Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland - Odds, Tips & Predictions for UFC 312

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis will look to defeat #1-ranked contender Sean Strickland for a second time in the main event at UFC 312. The five-round title fight will occur on Saturday, February 8, at the Qudos Bank Arena at Sydney Olympic Park in Australia.

Du Plessis (22-2-0) has not lost a contest in six years and is a perfect 8-0 in the Octagon. The reigning 185-pound champion picked up a submission win over former two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya last summer at UFC 305.

Strickland (29-6-0) has won four of his previous five fights and is ranked #14 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings. The American won a split decision against Paulo Costa a year ago at UFC 302.

In the co-main event, women's strawweight champion Zhang Weili (25-3-0) will defend her title against #1-ranked Tatiana Suarez (11-0-0).

Weili has won four straight fights, including back-to-back victories over Yan Xiaonan and Amanda Lemos to retain her belt. Suarez is undefeated as a professional and used a guillotine choke to notch submission wins in her last two fights.

Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland Odds

Du Plessis (-200) is the favorite among top UFC sportsbooks to retain his middleweight title against Strickland (+165), per BetMGM sportsbook. The challenger is a seasoned veteran with the ability to become a two-time champion. However, the champion is riding a 10-fight win streak and is ranked #7 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland Betting Predictions

Betting Pick: Du Pessis

Du Plessis is an intelligent fighter who excels at adapting to various fighting styles and analyzing his opponents' movements. At 31 years old, he has finished 50% of his fights with submissions, 41% by knockout, and 9% by decision.

"Stillknocks" lands 6.18 significant strikes per minute with an impressive 49% striking accuracy. Du Plessis averages an impressive 3.04 takedowns per 15 minutes with an accuracy rate of 50%. The former Extreme Fighting Champion also prevents 50% of his opponent's takedown attempts.

Strickland is a former champion and an experienced fighter with elite striking and grappling skills. The 33-year-old has finished 46% of his fights by decisions, 39% via knockouts, and 14% by submissions.

"Tarzan" averages just 0.78 takedowns per 15 minutes with an accuracy rate of 64%, and boasts an effective takedown defense that stops 77% of attempted takedowns. Strickland lands 6.01 significant strikes per minute with a 42% striking accuracy.

The former champion has used xenophobic soundbites to promote his recent fights and continued his habit of using insulting language to antagonize his opponents.

"Listen Dutchman, I'm going to need you to be a f**king man, and I'm gonna need you to stand up, not go to your knees, and we're gonna need to stroke like men," Strickland said. "I know you like to wrestle and you like to f**king choke people out and do some gay sh*t, dude, but I'll make a pact with you. You make a pact with me that we f**king stand up like f**king men and we settle this sh*t like men."

The champion, who took down Strickland six times in their first meeting early last year, considered the request laughable.

"Look, it's a ridiculous thing to ask," Du Plessis told FOX Sports Australia. "If you want to make pacts about us just standing up, go do boxing. I don't go into fights thinking I have to stand up or take the guy down. I do what the situation tells me to do. That's what MMA fighters do. I'm comfortable everywhere."

While Du Plessis ridiculed Strickland's unique request, he does believe their upcoming fight will involve mostly striking.

"I think we are most likely going to keep it standing," Du Plessis said. "I know I have the cardio, I know I can push him back and I know I have the power to knock him out. So for me, that's great. Then, if the opportunity comes to get a takedown, it's a decision you have to make immediately. If you see the moment, you take it."

Adesanya, who has lost to both fighters, is confident that Du Plessis will foil plans to regain the middleweight belt.

"I think Dricus takes the cake," Adesanya said. "He's a really good fighter and he is good at what he does. He's already beat Strickland - even though he just edged it out, but I think he still won.

"I think this time it will be a bit more decisive. But if it is close, I will not be surprised because Sean Strickland is always game."

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland Betting Tips

The odds for the highly anticipated middleweight title fight are officially live on major New York sportsbooks like BetMGM, offering fans a chance to place their bets. In this matchup, Du Plessis is listed as the favorite on the money line—a popular betting option where you simply wager on which fighter will win outright.

The South African champion has been undefeated since 2018 and clinched the belt last year with a hard-fought split decision victory over Sean Strickland. As the reigning champion, he is favored to retain his title. A $100 bet on Du Plessis at odds of -200 would return a total payout of $150.

On the other hand, Sean Strickland, the American challenger, brings years of experience as a seasoned MMA fighter and is determined to reclaim the 185-pound title. If you’re backing the underdog and believe Strickland can pull off the upset, a $100 wager at odds of +165 would yield a total payout of $265.

Another popular wagering option for this fight is the Over/Under bet, which involves predicting how many rounds the contest will last. Both fighters have recently gone the full five rounds in their previous matchups, including their first encounter, which went the distance. Considering this trend, betting Over 3.5 rounds could be a strong choice for those expecting another lengthy battle.

When and Where is the Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland fight?

The five-round middleweight championship fight will take place on Saturday, February 8, at the Sydney Olympic Park in Australia. UFC fans in New York can watch the fight live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.