Formally reserving his title combat return in February, former champion, Sean Strickland might be able to return towards former-foe and present champion, Dricus du Plessis as slated at UFC 312 — and even the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev if he serves as an official backup fighter.
Strickland, who retains the primary rank on the middleweight restrict, has been sidelined since he co-headlined UFC 302 at first of June, returning to the winner’s enclosure in a cut up choice win over former title chaser, Paulo Costa.
And over the course of the weekend, outspoken fan-favorite, Sean Strickland was formally confirmed because the headliner of UFC 312 in his return to Australia — taking over Pretoria native, du Plessis in a title rematch, having beforehand matched up earlier this annum.
Sean Strickland getting ready for Dricus du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 312
Beating out the undefeated, Chimaev to a title combat with du Plessis, in keeping with Sean Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, the Xtreme Couture tactician confirmed his pupil is greater than able to tackle both at UFC 312 in two months time.
They [the UFC] often tell us, you already know, a month or two forward of time, only for that very same cause,” Eric Nicksick instructed Submission Radio throughout a latest interview. You already know, we knew Jared Cannonier was the backup for our combat with Izzy (Israel Adesanya), so in our heads, we had already fought Jared, so we had an thought of what we wanted to do if that have been to be the case.
So, yeah, I believe undoubtedly, in the event that they announce that Khamzat (Chimaev) is the backup, you actually ought to have like two play calls within the huddle, you already know, like if one thing adjustments, we should be ready for it,” Nicksick defined.
Taking over du Plessis at UFC 297 at first of the yr in a visit to Canada, Strickland suffered a controversial cut up choice loss to the South African in his first tried protection of the middleweight crown having beforehand overwhelmed common-foe, Adesanya in a serious upset victory in September of final yr.
