Dricus Du Plessis calls out Israel Adesanya after UFC Middleweight title win against Sean Strickland

With the conclusion of UFC 297, the bout between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis is now complete.

In the main event of UFC 297 in Toronto on Saturday, South Africa's Dricus Du Plessis defeated American Sean Strickland via split decision to become the new middleweight champion.

In the fourth round, Strickland was bleeding profusely from multiple shots connected by Du Plessis.

However, Strickland fought back, delivering some powerful blows in the fifth and final round.

For Du Plessis, it was his ninth consecutive victory as he continues to make history in the UFC.

Both of them were very hostile toward one other following a combative press conference in December and a brawl in the UFC 296 crowd and delivered in style.

Strickland challenged Du Plessis for the UFC Middleweight Championship in the main event of UFC 297.

This was Strickland's first bout since his impressive showing against Israel Adesanya in September of 2023.

Du Plessis was looking to win the UFC gold for the first time by stopping Strickland and building on a strong finish against former 185-pound champion Robert Whittaker.

In the end, Dricus Du Plessis was the one who succeeded in becoming the first South African UFC Champion.

Following the fight, Du Plessis demanded a fight with Israel Adesanya, the adversary who has declared he will be taking a break from the Octagon and is a former UFC middleweight champion.

In July of last year, Adesanya and Du Plessis confronted each other after a fight in the cage.

September of last year was scheduled to be the bout, but Du Plessis hurt his foot.

He said, “Israel Adesanya get your ass back in the UFC so we can settle the score.”

Adesanya has yet to respond to the callout by Du Plessis, as they could both headline UFC 300.