Latest news with #SeanStrickland
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nicotine out, Sean Strickland in: Zach Reese switches it up for UFC on ESPN 68
Nicotine out, Sean Strickland in: Zach Reese switches it up for UFC on ESPN 68 Show Caption Hide Caption Zachary Reese quit nicotine and channeling anger for UFC Vegas 107 UFC on ESPN 68's Zachary Reese spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at media day for his middleweight bout vs. Dusko Todorovic on Saturday in Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS – Zach Reese has made some life changes in anticipation of Saturday's UFC on ESPN 68. The biggest, perhaps, are a change of scenery and fresh resources. Usually one to do training camp in Texas, Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) moved to Las Vegas for this training camp to train under Eric Nicksick and his staff at Xtreme Couture. The move, Reese told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday, is already paying dividends. "For this camp, I switched it up," Reese said at a pre-fight news conference. "I went out to Xtreme Couture about a month-and-a-half ago. I've been getting a lot of training in with the guys over there, Sean Strickland and Alex Polizzi. I've been super grateful for that, man. I feel like I've really leveled up. I'm in great shape, healthy, and ready to go." Reese, 31, said the switch was spurred from training in Thailand with Chris Curtis, a key member of Xtreme Couture. Once at his new training home, however, Reese has taken a particular liking to training with Sean Strickland, whom he gave a ringing endorsement. "I would say he's the best training partner I've ever had," Reese said. "He tries to make you better every day. He holds the room to a real high standard. There's a ton of energy in the room and real fight, realistic training. I love it. I'm super grateful for it, man." In his most recent outing, Reese was brutally knocked out by Azamat Bekoev in Round 1. That fight took place in January. Four months later, Reese is eager to get back in the win column but thinks he'll have a very different threat with opponent Dusko Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC) "I think he'll try to take me down, especially based off my losses in the UFC," Reese said. "I think he's going to try to take me down. I hope he tries to stand with me. If he tries to take me down, I'm going to be ready for it. I'll beat him everywhere in every position." Oh, and there's one other X-factor that could be at play Saturday. "I quit cold turkey on nicotine, too," Reese said. "I think that's helping."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sean Strickland makes 'hands-down' Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev prediction
Sean Strickland is familiar with both middleweight title-fight headliners at UFC 319. Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) defends his middleweight title when he takes on undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Aug. 16 main event at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Advertisement Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) lost to Du Plessis twice in title fights – once by split decision at UFC 297 then in a more definitive decision at UFC 312. He also trained with Chimaev before at Xtreme Couture. With insight on both men, Strickland broke down the title fight. "They can grapple," Strickland said of Chimaev in an interview with Helen Yee. "Someone like me, I've been training these f*ckers for years. I usually could counter-wrestle and grapple them. So, I just don't know if f*cking Dricus can be able to counter-wrestle him. But if he can, I think he wins, hands down. I sparred the f*cking Chechen wh*re. Hands down, I think Dricus wins. It's just going to come down to are you going to be able to stop that and counter-wrestle him? You can. It's not hard." As for what's next for Strickland, the former champion has his sights set on settling his grudge match with ex-UFC welterweight champ Belal Muhammad. He admitted his interest in rematching Israel Adesanya is not high, but would do it if the fight was offered. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 319: Sean Strickland makes 'hands-down' Du Plessis-Chimaev pick
The South African
20-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Dricus Du Plessis fight earnings QUADRUPLED - Staggering figures REVEALED!
UFC and MMA SA-born superstar, Dricus Du Plessis has tripled his earnings in a few huge fights. Dricus Du Plessis earnings (base earnings per fight) have skyrocketed since he first triumphantly made history to claim the UFC Middleweight Championship against Sean Strickland. Thereafter, these figures have skyrocketed. The SA-born superstars earnings have quadrupled between then and his most recent bout against American, Sean Strickland – in their re-match. Du Plessis earnings have multiplied by four since his he claimed the UFC middleweight championship against Strickland. Thereafter, he submitted the imposing, agile and dangerous Israel Adesanya. In a his first title defence – a statement of note by the South African. When he first took on Strickland, as the challenger, he took home a reported $300 000 base salary for the fight (excluding add-ons), according to Briefly. Now, the South African UFC middleweight champion salary has drastically increased with Du Plessis earning a reported $1.2 million (base salary) for his re-match against Sean Strickland. This is a staggering 300% increase between three fights. For the rematch against Strickland these were the estimated pay-outs from add-ons to the reported base salary he took home: 'Du Plessis was guaranteed a payday and base salary of $1.2 million, and he's expected to have another added fee of $400,000, which is his PPV payout, along with a $42,000 in sponsorships,' the report read on the same publication. Additional earnings such as pay per view payouts and sponsorship deals are dependent on each fight. Furthermore, being the Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night influence his pay-pay view earnings. Dricus will defend his title against Khamzat Chimaev on August 16 in Chicago, USA. 'UFC owner Dana White announced that Dricus du Plessis will defend his belt against Khamzat Chimaev,' White told the media. 'After much speculation, the fight is happening and is scheduled for August 16 in Chicago, USA,' White added during the press conference. Furthermore, he is expected to earn a similiar base fee or even more for his next bout against Khamzat. With sponsorship deals, pay per view payout and his base salary likely to increase. DO YOU THINK DRICUS DU PLESSIS SHOULD EARN MORE OR LESS AS A BASE SALARY PER FIGHT? WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR HIS TITANTIC TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST KHAMZAT IN AUGUST? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@ You can also send us a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Follow @ TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
The South African
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Dricus Du Plessis salary QUADRUPLED - Staggering figures REVEALED!
