Prior to UFC 308,
Dricus Du
Plessis was operating under the assumption that he was going to
face Sean
Strickland in a rematch for his next middleweight title
defense.
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There was a shift in thinking, however, when Khamzat
Chimaev submitted ex-title holder Robert
Whittaker with a face crank 3:34 into the opening round of
their co-main event clash at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this past
Saturday. As a result of that performance, Chimaev might have
skipped to the front of the line at 185 pounds.
Chimaev definitely caught the attention of Du Plessis, who claimed
the middleweight belt with a split-decision triumph over Strickland
at UFC 297 before defending the strap with a fourth-round
submission of Israel
Adesanya at UFC 305 on Aug. 17.
“We always knew between Rob and Khamzat if there was going to be
something exceptional that happens, there might be a change in the
title fight,” Du Plessis told Radioraps. “We have no clarity on
that, but as a fan of the sport and as the middleweight champion of
the world, that’s a fight that gets me more excited, taking
somebody’s ‘0.’ I’ve beaten Strickland before, and I know I’ll beat
him again. Getting that Khamzat fight, that gets me excited.”
“I think the whole world wants to see it. The fans ultimately pay
to watch the fights, so the fight the world thinks is the best next
fight, that’s what I want. So I think the Khamzat fight is 100
percent what I want. The UFC is going to do what they’re going to
do, but from a fan perspective and from a fighter’s perspective, I
think Khamzat should get the next shot.”
Morne Visser, who is Du Plessis’ coach, stated in a post on
Instagram that a fight against Chimaev is now the target for the
champion.
“We want Khamzat next in February,” Visser wrote. “Prepare to be
amazed once again.”
While UFC CEO Dana White
recently indicated that Strickland would get the rematch with
Du Plessis next, it seemed that his perspective had also changed
following the events of UFC 308.
“That’s a good question. Call me on Tuesday,” White said at the UFC
308 post-fight press conference.
If Du Plessis returns in February as his coach stated, he would
likely fight at UFC 312, which takes place Qudos Bank Arena in
Sydney, Australia on Feb. 8. Du Plessis is in the midst of a
10-bout winning streak, a run that includes eight triumphs in UFC
competition.