Sean Strickland Points to Accidental Headbutt as Key Factor in UFC 297 Defeat

Sean Strickland was very close to retaining his middleweight title in the UFC 297 main event this past Saturday night in Toronto.

Were it not for an accidental headbutt that he claims occurred in the second half of his fight against Dricus Plessis, Strickland believes he might have gotten the nod. Instead, it was Du Plessis who claimed the middleweight crown with a closely-contested split decision triumph.

Strickland has twice referenced the alleged headbutt, which wasn’t identified by referee Marc Goddard, on social media since his loss to Du Plessis.

“Well f—k haha … that headbutt really made it difficult to see, but I thought we got the job done,” Strickland wrote Sunday on X. “Blood and all!!! Onto the next one!!!. Thanks to everyone who supported me!!!!!”

Well fuck haha... man that headbutt really made it difficult to see but I thought we got the job done. Blood and all!!! Onto the next one!!! Thanks everyone who supported me!!!!!!

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) January 21, 2024

Strickland doubled down on that claim Monday while revealing that the wound required stitches over his eye.

“I didn't take the [coward’s] way out and tell the doctor I couldn't see and [get] a no contest,” Strickland wrote on Instagram. “The only reason why you took a round from me is because I couldn't see. I won that fight, the world knows I won that fight. The belt they gave you will never make you a champion, enjoy.

“They had to stitch through muscle to get it closed.”

Even if he was adversely affected by the alleged foul, Strickland worked well behind his boxing for much of the fight. According to figures from UFCStats.com, Strickland held a 173-to-137 advantage in significant strikes landed. However, Du Plessis appeared to land some of the more impactful strikes while also securing six takedowns, which could have ultimately led to him getting the nod on the scorecards.

It should come as no surprise that Du Plessis wasn’t sympathetic to Strickland’s cause.

“Why don’t you cry about it … again,” Du Plessis wrote in response to Strickland’s Instagram post.

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