In a whirlwind of events following Sean Strickland’s surprising victory over former UFC middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya, the MMA world was initially abuzz with the prospect of an immediate rematch. Strickland’s bookie-busting upset at UFC 293’s pay-per-view (PPV) main event, held last month in Sydney, had fans and experts eagerly awaiting a potential showdown between “Tarzan” and “The Last Stylebender.”
However, the plot took a twist in the days that followed. UFC CEO Dana White, who had initially hinted at the rematch, seemed to have a change of heart. Addressing reporters at the “Contender Series” press conference, White revealed a more cautious approach to future match-making in the middleweight division.
“That fight just happened, and a couple of fights are gonna play out here over the next month or so, and then we’ll go from there and figure out what’s next,” White stated. “Whatever the best fight to make when all is said and done and who’s injured, who’s not injured, who can go, what time, where … there’s a lot of different factors that play into what we’re gonna do next.”
Amidst this uncertainty, several contenders have emerged, all vying for a shot at the coveted UFC middleweight title. The No. 1-ranked Dricus Du Plessis, who was initially offered the UFC 293 headliner but declined, may still be in the mix. However, he may now have to contend with the possibility of facing the winner of the upcoming clash between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, scheduled later this month in Abu Dhabi.
