Dricus du Plessis expressed his willingness to defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland in a rematch of their previous title fight. However, he believes that another former opponent is more deserving of a title shot.
Du Plessis recently secured a victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, leading to speculations about his next opponent. UFC CEO Dana White had initially indicated that Strickland would be next in line for a title shot. During the post-fight press conference, du Plessis was questioned about the possibility of engaging in personal trash talk with Strickland once again.
When asked about the potential rematch, du Plessis humorously responded, “I don’t know. Does he want to cry again?”
The middleweight division is currently brimming with talent, with an exciting matchup scheduled for UFC 308 in October. Robert Whittaker is set to face Khamzat Chimaev in a highly anticipated co-main event. This bout marks Whittaker’s third fight of 2024, following his victories over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov earlier in the year.
Du Plessis shared his opinion on the deserving contender for his title, pointing towards his previous opponent, Robert Whittaker. He emphasized Whittaker’s impressive performances and expressed his belief that Whittaker deserves a shot at the title more than Strickland.
“Robert Whittaker deserves the shot. I think he’s being done over. Whittaker beat Costa,” du Plessis stated. He further highlighted Whittaker’s resilience and skill in his recent matchups.
Despite the anticipation surrounding a potential rematch with Strickland, du Plessis acknowledged the challenges faced by Whittaker in securing a title shot. He emphasized the unfairness in the treatment of Whittaker and expressed his willingness to face any opponent in the division.