.
The two face off in the octagon at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia on Saturday night (23:00 GMT).
The outspoken Strickland has taunted Du Plessis on social media by insulting the state of his native South Africa as well as pointing out the country’s high levels of crime and wealth inequality.
“Strickland says a lot of things about a lot of things but he doesn’t know anything,” Du Plessis, 31, told BBC Sport Africa.
“It doesn’t make a difference to me.”
Du Plessis became South Africa’s first UFC champion when he beat Strickland via a split decision at UFC 297 in January last year.
He defended his title against Nigeria-born Israel Adesanya, in what was dubbed the ‘Battle for Africa’, in August.
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