Robert Whittaker has thrown his complete support behind Dricus Du Plessis. The current gold standard at 185lbs is preparing to defend his title for the second time against Sean Strickland in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 312 in Australia. ‘Tarzan’ will go all in to reclaim the strap that he lost last year at UFC 297. While the announcement has electrified much of the MMA community, Whittaker offers a contrasting perspective.

‘The Reaper’ was not convinced about the rematch’s potential for a different outcome, given how their first bout played out. In the latest conversation on MMArcade Podcast on YouTube, Whittaker explained, “I don’t have a ton to say because if we look at their last fight, Sean lost as the champ. Okay, yeah. How does his second fight play out differently? Granted, it was controversial, but he lost the decision as the champ. If this fight doesn’t change in any drastic way, he’s not the champ, you know? And I just don’t know what Sean does differently. Sean fights the way he fights…I don’t see Dricus fighting any differently against Sean.”

‘The Reaper’ further also voiced his confidence in the South African’s wrestling and overall gameplan, particularly following his dominant performance against Israel Adesanya in his last outing. Whittaker observed, “You saw in that Israel fight—he’s gotten better. He’s gotten better at his wrestling, at his pressure. He’s obviously had those five-round fights to adjust and climatize to it. Yeah, I don’t see how Sean beats Dricus.”

Wrestling, indeed, is a formidable weapon in the champ’s arsenal, strong enough to challenge Sean Strickland. This is likely why ‘Tarzan’ recently proposed a rather unusual agreement. Let’s see what the verbose American had to say!

Sean Strickland put forward a ‘ridiculous’ offer for Dricus Du Plessis ahead of UFC 312

When it comes to wrestling in the UFC, Dricus Du Plessis is undeniably a force to be reckoned with. His grappling prowess gained widespread attention at UFC 304 in Perth, where he made history by submitting Israel Adesanya—something no one had been able to do since Adesanya’s UFC debut in 2018.

This poses a unique challenge for Sean Strickland, who predominantly relies on his Philly-style boxing. In his last fight, ‘Tarzan’ extended an offer to Du Plessis, suggesting they only engage in a stand-up battle. Strickland said, “I know you like to wrestle, and you love to choke people out, but let’s make a pact: we stand and fight like men, no wrestling.”

However, ‘Stillknocks’ didn’t entertain Strickland’s ‘ridiculous’ offer. He quickly shut it down while responding to FOX Sports Australia, “If you want to make pacts about only standing, go do boxing. I don’t approach fights with a set idea. I adapt to what the situation demands—whether that means striking or wrestling.”

What’s your take on the upcoming Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis title bout at UFC 312? Do you think Robert Whittaker’s warning will prove accurate, given that while ‘The Reaper’ has fought the South African, he hasn’t yet faced the striking power of ‘Tarzan’? Share your thoughts below.