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.
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.
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A post shared by Morne Visser (@coachmornevisser)
