![Sean Strickland (left) set to face Dricus du Plessis (right) at UFC 291 [Images courtesy @stricklandmma and @dricusduplessis on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/01/0aa57-17051198226259-1920.jpg)
![Sean Strickland (left) set to face Dricus du Plessis (right) at UFC 291 [Images courtesy @stricklandmma and @dricusduplessis on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQT/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAI3PQp//xAAhEAACAQMDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwQAAQUREyEGIjFBYv/aAAgBAQABPwDPkhWOwM5uOSaIk/bIDkMPePQiGxfPdbmsofT6clLWcOcsgcY3BLBsA8+B19V//8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAS/9oACAECAQE/AMg3/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIA/9oACAEDAQE/AItTf//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sean Strickland is set to make his first title defense against Dricus du Plessis at the upcoming UFC 297 next weekend in Ontario, Canada, and Sean O'Malley seems convinced that 'Tarzan' is going to get the job done against the South African.
In a video recently posted to his YouTube channel, the bantamweight champion claimed that going the full 25 minutes against Strickland is a tall order for anyone. Furthermore, he reasoned that if the middleweight champion stays calm and composed during the fight, he is sure to get the win over 'Stillknocks':
"If Sean Strickland shows up like he did against Izzy [Israel Adesanya], I think he beats DDP... I mean, he seemed very calm against Izzy... Five fives against Strickland is a nightmare... I don't know... I just have a feeling that Strickland gets the job done."
Catch Sean O'Malley's comments below (8:40):
Strickland went undefeated in 2023 and is currently on a three-fight win streak. In his most recent fight at UFC 293, 'Tarzan' pulled off arguably the biggest upset in recent times when he thoroughly outclassed Israel Adesanya to claim the middleweight strap.
The Xtreme Couture affiliate is 28-5 in MMA and holds wins over the likes of Uriah Hall and Jack Hermansson.
Meanwhile, du Plessis holds a pro MMA record of 20-2. He is undefeated in the UFC, with his latest win coming via a second-round TKO against former champion Robert Whittaker.
Per the UFC's official website, Strickland is a -130 favorite against 'Stillknocks' (+110 underdog) for the matchup.
Dricus du Plessis foresees "Fight of the Year" against Sean Strickland
Dricus du Plessis sees his fight against Sean Strickland as a potential Fight of the Year contender if 'Tarzan' can survive his onslaught.
Speaking about his upcoming main event attraction at UFC 297 to MMA Junkie, the South African proclaimed that while he has the mantel to go the full distance with the reigning champion, he sees the fight ending in a finish. 'Stillknocks' said:
"This fight is not going to distance, there is no way. He's a guy that walks forward, I'm a guy that likes to go forward... I can promise you this, I've never been involved in a boring fight... If he can stay standing, if he can take what I give, this is a Fight of the Year contender, 100 percent."
Catch Dricus du Plessis' comments below (10:18):
