If it was as much as Dricus Du Plessis, he’d be defending his UFC middleweight title in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev.
As an alternative, Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will run issues again with Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) within the UFC 312 headliner Feb. 8 at Qudos Financial institution Area in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).
Du Plessis narrowly defeated Strickland by cut up choice to seize the middleweight title at UFC 297 final January. Within the 12 months since, Strickland has maintained he was robbed by the judges and may’ve saved the belt.
Strickland was declared No. 1 contender after rebounding with a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June, and Du Plessis obliged – although he disagrees with the matchmaking.
“Only for clarification I most well-liked the Khamzat battle however the rematch is a battle most wished earlier than Khamzat vs. Whittaker,” Du Plessis wrote on X. I’m not sad with the UFC’s choice. Like I mentioned, I’ll battle the person followers suppose is the following finest man. He was promised the battle so Strickland it’s.”
Du Plessis noticed Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) as a extra intriguing problem after the unbeaten contender ran by means of former champion Robert Whittaker by first-round submission in October.
When a fan on X recommended Chimaev would beat each UFC 312 headliners, Du Plessis was fast to snap again:
“He can’t even beat his personal immune system.”
After dethroning Strickland to begin the 12 months, Du Plessis notched his first title protection with a fourth-round submission of former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 312.
Be sure you go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of blended martial arts.
