Dricus du Plessis managed to dethrone Sean Strickland at UFC 297, but the fight was far from one-sided. The South African champion had to battle through Strickland’s unique style, struggling at times to land clean, damaging shots. With a rematch set for UFC 312, former welterweight king Kamaru Usman believes du Plessis must make a key adjustment if he wants to retain his title in a more dominant fashion.
Usman’s Strategy Against Strickland
Usman, one of the few fighters to have beaten Strickland in the UFC, shared his insights on his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo. Reflecting on his game plan from their 2017 bout, he pointed out that Strickland’s defensive approach makes it hard to land clean headshots or effective leg kicks. Instead, Usman found success by targeting the body, which he sees as a weakness in Strickland’s style.
“I just think he needs to be a little bit more accurate,” Usman said, emphasizing that du Plessis should focus on precision rather than just volume.
Can du Plessis Make the Right Adjustments?
Known for his aggressive but often wild striking, du Plessis has built a reputation for overwhelming opponents with pressure. While this approach worked in their first fight, Usman believes tightening up his accuracy will be crucial in the rematch.
“For me, that’s the adjustment that I would make,” Usman continued. “I would say be a little bit more accurate.”
Strickland’s ability to block and parry shots while constantly pressuring his opponents has made him a tough puzzle to solve. However, Usman sees a clear path to victory for du Plessis—picking his shots more carefully and making every strike count.
“Sean Strickland can hurt you if he can land flush and sharp, he can hurt you, but for a guy, we can say that DDP probably has the power advantage here,” Usman added. “So I would say work a lot on being a little bit more precise with your strikes and economical with it so when you land, make sure they mean something.”
A Different Fight at UFC 312?
While du Plessis walked away with the belt in their first meeting, the rematch presents a fresh challenge. Strickland will likely make his own adjustments, and du Plessis must refine his approach if he wants to silence any doubts. Whether he follows Usman’s advice remains to be seen, but with the stakes higher than ever, a more calculated striking strategy could be the key to another successful title defense.
