Strickland’s Pact Offer Before UFC 312 Rematch
Before their UFC 312 rematch, Sean Strickland challenged Dricus du Plessis to keep the fight standing; the champion publicly rejected the proposed pact.
Strickland made the challenge on social media ahead of the February 2025 title rematch in Sydney. MMA Fighting reported that du Plessis responded, “There are no pacts between lions and men.”
The request did not set rules for the bout. Du Plessis defended his middleweight title with a unanimous decision, winning on all three judges’ scorecards. The official UFC scorecards record the result.
From a split decision to a clear rematch result
The rivalry began with a closely scored championship fight at UFC 297 in Toronto on January 20, 2024. Du Plessis took Strickland’s middleweight title by split decision: two judges scored it 48–47 for the challenger, while the third favored Strickland by the same margin. The official UFC 297 results document that first meeting.
UFC 312 produced a wider result. Du Plessis won the rematch 50–45, 50–45 and 49–46, retaining his championship after five rounds at Qudos Bank Arena. Two judges awarded him every round, and the third gave Strickland one.
Strickland’s proposed agreement was therefore part of the public buildup to a title rematch, rather than a change to the competition’s format. His preference for a standing exchange did not bind his opponent. The distinction matters when revisiting the video and social-media remarks: they show the fighters’ pre-fight positioning, while the completed bout and judges’ totals supply the outcome.
Sources
- MMA Fighting: Strickland’s stand-up challenge and du Plessis’ response
- UFC: Official UFC 312 judges’ scorecards
