Subsequent title protection not vs. Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis’ coach guidelines Sean Strickland out of the title race.

Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) misplaced his title to Du Plessis by break up determination at UFC 297 in January – a struggle he’s adamant he gained. Strickland then rebounded with a call win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June, and mentioned he gained’t struggle once more except it’s for a title.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) submitted Israel Adesanya to notch his first title protection at UFC 305 in August. His coach Morne Visser revealed that the plan is to return February in Sydney, however not towards Strickland. He thinks if Robert Whittaker will get previous Khamzat Chimaev Oct. 26 at UFC 308, he’s subsequent.

“I had a dialog really yesterday with Dricus, and I mentioned to him, ‘There’s just one factor for sure at this stage, just one factor, and that’s that we’ve bought to be able to struggle in Sydney in February,’” Visser instructed Submission Radio. “My opinion is Sean’s overselling it.

“He’s simply had one win after Dricus and that was towards Costa. Whittaker had two, and I feel he’s going to go for No. 3 now. So I feel my sincere opinion is that subsequent for us in line might be Whittaker in Sydney in February. I feel he’s going to beat Khamzat, and I actually assume that they’re going to provide him the shot.”

If Chimaev stays unbeaten towards Whittaker, then Visser says that could possibly be a possible struggle for Du Plessis, however possible at a distinct date.

“Even when you consider it, that there’s even a slight chance that if Khamzat beats Rob, that Dricus has fought and overwhelmed Sean and Rob,” Visser mentioned. “So if Khamzat beats Rob, I feel they’re going to play their playing cards a bit of bit completely different and we’re going to struggle Khamzat later. However to date, the one factor that’s confirmed is we might be combating in February in Sydney.”