Sean Strickland says he intends to right what he sees as the wrong call in last year’s world title fight with Dricus du Plessis.

The American was narrowly outpointed by Du Plessis in his unsuccessful January 2024 title defence against the South African fighter — a decision that still grates him ahead of his bid this weekend in Sydney, Australia to become a two-time champion in the 185-pound fold.

Now a veteran of a remarkable seven five-round bouts that have gone the distance (including each of his last three) Strickland told the media in Sydney, including The Mac Life, that he has sharpened his tools sufficiently to know that he can aggressively push the pace this weekend in his bid to regain the world championship.

“I’ve had a year now to improve upon that performance,” he said of his strategy the second time around.

“[Being] cleaner, to be fitter, stronger and in terms of strength, and that’s not a problem — just being cleaner, being picking the shots, better, being more patient. This is not my first UFC title fight anymore, and I know I can push that pace for five rounds, so that changes my dynamic.

“But I’m not going into this fight thinking it’s the same fight as the first one. He’s going to make the adjustments. He knows what it’s like in there with me, just like I know what he’s doing.”

True to form, Strickland’s media scrum also included extensive criticism of Khamzat Chimaev and Bryce Mitchell, who was the subject of huge scrutiny last week for comments he made in support of Adolf Hitler on a podcast. You can watch Strickland’s full comments in the video above.