Mid-Fight Sledge Uncovered After UFC Champ Breaks Rival’s Nose Twice

DDP makes a mess of Strickland in Sydney | 04:59

Dricus du Plessis wants to defend the UFC middleweight title against the division’s No.1 challenger Khamzat Chimaev next – despite calling out UFC superstar Alex Pereira immediately after his Sydney title defence.

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The South African superstar has also spoken about twice breaking Sean Strickland’s nose during his comprehensive UFC 312 title win in Sydney, saying he told the American as they traded: “It sucks to be you right now”.

The champ added that after the second break, he also asked Strickland if it had been a headbutt caused the bust, a reference to the American’s claim that it had been an illegal clash that cost him in their first title fight a year ago.

Speaking with media after his big Sydney win, Du Plessis also suggested that Strickland, after Sunday’s loss, would go next up into a bout against another of his most recent scalps, Israel Adesanya – and over the top of Australian Robert Whittaker.

Only six months after defeating Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, DDP has doubled down by beating up, and bloodying, Strickland through five rounds at Qudos Bank Arena.

Apart from breaking his rival’s nose, the champ dominated right throughout the Homebush headliner, and was given all five rounds on two of the judge’s scorecards.

Immediately after the win, du Plessis looked across the cage at UFC light heavyweight champ Pereira, who was said to be cornering Strickland due to bad blood between the two.

“Is there anybody else,” he shouted at the Brazilian.

Yet speaking afterwards, the champ said he would be taking his next defence against Chimaev, with UFC boss Dana White confirming in his own press conference it would almost certainly be the fight they make.

Asked what was said between himself and Strickland when they spoke to each other afterwards, DDP said: “I told him he was ugly before — he isn’t a pretty person to see — and when I hit him in the nose I went ‘wow, I couldn’t believe he got uglier’.

“And he did.

“I was like ‘your nose is so screwed up now’.

“And he tried to break his nose back in the middle of the fight.

“And for some weird reason, I was giving him the opportunity.

“I was ‘OK, let him get his nose’.

“And then I went ‘no, punch this guy in the face’.

“I went forward, and he kept doing this (adjusting his nose with his hand), but his nose was broken that way.

“And I was thinking to myself ‘bro the other way, you should try and break it the other way’.

“He kept trying to push it to the same side it was already broken.”

And as for the second break?

“When he came back after that round, it was straight,” the champ continued.

“I punched him again and it broke all the way.

“I was ‘ah, it sucks to be you right now, I hope it was a headbutt’.”

Asked about his next fight, DDP continued: “Khamzat is next”.

So as for the call out immediately after your win?

“I just want to beat Alex Pereira,” he said.

“He’s such a legend of the sport already, it would be amazing to beat him. for my legacy.

“I want to be the greatest to ever do this.

“But Khamzat is next.

“Anderson Silva in my mind is the GOAT.

“And Israel Adesanya has done some incredible things.

“But it’s not about how many times you defend, it’s about who you fight, how you defend, what period of time, and ‘who have you fought?’.

“Making sure there is no question that I’m the best middleweight.

“So I’m not rushing to have my next fight against Alex Pereira.

“I want Khamzat next.

“He deserves a hiding.”

Later, the champ added: “I have all respect for Alex Pereira.

“I think he is the pound for pound best fighter in the world.

“And I want to share the Octagon with him.

“He’s beaten Adesanya, I’ve beaten Adesanya and I know I can beat that man.

“And at 205 (pounds), 100 per cent.”