Sean Strickland claims he was illegally headbutted by Dricus du Plessis during his narrow loss at UFC 297 on Sunday.
Du Plessis made history in the octagon, becoming the first ever South African-born UFC champion after claiming the middleweight title from the American.
Strickland shocked the world with his last fight when he defeated Israel Adesanya in one of the promotion’s all-time boilovers.
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But his reign has lasted just one fight after the 30-year-old won via split decision to get his first taste of UFC glory.
The 48-47×2, 47-48 victory was as close as it could possibly be with the third round the swing round as two judges gave it to du Plessis while the other gave it to Strickland.
It’s often said damage gets you wins in UFC and that proved to be the case as a nasty cut opened up around Strickland’s left eye midway through the fight.
Strickland was constantly wiping blood from face and he later claimed on social media a headbutt affected his vision.
He wrote on Twitter: “Well f*** 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!!!!!!”
Replays show Strickland starting bleeding from his face in the fourth round, and the cut got worse when he tangled with du Plessis against the fence.
Du Plessis was just as battered and sported a gruesome eye injury that bulged over.
The result goes into the book as a win and du Plessis is the newest UFC champion.
Du Plessis was asked about the incident in his press conference.
“No, I can’t say that I did,” Du Plessis said. “It’s the first time I’m hearing of it. No, I didn’t feel a head butt during the fight. … No, I can’t remember any head butt.”
While the next fight is likely a rematch after the five-round war, the South African wasted no time calling out Adesanya.
“Israel Adesanya, get your a**e back here so we can settle the score,” du Plessis said.
Despite an ugly lead up to the fight — as is common in Strickland fights — du Plessis praised the 32-year-old former champion.
“You are one hell of a man. Thank you for bringing the best out of me. Thank you for being a good guy,” he said.
Strickland was equally as humble as he could manage in response to the result.
“I called it from day one, that it was going to be a f***ing war,” Strickland said post-fight.
“It was a f***ing war. I’m salty, I think I won that, but maybe I’m being a f***ing p***y.”
Strickland may not be the only person who is salty after Canadian rapper Drake put $700,000 on the American to retain the belt.
It was a big night for new champions as Raquel Pennington claimed the vacant women’s bantamweight title with a 49-46 x2, 49-45 unanimous decision win over Mayra Bueno Silva.
“It feels surreal… first of all I want to say thank you for this opportunity. It truly means everything. It’s been a long five years to get back to this,” Pennington said post-fight.
Pennington found for the title in 2018 but was knocked out in the fifth round of her clash with now-retired women’s GOAT Amanda Nunes.
— With James Dampney