Sean Strickland promised a struggle, and that he was able to struggle to the demise to beat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, however neither of these issues occurred.
Now it’s straightforward to chalk that as much as pre-fight bluster as a method to hype up the rematch, however Strickland usually talks himself up because the type of fighter prepared to depart all of it within the cage. He’s been much more prone to produce choices than finishes all through his UFC profession. That’s why veteran analyst and longtime coach Din Thomas is sick and uninterested in listening to Strickland’s guarantees solely to be let down many times, which is precisely what occurred on Saturday evening.
“We simply must admit it now. We now have 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 desires 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 important 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 received to confess that.”
After shedding a detailed resolution of their first encounter, Strickland vowed that the rematch would go a lot otherwise however finally the end result was nonetheless the identical.
In actual fact, Strickland’s output was really far much less aggressive in his second struggle in opposition to 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 struggle, Strickland caught behind his jab and tried to outwork du Plessis on toes however by no means took any actual dangers or possibilities that would 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 residence 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 scenario once more. I do know I’m laborious 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 fitness center tales, these wars that you just get into, I hear about how nice you might be and you then 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 attempting 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 attempting 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 attempting to finish the struggle earlier than the ultimate horn.
Sadly, Thomas says du Plessis may solely accomplish that a lot when he had anyone 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 all the pieces he may to make that struggle thrilling. He didn’t have a keen dance associate.”
It’s tough 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 work out a method to repair his model shifting ahead as a result of in any other case he’s going to be the improper finish of a variety 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 rather 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 method to losses. I need to see him give me what he’s able to. I need to see the total potential of Sean Strickland.”
