Brutal moment UFC star Dricus Du Plessis breaks controversial American Sean Strickland's nose - as the South African middleweight retains his title after bloody beat-down
- Dricus Du Plessis retained his middleweight crown in Sydney on Sunday night
- He beat Sean Strickland in a bloody slugfest at the Qudos Bank Arena
Dricus Du Plessis has retained his middleweight crown and put the trash-talking Sean Strickland back in his box with a bloody beat-down of the American in their UFC rematch in Sydney.
Like their first encounter in 2023, Sunday's fight went the distance, but the result was never really in doubt after Du Plessis broke Strickland's nose with a big right early in the fourth and penultimate round.
Strickland stayed on his feet but, with face splattered in red, the judges predictably awarded Du Plessis the contest 50-45, 50 45, 49-46 for a unanimous win.
The South African's victory was a popular one for most fans after Strickland once again failed to endear himself to Australians in the lead-up.
The foul-mouthed, controversial combat fighter was lucky to be granted a visa after revealing he'd punched a fan in the stomach in Bondi during his last visit to Sydney UFC 293 two years ago.
This time around he called "English white trash" Australians "communists" for what he deemed excessive regulations, and even questioned the country's introduction of gun laws after "one mass shooting", as he called the infamous 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING
UFC star Dricus Du Plessis retained his UFC middleweight title on Sunday afternoon
He beat Sean Strickland (left) in a brutal slugfest, that also saw the South African break his American opponent's nose
But on Sunday Du Plessis had the final say.
The South African won the opening two rounds through output alone, using his left kick particularly effectively, prompting Strickland's corner to plead with the challenger to get more active.
Things looked desperate for Strickland when blood continued trickling from his nose and mouth.
Strickland produced some nice combinations in the third and may have stolen the round with a late flurry, but the statistics still showed Du Plessis was landing almost double the amount of strikes.
Du Plessis's brutal blow to Strickland's nose in the fourth signalled the beginning of the end.
In the co-main event, Zhang Weili scored a unanimous points decision over gallant American Tatiana Suarez to retain her women's strawweight title in clinical fashion.
The 35-year-old Chinese superstar withstood a spirited early attack from Suarez to make a mockery of the bookmakers who had the champion as an underdog entering the fight.
"I respect Suarez. She is very strong. I just focus on myself. Aussie Aussie Aussie," the flamboyant Weili told the sellout crowd.
Strickland's face was seen covered in blood and he admitted to his team that he had reset his broken nose himself during the fight
Du Plessis was seen celebrating with his team and his partner Vasti Spiller inside the Octagon
Earlier the Australians in action enjoyed a mixed day out in front of a host of Sydney celebs and NRL supremo Andrew Abdo, who enjoyed prime seating at Qudos Bank Arena.
Lightweight Quillan Salkilld made a spectacular octagon debut, knocking out India's so-called "King of the Lions" Anshul Jubli with a brutal right to the head after just 19 seconds.
Welterweight Jake Matthews kicked off the main card with a unanimous points decision over Argentinian Francisco Prado.
Despite his early dominance, Jimmy Crute was held to a majority draw against Brazilian Rodolfo Bellato in their light heavyweight tussle.
Lightweight Tom Nolan went the distance with Viacheslav Borshchev, but lost a unanimous points decision to Russia's so-called "Slava Claus".
Bantamweight Colby Thicknesse suffered the same fate on his UFC debut against Georgian Aleksandre Topuria.
Welterweight Jonathan Micallef also lost a points decision against Frenchman Kevin Jousset, while Jack Jenkins submitted two minutes, six seconds into the third round of his featherweight fight with Brazilian Gabriel Santos.
And Justin Tafa's pay-per-view battle with Tallison Teixeira lasted just 35 seconds before the referee stopped the fight after the Brazilian battered the Brisbane-based Kiwi heavyweight with a flurry of knuckles, knees and elbows to the head and body.
