Dricus du Plessis praised by fans for 'savage reply' to Sean Strickland UFC 312 'pact' offer
01/23/2025 09:51 AM
Dricus du Plessis isn’t interested in making deals with the latest threat to his title reign.
The middleweight champion is set to defend his belt against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 on February 8.
Strickland recently suggested they agree to just strike when they rematch in Australia next month.
"Listen Dutchman, I'm going to need you to be a f****** man and I'm going to need you to stand up, not go to your knees and we're going to need to f***** strike like men," he stated.
"I know that you like to wrestle, and you like to f***** choke people out and do some g** s*** dude… But I'll make a pact with you; you make a pact with me, that we stand up like f****** men and we settle this s*** like men."
Dricus du Plessis rejects pact and impresses fans
Du Plessis shut down Strickland’s gentlemen’s agreement offer in the most epic way imaginable.
“There are no pacts between lions and men," the champion responded.
UFC fans were quick to praise du Plessis for using a quote from the 2004 movie ‘Troy’ to rebuff Strickland.
"Savage reply," one fan tweeted. While another branded it: "Cold AF."
"One of my favorite lines," Someone else added.
"That line goes hard as f***," a fourth person said.
"Okay this is a great answer," another UFC admitted.
"That's probably the best reply possible," one fan insisted.
The sharp-tongued South African had Strickland in tears before they first fought at UFC 297 last January.
Du Plessis also made Israel Adesanya cry before tapping him out when they fought at UFC 305 in August 2024.
So, although his social media game is good, he really comes to life when he’s got a mic in his hand.
Dricus du Plessis called out by Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev is aiming high following his recent win over Renato Moicano at UFC 311.
After scoring a first-round submission last weekend, the UFC’s pound-for-pound best fighter turned his attention to du Plessis as he issued a shocking call out to the man who reigns over the 185lb division.
"I can be three division (champion),” Makhachev said at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference on Saturday night.
“Just give me the chance, that's it. I will fight with (Dricus) Du Plessis, give me the chance, I will fight him also. I swear if Dana White sends me the contract, I will fight him also.”
Makhchev’s coach has since predicted he would do ‘fantastic’ in a fight with Du Plessis. However, Khamzat Chimaev has expressed doubts about his Russian compatriot’s ability to compete against men who are naturally 30lbs heavier than him.
Whatever happens, it seems highly unlikely that UFC boss Dana White will be making Du Plessis vs Makhachev anytime soon as Chimaev is next in line for a middleweight title shot after choking out Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October.
Only time will tell who Makhachev will be matched up with after top contender Arman Tsarukyan was bumped to the back of the queue after withdrawing from UFC 311 at the last minute.
