At UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, Dricus du Plessis made headlines. Known mostly for his forceful strikes, “Steelknocks” stunned the mixed martial arts community by employing an innovative tactic against Israel Adesanya. Relying less on his strikes and more on his grappling abilities, du Plessis defeated Adesanya via rear-naked choke in the fourth round to defend his middleweight title and set the stage for Alex Pereira, the next main opponent.
Du Plessis Focuses on Pereira
Following his decisive victory, du Plessis made his future plans public. He stated that he would like to face Sean Strickland next at the UFC 305 post-fight press conference. According to du Plessis, “Strickland is the next fight people want to see.” “I wanted that fight,” the man said. I take care of my business, and you take care of yours. After the Strickland fight, I’ll be up to 205, and we’ll address it there. Based on this information, it appears like du Plessis wants to face Pereira, the current light heavyweight (LHW) champion, in the future.
Pereira Potentially Moving Back to Middleweight
Alex Pereira, the LHW champion, hinted at a potential comeback to middleweight. Following UFC 305, Pereira said on Instagram that he will return to his original weight of 185. Surprising both fans and analysts, his message says, “Dropping down to 185 one more time.” An intriguing twist to the UFC middleweight scene might result from Pereira’s possible return to MW, which would present a much awaited clash with du Plessis.
Joe Rogan’s Concern
Joe Rogan, the UFC’s lead commentator and analyst, shared his thoughts on Pereira’s possible return to middleweight during an episode of his JRE Fight Companion podcast Rogan expressed both shock and concern at the possibility. “Oh my god, he’s going down to 185 again,” Rogan exclaimed. “The fact that he can still do 185 when he sizes up to 220 is just crazy. If he decides to go back to 185 and a fight is scheduled for December, it will be epic.” Rogan’s response highlights both the excitement and anxiety surrounding Pereira’s potential move, and highlights the serious risk involved.
Fan Reactions and Predictions for the Future
Pereira’s possible return to the middleweight division has sparked a range of reactions from the MMA community. For many fans, the prospect of Pereira and du Plessis competing in a novel and exciting match is exhilarating. This potential showdown might give the middleweight class fresh energy, thrilling spectators with a highly anticipated fight. With Pereira going back to 185 pounds, there are concerns about whether he can compete at the highest level and how that would affect his performance.
However, Du Plessis’s determination to take on the strongest opponents and eventually move up to light heavyweight motivates him to push himself and create a lasting legacy. The UFC’s matches will decide how these next fights play out and how they impact the division.
There will likely be a significant change in the UFC after UFC 305. Future fights are seeming more and more likely as Alex Pereira contemplates a comeback to middleweight and Dricus Du Plessis tries to challenge him. Both combatants have proven they belong in the Octagon, so this bout might be one of the most exciting in UFC history.
