Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland: Will Chaos or Calculation Prevail?

strikevision1
Feb 7
3 min read

Sean Strickland challenges Dricus Du Plessis for the UFC middleweight title in a high-stakes clash of styles. Will Strickland’s elite striking and defensive discipline lead him to victory or will Du Plessis’ relentless pressure and unorthodox power retain him as the champion?

In the analysis section we take a look at fighter's recent performance(last three bouts), touch on career performance and highlight any key stat(s)

Direct Comparison

Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland present contrasting yet complementary styles. On paper, Du Plessis holds the edge in offensive output, takedowns, and submission attempts. However, Strickland’s defensive mastery, including a 61% striking defense and robust takedown defense, underscores his ability to neutralize threats. While both absorb comparable levels of damage, Strickland’s style emphasizes precision defense over aggression, whereas Du Plessis leverages his versatility to dictate the fight.

Du Plessis's Analysis

Offense :

Striking Accuracy

Du Plessis’ striking accuracy has been inconsistent, with a 38% success rate against Strickland and sub-50% against Adesanya. Despite these numbers, his ability to secure knockouts and finish fights speaks to his opportunistic striking. Over time, his accuracy has stabilized near 50%, reflecting his power and finishing instincts.

Grappling

Du Plessis’ grappling game adds another layer to him. Against Strickland and Adesanya, he landed six and four takedowns, respectively, despite their renowned takedown defense. While he doesn’t always generate extensive control time, his ability to threaten level changes forces opponents to adjust and creates openings for his striking.

Defense:

Striking Defense

Du Plessis has shown steady defensive form, maintaining a striking defense percentage just above 50% in his last three fights. While not elite, his defensive consistency complements his offensive prowess.

Striking Defense over time

Du Plessis’ defense has remained stable after his first few UFC fights, highlighting his durability and capacity to absorb damage while maintaining his offensive game plan.

Key Stat(s):

In their previous encounter, Du Plessis landed 137 significant strikes, distributing 60% to the head, 23% to the body, and 17% to the legs. Add in 6 takedowns(out of the total 11 attempted) and you have a complete fighting approach.

Strickland's Analysis

Offense:

Striking Accuracy:

Strickland’s striking accuracy, though below 50% in recent fights, aligns with his volume-heavy style. Rather than focusing on precision, he overwhelms opponents with consistent pressure and output. His accuracy has improved over time, climbing from sub-35% early in his career to approximately 42% today.

Defense:

Striking Defense:

Strickland’s Philly shell defense prioritizes efficiency and minimizes damage. Against top-tier opponents, including Adesanya and Du Plessis, he maintained a defensive accuracy above 60%, reflecting his disciplined and technical approach.

Striking Defense Over Time:

In 35 professional fights(22 within the UFC), Strickland has been finished by TKO/KO only twice. This speaks to his durability and ability to adapt against power strikers such as Jared Cannonier and Imavov.

Grappling Defense: Strickland’s takedown defense is a solid 77%, though his performance against Du Plessis showed vulnerabilities, defending only 55% of takedown attempts. However, his ability to recover and avoid prolonged control mitigates this weakness.

Key Stat(s):

Strickland’s defensive prowess and high-volume striking define his success. In their first fight, of the 173 strikes he landed, 90% were to the head. This is visible damage that can often sway a judge's scorecard.

Final Thoughts

This matchup offers a fascinating contrast of styles. Du Plessis’ power, grappling, and opportunism clash with Strickland’s volume, defense, and cardio. Du Plessis’ ability to mix striking with level changes could disrupt Strickland’s rhythm, while Strickland’s relentless pressure and durability could grind down Du Plessis over five rounds.

Ultimately, the fight will hinge on whether Du Plessis can impose his versatile offense or if Strickland can nullify it with his defensive mastery and sustained output.

*** Strike Absorb Differential is used to compare volume of strikes dealt versus received. It is calculated as (number of significant strikes landed / number of significant strikes absorbed).

It is interpreted as: for every 1 strike absorbed, how many did the athlete land?
A Strike Absorb Differential of 3 is to be interpreted as: for every 1 strike they absorbed, they landed 3 of their own