Dricus du Plessis reacts to UFC middleweight double over Sean Strickland

The South African beat his American challenger and former title holder on points after five rounds at the Qudos Bank Arena in Australia on Sunday.

It was the second time in 13 months that Du Plessis got the better of Strickland, who was confident of getting his belt back this year.

Du Plessis now believes the victory silences the doubters.

"To go out there and beat him at his own game was a big, big priority because to go out there and fight the same fighters, I could have done the exact same thing but I didn't. I told you guys the whole week, I'm gonna try knock him out or if this goes to decision, complete domination and that's what happened,” du Plessis said.

“I thought he was gonna initiate the recession early, he tried at some stage but it was too late. I mean I felt great out there tonight, to show progression, that was the biggest thing. To show that I can submit the best in the world, a guy that's never been submitted.

“I can go out there and knock people out and I can go out there and out point a guy that out points anybody and do it over five rounds. That was a big win for me tonight and it was a big performance, to stay calm, when I got his nose, I didn't stay that calm but that was me smelling blood. When I got back to where I needed to be and it was an incredible performance, it felt great."

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Strickland has been given a lot of credit for not folding when Du Plessis broke his nose in the third round. The champion adds that for his opponent to continue until the end speaks to his character as a fighter.

"Yes, I did, he was definitely rattled I could see him going backward. My coaches I could hear them saying 'Chill out' and I went, here we go. It just shows you the calibre of fighter, the calibre of heart. He's deserving of all the hype, what a tough, tough person and I have all the respect in the world for him,” he added.

“In a fight, especially at this level, the poker face is amazing, I have a terrible poker face. When I'm tired, you can see I'm tired, just know that I'm not going away. I don't care if you see I'm tired, I'm just not giving up. People have the poker face and people don't just give up.

“I thought that he might but he became awkward in a sense where he was pulling the triggers on himself. He started looking down, looking away and throwing as hard as he could and the punches didn't hurt me but it was where I needed to say, okay, stay calm, let him hit me on the hands and just keep on winning this fight and doing it the way we planned it by beating him every single round."