Formally booked to defend his middleweight crown at UFC 312, Dricus du Plessis will tackle former foe, Sean Strickland in a rematch ‘Downunder’ — nonetheless, believes a matchup with the unbeaten star, Khamzat Chimaev would have been a a lot larger showdown for the promotion to ink.
Introduced because the official headiner for UFC 312 over the weekend, Dricus du Plessis will headline the Qudos Financial institution Enviornment card in Sydney subsequent February, taking over the above-mentioned former titleholder, Strickland on the two do battle for the second time in simply 13 months.
Additionally slated to characteristic within the co-headliner; an undisputed strawweight title struggle as two-time champion, Zhang Weili books her return in a visit to Australia as she takes on unbeaten ending star, Tatiana Suarez who takes to a championship setting for the primary time in her faltering Octagon tenure.
Dricus du Plessis laments lacking out on Khamzat Chimaev struggle at UFC 312
Linked with a possible struggle with Chechen ending ace, Chimaev — significantly off the again of the previous’s face crank submission win over common-foe and former champion, Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 two months in the past, du Plessis has now claimed a pairing with the previous would’ve been a much bigger struggle for the UFC to e book moderately than a rematch between himself and Strickland.
“Yeah, I feel, uh, most individuals needed to see that Khamzat (Chimaev) struggle, myself included,” Dricus du Plessis instructed Fox Sports activities throughout a latest interview. “Um, you realize, I used to be 100% eager on the (Sean) Strickland rematch the entire time when, when, uh… and I feel everyone now goes and says, they marvel what everyone needs the Khamzat struggle, however those self same followers have been those that referred to as for the Strickland rematch as effectively up till Khamzat had the efficiency in opposition to Rob that he did.”
And, uh, I truthfully felt that, uh, Strickland’s rematch was warranted,” Dricus du Plessis defined. “Nice, let’s do it. After which after that Khamzat struggle, now that was the struggle that I needed, and I feel, uh, 90% of followers needed and, uh… do you see? Promised Strickland a struggle, so… you realize, this time they delivered on the promise and, uh, I’ve… yeah, I imply, I don’t have any issues through the Strickland rematch.”
“After all, that Khamzat struggle would have been rather a lot larger, in my view, and extra thrilling. , I haven’t completed it earlier than. I haven’t seen it earlier than. He’s unbeaten, however you realize, this Strickland is an absolute beast within the Octagon, so this struggle is gonna be a banger once more and I can’t wait.”
