By The Numbers: Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis

The Ultimate Fighting Championship travels to the Land of the Maple Leaf, setting the stage for its inaugural international event of the 2024 calendar year with the highly anticipated UFC 297. The event will take place on Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

At the forefront of this electrifying spectacle is UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who steps into the spotlight to defend his coveted title. Strickland faces a formidable challenge in the form of the No.2 ranked contender, Dricus Du Plessis, who has been on an unbridled surge.

In addition, the pre-fight banter at the UFC 2024 Seasonal Press Conference hit a fever pitch with a wild exchange of blows during UFC 296. This dramatic turn of events accentuates the enthralling nature of both the prelude and the anticipated clash.

With the showdown between Strickland and du Plessis on the horizon, we take a closer look at the statistical landscape leading up to this point:

0.51: Percent bottom position rate for Strickland showcases his mastery in avoiding vulnerable positions on the ground. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is renowned for his boxing skills but confronts grappling advances head-on.

982: Strickland's polished striking skills place him fifth in UFC middleweight division history for the most significant strikes landed.

6.08: Strikes landed per minute by Strickland, which positions him as the third highest in UFC middleweight division history. These numbers are a reflection of his relentless, high output striking approach.

65.4%: By inducing his foes to miss on nearly two-thirds of their significant strike attempts, "Tarzan" ranks fifth in UFC middleweight division history for that defensive attribute.

428: Significant strikes attempted in a single UFC middleweight bout against Uriah Hall, the most in the division's history. Strickland also occupies the third position on the list with 400 strike attemptws against Jared Cannonier.

173: Most significant head strikes landed in a single UFC middleweight bout against Hall.

3: The 32-year-old is on a three-fight win streak, collecting signature victories over Nassourdine Imavov and Abusupiyan Magomedov, and going on to dethrone Israel Adesanya to lay hands on the coveted UFC gold at UFC 293.

6: The South African boasts the longest active streak in the UFC middleweight division with six consecutive victories.

19: A staggering 19 out of du Plessis' 20 career victories have been earned by stoppage, highlighting his proficiency at finishing fights.

8: “Stillknocks” has recorded an impressive eight out of 20 career victories in the first round.

6.72: Percent significant strikes per minute landed by du Plessis in UFC middleweight competition, setting the record for the highest rate in divisional history.