former champion Robert Whittaker looks to get his name back in the championship conversation when he fights undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. If Chimaev manages to outlast Whittaker, it would be him who rockets up the middleweight rankings. With Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis seemingly fully committed to becoming and staying champions, it’s clear that the middleweight division has years of intriguing matchups ahead.
Get More Great Content
Do you desire top-tier content that covers everything? From thrilling sports and intoxicating entertainment news to gaming tips and professional betting advice, Total Apex covers it all. Delve into our no-fluff articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the latest scoops in the gaming industry that will take your experiences to the next level.
Finally, our betting advice will give you a decisive edge over the competition and increase your odds of beating the books. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, Total Apex is your one-stop shop for all things compelling and relevant. Don’t forget: we cover Fantasy Sports too!
Check out all our sites: Total Apex Sports, Total Apex Fantasy Sports, Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Gaming. Out of the ashes of obscurity will rise a beast. Always remember to Respect The Hustle! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports to stay informed.
