Dricus Du Plessis commends Sean Strickland’s triumph over Israel Adesanya in September 2023. Despite later claiming the title from Strickland in January, Du Plessis respects the skill and preparation Strickland displayed to defeat Adesanya. With a forthcoming bout against Izzy at UFC 305 on August 17th, Du Plessis reflects on how Strickland’s defensive strategy proved pivotal in nullifying Adesanya’s tactics.
Initially skeptical of Strickland’s win over Adesanya, Du Plessis came to appreciate Strickland’s unique defensive prowess firsthand. He lauds Strickland’s adeptness in disrupting Adesanya’s game plan through relentless pressure and astute defensive maneuvers.
While Du Plessis feels he decisively defeated Strickland and doesn’t see the need for a rematch, he acknowledges Strickland’s stellar performance against Adesanya. He recognizes that Strickland’s combat style could have been the ideal counter to Adesanya’s strengths.
Drawing potential inspiration from Strickland, Du Plessis might integrate some of Strickland’s defensive strategies into his typically aggressive approach for the upcoming match against Adesanya at UFC 305. By adopting a more nuanced defensive stance to counter Adesanya’s precision strikes, Du Plessis aims to gain a tactical advantage in the impending showdown.
