Dan Hardy, a renowned UFC analyst, breaks down the key differences between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland ahead of their middleweight title fight at UFC 312.
Fight analyst Dan Hardy employed a compelling analogy to differentiate the two title contenders in Saturday's UFC 312 main event, where middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis defends his title against former champion Sean Strickland . Hardy, a former UFC welterweight title challenger, is a highly respected figure in the MMA world.
He revisited Du Plessis and Strickland's first encounter as part of his Outlawed Picks Podcast, meticulously analyzing the technical aspects of several fights on the Sydney card. \In an attempt to pinpoint the key distinctions between the champion and the challenger, Hardy likened their respective arsenals to music playlists. According to Hardy, one fighter's repertoire is considerably more diverse than the other's. 'It's like if they were both a playlist, and each technique is equated to a song, Sean Strickland's playlist has got like five or six songs on it that play on repeat, and Du Plessis has got like 25 on his playlist that play on repeat,' he explained during a conversation with his wife, UFC women's flyweight Veronica Hardy. 'You don't know which one's going to come next. (Du Plessis) is going to spin, or he's going to kick you in the leg, or he's going to kick you in the midsection, or he's going to level change, which obviously he started to sprinkle in, in the second round, or he's going to kick you in the head. Then he's going to start winging over the top with hooks.' \Hardy emphasized that this stylistic disparity, the greater variety in Du Plessis' approach, was crucial in securing the South African's split-decision victory in their first meeting at UFC 297 in January 2023. However, Du Plessis' advantage extended beyond his technical repertoire. 'Du Plessis is just more game,' Hardy noted while reviewing the first fight. 'He's just more willing to be in Strickland's face, and he's more willing to eat the jabs that Strickland keeps throwing out, which is usually what he's able to bully and push people around with.' Du Plessis, Hardy observed, seems to adopt a fearless attitude, unafraid to absorb Strickland's attacks. 'Du Plessis is just like, 'Whatever, bro! Just punch me in the face!'' Furthermore, Hardy pointed out that Du Plessis' unique head movement, described as a 'windshield-wipers' motion, allows him to generate power while evading Strickland's strikes. This defensive strategy prevents Strickland from establishing a consistent rhythm and keeping Du Plessis off balance. \Looking ahead to the rematch, Hardy suggested that Du Plessis' aggressive style could potentially lead to a finish. He speculated that Strickland might again fall into the trap of attacking too early, mirroring his strategy against Israel Adesanya. 'I think Strickland might make the mistake that he was expecting Du Plessis to make the last time, and start too fast in the first two rounds, like he did against Izzy,' Hardy explained. 'Because he's like, 'First round against Izzy, I was just on his case,' right? Because why not? Roll the dice till the wheels fall off.' He believes that Strickland's early aggression could play into Du Plessis' hands, facilitating takedowns and ultimately leading to a victory for the champion. \In conclusion, Hardy's analysis highlights Du Plessis's well-rounded skillset and his psychological edge over Strickland. While Strickland possesses a dangerous striking arsenal, Du Plessis's versatility and relentless pressure could prove too much to overcome
UFC Dricus Du Plessis Sean Strickland MMA Fight Analysis UFC 312
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