UFC and MMA SA-born superstar, Dricus Du Plessis has tripled his earnings in a few huge fights. Dricus Du Plessis earnings have skyrocketed since he first triumphantly made history to claim the UFC Middleweight Championship against Sean Strickland. Thereafter, his salary has skyrocketed with the SA-born superstars earnings quadrupling between then and his most recent bout against American, Sean Strickland – in their re-match. BIG-READ: DRICUS DU PLESSIS STAGGERING SALARY REVEALED! Du Plessis earnings have multiplied by four since his he claimed the UFC middleweight championship against Strickland. Thereafter, he submitted the imposing, agile and dangerous Israel Adesanya in a his first title defence – a statement of note by the South African. When he first took on Strickland, as the challenger, he took home a reported $300 000 base salary for the fight (excluding add-ons). Now, the South African UFC middleweight champion salary has drastically increased with Du Plessis earning a reported $1.2 million (base salary) for his re-match against Sean Strickland. This is a staggering 300% increase between three fights. As mentioned, these fixtures exclude all additional earnings such as pay per view payouts and sponsorship deals which continue to grow exponentially as he continues to win. Thus, growing his brand as an individual and his value to other companies seeking sponsorship. Dricus will defend his title against Khamzat Chimaev on August 16 in Chicago, USA. 'UFC owner Dana White announced that Dricus du Plessis will defend his belt against Khamzat Chimaev,' White told the media. 'After much speculation, the fight is happening and is scheduled for August 16 in Chicago, USA,' White added during the press conference. Furthermore, he is expected to earn a similiar base fee or even more for his brutal blockbuster showdown against Khamzat. With sponsorship deals, pay per view payout and his base salary likely to increase. Stay tuned to The South African as we unveil his earnings and pay out and everything you need to know about Dricus ' Stillknocks ' Du Plessis up-and-coming title defense. DO YOU THINK DRICUS DU PLESSIS SHOULD EARN MORE OR LESS AS A BASE SALARY PER FIGHT? WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR HIS TITANTIC TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST KHAMZAT IN AUGUST? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@ or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. You can also follow @ TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Dricus Du Plessis says ‘two dates' agreed for blockbuster Khamzat Chimaev showdown
Dricus Du Plessis has said he expects to fight Khamzat Chimaev 'in the next couple of months', claiming he has agreed to two dates for a UFC title defence. Du Plessis won the middleweight belt with a decision victory over Sean Strickland in January 2024, before retaining the gold by submitting Israel Adesanya in August and outpointing Strickland again this February. He has since been linked to a defence against the unbeaten Chimaev, who recently bought into rumours that Du Plessis was injured and unable to fight him this summer. However, South Africa's Du Plessis took to social media to dismiss those rumours. And now the 31-year-old has sought to provide more clarity on a fight with Chimaev, saying on The Sias du Plessis Show on Wednesday (7 May): 'So, we have a date, but we have potential of two dates. I already agreed to both. 'A lot of people are saying: 'Is it this year?' Yes, 100 per cent. It's not far away. It's not that far away. The announcement will be made soon. 'Me and the UFC, we've known. All these rumours that came out with injuries, I don't know where it came from. It was ridiculous. I was like, 'Okay,' and I just left it for like a week and then I was like, 'Okay, everybody had their fun, now you're all going to look stupid.' 'We've already agreed on a date. That's been a while ago, so I'm just waiting for the contract, but that's the fight that's happening. It's going to be happening in the next couple of months, maximum four months. 'It's going to happen one of these days. Nothing is signed, but I've already agreed to any date. Any date that they gave me, I said: 'Cool, ready. Let's do it.'' Some fans expect Du Plessis vs Chimaev to headline UFC 317 during International Fight Week on 28 June, though it is also believed that the UFC could try to arrange Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall and/or Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria for that event. With the UFC 316 and 318 main events already set (Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley 2 on 7 June; Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway 3 on 19 July), Du Plessis could theoretically fight Chimaev at UFC 319 in August, if not at UFC 317. Chimaev, 31, last fought in October, submitting former champion Robert Whittaker in round one. With that result, the Russian moved to 14-0 as a professional and 8-0 in the UFC. Twelve of his career wins have come via stoppage, nine of them in the first round. Du Plessis, meanwhile, is 23-2 as a pro and 9-0 in the UFC. His last four wins have all come against former champions – two against Strickland, one against Adesanya, and one against Whittaker.
