Dricus Du Plessis has told fans he wanted to fight Khamzat Chimaev next, rather than rematch the man he beat for the title.
The middleweight champion will take on divisive top contender Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February next year, just over a year after taking the title from him in Toronto. But after Chimaev dismantled Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, there were calls for the Swede to skip the line.
Strickland is perhaps the most popular and certainly more reliable option than Chimaev, who has made a habit of withdrawing from fights or having weight issues. But the belief is that the Swede is a bigger challenge and presents a tougher test of the champion's skills.
Dricus Du Plessis wanted Khamzat Chimaev instead of Sean Strickland
After remaining unusually quiet following Saturday's announcement, Dricus Du Plessis took to social media to explain that he wanted Khamzat Chimaev next. However, he notes that Sean Strickland was the fans' choice just before UFC 308 a few weeks ago.
“Just to clarify, I preferred the Khamzat fight,” Du Plessis wrote. “But the rematch is a fight that is most desired before Khamzat versus Withaker. I'm not unhappy with the UFC's decision, as I said. I will fight the guy that fans think is the next best guy he was promised in the fight, so it's Strickland.”
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
However, when a fan noted that “literally no one thought Strickland was the next best guy,” Du Plessis replied in the affirmative, adding, “I agree with you on that.”
And he couldn't help but notice Chimaev's ongoing health problems, which have made him think about retirement more than once. One fan wrote that he would “destroy you all,” to which the South African replied: “He can't even beat his own immune system.”
Sean Strickland attacks Khamzat Chimaev after fight announcement
After announcing that he had a chance to win the world title, Sean Strickland decided to direct his anger not at the champion, but at Chimaev. He made a short post about the announcement before slamming the Swede in a foul-mouthed rant on social media.
Writing on X he told his rival: “I love how c**shot [a crude nickname for Chimaev] will try to talk to me. Bro you are not a man, character level f***ing dog s***… Stay in your lane Swedish man.
He also replied to a fan who shared a photo of them training together by adding: “Bro is literally scum. “I took a difficult photo because I'm a small man and I have to act tough”… Bro isn't even a man at this point.
He then claimed that Chimaev would train too stiffly with lesser known fighters who had limited experience during their sessions. He told a fan: “He goes too hard against 'low level guys'. He's patching a 3-1 guy, lol.”
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