UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis posted on X that he preferred to defend his title against Khamzat Chimaev over Sean Strickland.
Dricus du Plessis wanted Khamzat Chimaev instead of Sean Strickland #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/mifGLrs5AT
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) December 10, 2024
“Just for clarification I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs Withaker. I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision like I said I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy he was promised the fight so Strickland it is.”
Du Plessis (22-2) is set for his second title defense in a rematch against the man he took the title from. Strickland lost the belt to du Plessis via split-decision at UFC 297 in January via split-decision.
Since then du Plessis has defended the title against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 while Strickland is coming off a split-decision victory over Paulo Costa in June.
Chimaev has always seemed destined for a title shot, but health issues have left him unable to be as active as he was at the beginning of his UFC career.
He entered the UFC in 2019 fighting three times in a span of three months. Since then he’s had 6 bouts canceled due to illness or missing weight, but when he fought still taking on some of the best at 170 and 185 pounds.
He holds victories over Kevin Holland, Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns and most recently a win over Robert Whittaker that left the former champion with an injured jaw due to choke.
Du Plessis maintains he wants to be the one to take Chimaev’s perfect record away. A victory over Strickland could set that matchup for later in 2025.
Dricus du Plessis defends his title against Sean Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312 on Feb 8.
