Teddy Atlas: 'Dricus Du Plessis is better than he looks'

Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis retained the 185-pound title at UFC 312 final weekend, defeating former titleholder Sean Strickland in a largely one-sided determination.  

When the 2 first fought at UFC 297, the battle led to a cut up determination after a spirited 5 rounds of preventing. The rematch wasn’t that shut and legendary boxing coach Teddy Atlas give his evaluation on how Du Plessis was capable of shut down Strickland within the second battle.

“I believe there is a motive why it (the choice) was wider,” Atlas stated on THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas podcast. “The old-timers, Cus D’Amato, they at all times advised me that profitable a title makes you 30% higher as a result of 75% is the thoughts half.  It makes the thoughts stronger. It makes it higher. It makes it extra assured. It lets you understand belongings you did not know earlier than you received a title; that you could depend upon your self in waters, in areas that you simply did not know you may. I believe that confirmed. Du Plessis was higher.”

Based on Atlas, a part of the explanation Strickland struggled towards Du Plessis within the rematch was his preventing type.  

“He is (Strickland) bought an amazing jab. He lives and dies by the sword. And typically you reside and die by the sword, on this case was the jab, and that sword will not be there for you, you die on that sword,” Atlas stated.  

“Strickland’s power is his weak spot. His power is to be chilly, calculating. He does not waste something. He is definitive. He is a surgeon. He is conservative. He does not make errors. He does not get overanxious. He does not enable you by getting overanxious by doing one thing that provides you alternatives to capitalize on,” Atlas continued.

Associated: Sean Strickland’s coach opens up about ‘uninspiring’ UFC 312 efficiency

“That is additionally what harm him in these final two fights (with Du Plessis) is that he’s so conservative. He does not waste something. He does not make errors. He does not take probabilities to make these errors in these form of methods. So, you may out hustle him typically. You possibly can typically outwork him. He leaves a chance to be out hustled, simply outworked a bit of bit… There are guys which can be going to match that, or come near it and likewise do some extra of it.  Be a bit of busier and go exterior that realm and be extra artistic.  That is Du Plessis.”   

“He (Du Plessis) actually is the instance of why you hear that saying, ‘You possibly can’t choose a e book by its cowl’ since you have a look at him and also you say, ‘What’s he doing?’ He is massive. He is sturdy. I get it, however ‘what’s he doing?  I do not see it.’ Effectively, the opponent sees it. The opponent feels it. He is higher than he appears to be like.”

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