Middleweight champion Dricius Du Plessis has revealed who he wants to face in his first title defence.
The South African who won the belt in the UFC’s first PPV of 2024 against Sean Strickland wants to fight Isreal Adesanya towards the end of the year. Adesanya hasn’t fought since losing the belt back in September.
Despite this Sean Strickland has demanded an immediate rematch after claiming the judges “robbed him of victory.”
Dricus du Plessis Wants Israel Adesanya in South Africa
There has been a long anticipation and expectation that Dricius Du Plessis and former champion Israel Adesanya would clash in the cage. The pair were initially meant to face off in late 2023 but the fight couldn’t be materialised with DDP unable to make the short turnaround.
Speaking on the Hustlers Corner SA, Dricus Du Plessis said; “I think that Israel Adesanya is going to be my next fight, that’s the one. I want that fight, the people want that fight.”
“In an ideal world, we will book that on home soil, that’s what we need.”
“We are talking, definitely and that’s what the people want to see, that’s what I want to do. I want to fight the best guys, this is an entertaining sport.”
“Who do I want to fight, I don’t care I’m the champion I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me but what I want in my heart is to fight the guy the people want to see me fight.”
No Rematch for Sean Strickland
Despite protesting the loss to Dricus Du Plessis, it doesn’t seem that Sean Strickland will get his rematch with the champion.
After the fight the former champion went on a rant and said: “I didn’t take the cowards way out and tell the doctor I couldn’t see and got a no contest.
“The only reason why you took a round from me is because I couldn’t see.. I won that fight, the world knows I won that fight……. The belt they gave you will never make you a champion, enjoy….
“They had to stitch through muscle to get it closed.”
Strickland has repeatedly called for a rematch against DDP via X (formerly Twitter) but the UFC aren’t willing to grant the American an immediate rematch to reclaim the middleweight championship.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
