Sean Strickland promised a conflict, and that he was able to combat to the demise to beat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, however neither of these issues occurred.
Now it’s simple to chalk that as much as pre-fight bluster as a technique to hype up the rematch, however Strickland typically talks himself up because the sort of fighter prepared to depart all of it within the cage. He’s been much more more likely to produce selections than finishes all through his UFC profession. That’s why veteran analyst and longtime coach Din Thomas is sick and bored with listening to Strickland’s guarantees solely to be let down many times, which is strictly what occurred on Saturday evening.
“We simply must admit it now. We have now to confess it: Sean Strickland shouldn’t be who he says he’s,” Thomas mentioned on the UFC 312 post-fight present. “He’s not who he says he’s. We would like him to be one thing. He needs to be one thing, however he’s not that man.
“He’s not the man who’s going to go to the demise! To the demise! He didn’t go to the demise. He didn’t even go deep. I’m not saying he’s not an awesome fighter. I’m not saying he doesn’t need to be the place he’s at. However he’s not who he says he’s. We’ve acquired to confess that.”
After shedding an in depth choice of their first encounter, Strickland vowed that the rematch would go a lot in a different way however finally the outcome was nonetheless the identical.
In truth, Strickland’s output was really far much less aggressive in his second combat towards du Plessis when in comparison with the primary however he actually didn’t do something that out of character from his typical sport plan.
For almost all of the 25-minute combat, Strickland caught behind his jab and tried to outwork du Plessis on toes however by no means took any actual dangers or probabilities that might have probably turned the tables after he was clearly down on the scorecards.
Again and again between rounds, Strickland’s head coach Eric Nicksick begged him for extra exercise and even hammered dwelling that he wanted a end going into the ultimate five-minute session however nothing actually appeared to alter.
“That’s my level,” Thomas proclaimed. “As a coach, I really feel for Eric Nicksick as a result of I do know what it’s like and I don’t even need to go and be in that state of affairs once more. I do know I’m exhausting on Sean Strickland. I do know it however it’s as a result of I’m cheated. I really feel cheated by you.
“I hear about these gymnasium tales, these wars that you simply get into, I hear about how nice you might be and then you definitely go in these fights, these excessive stage fights and also you give us that. You cheat us.”
As a lot as he criticized Strickland for failing to point out up on Saturday, Thomas did give credit score to du Plessis for making an attempt his greatest to make the rematch an thrilling affair for the followers.
Whereas he was positively forward on the scorecards, du Plessis was nonetheless pushing the tempo and he threw spinning again kicks, spinning again fists and elbows simply making an attempt to catch Strickland off guard.
Even after shattering Strickland’s nostril within the fourth spherical, which all however sealed the victory for him, du Plessis nonetheless got here out making an attempt to finish the combat earlier than the ultimate horn.
Sadly, Thomas says du Plessis might solely accomplish that a lot when he had any person like Strickland standing throughout the cage from him.
“He didn’t again off,” Thomas mentioned about du Plessis. “He actually tried to knock Sean out, even within the fifth spherical. He did every part he might to make that combat thrilling. He didn’t have a keen dance companion.”
It’s troublesome to say the place Strickland goes from right here, however it’s extremely unlikely he’ll earn a 3rd alternative at du Plessis as long as he’s champion.
Name it powerful love however Thomas hopes that Strickland can determine a technique to repair his type shifting ahead as a result of in any other case he’s going to be the flawed finish of a number of lackluster fights similar to the one he had at UFC 312.
“You jab and also you kick and I do know you’re able to far more,” Thomas mentioned. “We need to see that. That’s what I need to see from Sean Strickland.
“I don’t need to see him jab his technique to losses. I need to see him give me what he’s able to. I need to see the total potential of Sean Strickland.”
