UFC Middleweight Champion Drus Du Plessis does not put much value in Islam Makhachev who may be a challenge for his title.
Dricus Du Plessis and Islam Makhachev are two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC in the world. Makhachev recently defended his lightweight title during UFC 311, and Du Plessis will compete against Sean Strickland next month in a long -awaited championship brake match during UFC 312.
Makhachev has, after successfully defending the title in a fast finish on Renato Moicano, no more potential new, fresh challenges in the lightweight division. He has long suggested that he would rise in weight in his endeavor to become world champion in two weights, an award that his Mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov never achieved.
After beating Micano at UFC 311, Makhachev hinted that he might become a 'triple champion' and earn titles in the welterweight and middleweight. It would be an amazing achievement who has never matched anyone in the history of the UFC.
But not so fast, says Du Plessis.
Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images
Dricus Du Plessis swears Islam Makhachev in 'Overmeesting'
In a recent interview with FOX Sports Australia, Du Plessis responded to Makhachev's comments about the challenge for the UFC mid-weight belt.
“He trains with 185 people in his gym, but there is only one world champion. So a compliment to him – but it doesn't really matter, because I will overpower him in every situation, “Du Persis replied. “I know he is walking around hard, but I walk around hard. It is a large lightweight, I am a large middleweight.
“There is a big difference.” (H / T FOX Sports Australia)
The manager of Makhachev, Ali Abdelaziz, has repeatedly guaranteed that the lightweight champion Du Plessis would deduct if they were ever booked to fight. An obstacle that stands in the way of Makhachev's planned weight gain is his teammate Belal Muhammad, who holds the Welterweight belt and has publicly refused to meet Makhachev in a champion-champion match.
At the time of writing, Makhachev has not yet responded to the claims of Du Plessis, and he seems focused on at least one lightweight defending defense. A possible rematch with Charles Oliveira is an option for his next title defense, as well as a possible reversal against Arman Tsarukyan after the withdrawal of Tsarukyan on the last second from UFC 311.
After he arrived before UFC 311, Makhachev arrived in 24 hours 23 pounds when he entered the Octagon for the Micano fight. It is considered a large lightweight and runs around the middleweight limit.
Islam Makhachev sees 'champion champion' aging after UFC 311
Depending on how the image of the UFC lightweight title takes place, Makhachev could be on its way to leave the lightweight division in favor of new challenges. In his career he never participated in welterweight or middleweight, and outside two catchweight fights, he fought in lightweight throughout his fighting period.
Du Plessis perhaps achieves the biggest victory of his career when he defended the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya during UFC 305 during UFC 305 last year. A victory over Strickland would probably cause him a confrontation with Khamzat Chimaev for his next defending defense.
Du Plessis and Makhachev could soon be on a collision course; And when the fight comes about, Du Plessis Makhachev does not give much chance of writing history against him.
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