Middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is keen to make his first title defence. The champion has emerged ready to take on former champion Israel Adesanya against another top contender. Despite his desire, the fight has yet to be officially announced, adding to the disappointment among fans and fighters alike.
Acquisition Challenges
Du Plessis has been very vocal about wanting to meet with Adesanya. “I’m in it. I’ve accepted everything. I’m ready. That’s the fight I want,” he told Fight Wave. He won the belt and challenged Adesanya, hoping to give fans the matchup they wanted. “This is what we announce. I don’t know what the hold-up is,” he said, emphasizing his desire to have a fight in the books.
Unbeaten Series and Competition
Du Plessis boasts losses in his first seven UFC fights. Adesanya’s rival has stepped up, but injuries had kept them from challenging in the past. Sean Strickland recently defeated Adesanya for the title, and du Plessis will defeat Strickland in January 2024, adding more excitement to a possible rematch and future fights.
Du Plessis is also set to face either Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev. “I’m not fighting. I said I’d be ready to fight in May. I was ready to fight after that. I just wasn’t ready for UFC 300,” he explained. These changes show that he is poised to be the top contender in the middleweight division, raising the anticipation for his next fight.
Contenders: Whittaker and Chimaev
Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev will face off at middleweight at UFC Saudi Arabia before du Plessis returns to the Octagon. Du Plessis respects Whittaker and sees the fight as an important opportunity for Chimaev in the division. “I have a lot of respect for Whittaker, and this is a great opportunity for Chimaev to prove himself,” he commented, adding extra excitement for the upcoming fight.
Refuse to Fight in UFC 300
Du Plessis previously turned down a fight at UFC 300, a decision that could be the reason for the current delay. He wanted to fight Adesanya in Africa, not on the UFC 300 card. “UFC 300 is just a number, it’s not as big as UFC Africa,” he told Jacaranda FM. This decision underscores his desire to bring a major UFC event to his home continent, further cementing his status as a leader who thinks beyond just current fights.
Adesanya’s Answered to du Plessis
Adesanya called out du Plessis after UFC 297, but du Plessis chose to recover from his tough fight against Strickland. He wears the belt and feels he needs to be part of the time and place of fighting. “I had to recover properly. I didn’t rush into another fight unless I was the best,” du Plessis explained, defending his choice to postpone his next fight.
Possible fights with Strickland and Chimaev
Du Plessis is looking to repeat with Strickland, who he previously defeated by split decision. He thinks the second fight will be easier. Now #1 contender Strickland has been active, decisively defeating Paulo Costa at UFC 302. “The second fight with Strickland would be easy. I knew from our first meeting,” du Plessis said confidently.
Fan Disappointment and Expectation
Fans are disappointed with the delay and eager to see du Plessis in action. Anticipation was heightened by the champion’s willingness to fight top contenders such as Adesanya, Strickland and Chimaev. “We just want to see this fight,” one fan said, echoing the sentiments of many in the MMA community.
As the UFC navigates these challenges, fans are eagerly awaiting an official announcement of Du Plessis’ next fight. Whether it’s Adesanya, Strickland or Chimaev, the middleweight division is set for some electrifying matches.
