★ Championship Bout · Middleweight
UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis
Toronto, Canada
20 Jan 2024
Middleweight
VS
56%
Plessis
44%
Strickland
Win Probability
Decision · Split
Round 5 · 5:00
DD
Dricus Du Plessis
"Stillknocks"
22 – 2
6'1"75" reachOrthodox32 yrs5-fight win streakWell-Rounded
CFR 74
SS
Sean Strickland
"Tarzan"
28 – 6
Well-Rounded35 yrsOrthodox76" reach6'1"
CFR 58

Combatrics Intelligence

Data-driven breakdown · fighter metrics

Edge: Plessis

This is a genuine toss-up — Plessis at 56% vs Strickland at 44% (CFR ratings). One of the hardest fights to call on the card.

Key angles

The CFR gap of 16 points suggests a clear performance difference on paper.

Plessis has beaten significantly higher-quality opposition — a QoV edge of 13 points.

Striking split: Strickland throws more volume but Plessis connects at a higher rate — quality vs quantity.

Risk flags

Strickland has a chin rating of 46 — a potential KO vulnerability.

Plessis
Strickland
Physical Matchup
Height · Reach · Age · Stance
6'1"
Height
6'1"
75"
Reach
+76"
32+
Age
35
Orthodox
Stance
Orthodox
Plessis
Strickland
Composite Fighter Rating
Overall score combining performance, win quality, momentum & durability
73.5
57.7
65.6
Performance Avg
50.9
49
Quality of Victory
37
100
Momentum Score
100
Plessis
Strickland
Striking
Significant strikes per minute & accuracy
9.1
9.8
62%
Strike Accuracy
62%
6.2
Striking Style Score (/10)
4.2
2 KOs
KO Finishes
1 KOs
Strike targetStrike target
139
Head
141
57
Body
58
43
Leg
43
RangeRange
131Distance153
41Clinch41
67Ground48
Plessis
Strickland
Grappling
Takedowns, submissions & wrestling
1.8
0.4
24%
Takedown Accuracy
10%
2.6
Grappling Style Score (/10)
2.0
1.8
Wrestling Style Score (/10)
1.4
7:09
Control Time (this fight)
4:00
0
Reversals
0
Plessis
Strickland
Durability / Chin
Resilience against knockouts and stoppages
98
46
Never stopped
Verdict
KO risk
0
KO/TKO Losses
1
0
Sub Losses
0
—
KO round context
Avg R1.0 stoppage
—
Last KO loss
1 fight ago
—
Strikes absorbed / min
—
81%
Fade index (R3÷R1 output)
88%
5/24 fights
Chin rating based on
5/34 fights
Plessis
Strickland
Form & Momentum
Recent fight performance — most recent weighted 30%
100
100
5-fight 🔥 win streak
Current form
W · Dec · R3
W · KO · R1
W · KO · R2
W · Sub · R4
W · Dec · R5
Last 5
W · KO · R2
L · KO · R1
W · Dec · R3
L · Dec · R5
W · Dec · R5
Plessis
Strickland
Finish Rate
Percentage of wins by KO/TKO or Submission
67%
33%
2
KO / TKO Wins
1
1
Submission Wins
0
2
Decision Wins
2

Style Fingerprint

Combatrics radar — 6 fighting dimensions scored 0–10

Plessis
Strickland
Striking6.2 / 4.2Volume4.5 / 6.8Grappling2.6 / 2.0Wrestling1.8 / 1.4Submission2.2 / 0.6Pressure7.4 / 4.5
Fighter 1
Fighter 2
6.2
Striking
KO power & stand-up volume
4.2
2.6
Grappling
Ground control & clinch
2.0
1.8
Wrestling
Takedown threat & defence
1.4
2.2
Submission
Submission attack frequency
0.6
7.4
Pressure
Clinch/ground work rate
4.5
4.5
Volume
Decision-pace fighting
6.8
Plessis
Strike Zones
Strickland
Plessis
Attacking
139HEAD57BODY43LEGS239 landed
Absorbing
141HEAD58BODY43LEGS242 absorbed
Strickland
Attacking
141HEAD58BODY43LEGS242 landed
Absorbing
139HEAD57BODY43LEGS239 absorbed
Targeting Overlap
🎯Plessis targets the head (58% of attacks) — Strickland absorbs 58% of strikes there
🎯Strickland targets the head (58% of attacks) — Plessis absorbs 58% of strikes there

Round by Round

This fight · per-round breakdown

Plessis
RND
Strickland
50/84R160/91
54/86R246/73
55/82R343/73
41/64R447/75
39/60R546/74

Plessis · QOF Timeline

Avg: 6.2
0105.6W6.9W6.8W6.1W5.6W2024-012024-082031-102031-112031-11
WinLossTrend

Strickland · QOF Timeline

Avg: 5.8
0106.0W7.4L6.0W3.4L6.3W2023-092024-012031-102031-112031-11
WinLossTrend

Plessis · Last 5

W · Dec · R3
Robert WhittakerRating 5.6
Decision · Unanimous
UFC Fight Night 515 · 2031-11
W · KO · R1
Sean StricklandRating 6.1
KO/TKO · Punches
UFC Fight Night 513 · 2031-11
W · KO · R2
Israel AdesanyaRating 6.8
KO/TKO · Punches
UFC Fight Night 511 · 2031-10
W · Sub · R4
Israel AdesanyaRating 6.9
Submission · Rear Naked Choke
UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya 2 · 2024-08
W · Dec · R5
Sean StricklandRating 5.6
Decision · Split
UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis · 2024-01

Strickland · Last 5

W · KO · R2
Robert WhittakerRating 6.3
KO/TKO · Punches
UFC Fight Night 514 · 2031-11
L · KO · R1
Dricus Du PlessisRating 3.4
KO/TKO · Punches
UFC Fight Night 513 · 2031-11
W · Dec · R3
Israel AdesanyaRating 6
Decision · Unanimous
UFC Fight Night 510 · 2031-10
L · Dec · R5
Dricus Du PlessisRating 7.4
Decision · Split
UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis · 2024-01
W · Dec · R5
Israel AdesanyaRating 6
Decision · Unanimous
UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland · 2023-09

News & Media

Dricus Du Plessis · Sean Strickland
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