Any time a title is on the line in the UFC it’s worth watching. When there’s bad blood between the two fighters in the title fight, that makes it even more compelling. That’s exactly the case this weekend as Sean Strickland takes on Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 297.
While the UFC Middleweight Championship is on the line in Toronto, Canada, this one’s personal. In the last numbered UFC event, Strickland and Du Plessis came to blows, with the latter reacting to comments made and launching himself across the crowd. Now, competing in the octagon, who will best channel their anger and come out victorious on Saturday evening?
We outline the best bets to make on Strickland vs. Du Plessis by breaking down the latest betting odds from bookmaker William Hill ahead of the weekend’s mixed martial arts action.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 19th, 6:00 A.M. (GMT)
Looking at the outright betting odds from bookmaker William Hill, it’s barely possible to separate these two. Defending champion Sean Strickland holds a narrow advantage at 1.80, only slightly in front of Dricus Du Plessis’s odds of 2.00.
In terms of how the bookies say this one will unfold, Strickland winning by knockout is the favoured option. This method of victory pays 2.75, with Du Plessis’s best option also being a knockout at 3.40. The champion winning on points pays 4.00, while Du Plessis pays 6.00 for a submission. Little chance of this one being split, with odds of 67.00 for a draw.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 19th, 6:00 A.M. (GMT)
Outside of the bad blood between these two, this clash makes for a fascinating match-up. Strickland is one of the most consistent, intelligent strikers in the UFC. This was on full display when he took Israel Adesanya to pieces in a dominant victory last year, frustrating the champion with his movement and elusiveness.
Du Plessis, on the other hand, is enormously unorthodox to the point of appearing goofy in his striking. The South African can land from any angle and often catches opponents off guard with his unusual style. When this fails, he has a strong game on the mat.
We expect that this match-up will come down to Strickland’s take-down defence and movement. The American should be able to repel Du Plessis’s gawky advances, tiring out the 30-year-old across the course of five rounds. Conservative money would say that Strickland wins this one on the judges’ cards, but those after a little more bang for their buck could bet on a late knockout of the tired Du Plessis. The best compromise is to take the fight at over 3.5 rounds, returning a handy 2.20.
