Dricus Du Plessis covets the 30,000-foot view that carrying the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight crown affords him, and like all men in positions of power, he has no desire to relinquish it.
“Stillknocks” will defend his 185-pound title against Sean Strickland when their five-round rematch headlines UFC 312 on Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Du Plessis dethroned the Xtreme Couture export in their first meeting a little more than a year ago, as he was awarded split scorecards after a contentious 25-minute battle. Strickland now gets a chance to right a perceived wrong.