Dricus du Plessis, the middleweight champion, successfully defended his title against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Sydney, winning by unanimous decision. The victory solidified du Plessis’ position as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. During the event, Alex Pereira, the semi-heavyweight champion, was in attendance, accompanied by his coach Plinio Cruz and former opponent Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis directed his attention towards Pereira during the post-fight interview, asking if he was interested in being his next opponent. This sparked a exchange of statements between the two fighters, which could potentially lead to a highly anticipated superfight. Pereira later confirmed that he had a confrontation with du Plessis backstage, where he suggested that they fight in the 205-pound category. Du Plessis agreed, saying “treatment made,” and later expressed his respect for Pereira, considering him the number one pound-for-pound fighter. However, du Plessis also stated that he believes he can beat Pereira, having already defeated Adesanya, who had previously beaten Pereira.
Chimaev and Ankalaev, the stones on the road
For now, a potential fight between du Plessis and Pereira will have to wait. Du Plessis’ next fight is scheduled to be against Khamzat Chimaev, who recently defeated Robert Whittaker by submission. Chimaev is considered one of the most exciting fighters in the middleweight division. Meanwhile, Pereira will defend his semi-heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 on March 9. Both du Plessis and Pereira will need to overcome significant challenges before they can consider facing each other.
First Khamzat comes. I told Pereira that please win Ankalaev
Dricus du Plessis, medium weight champion of the UFC
Du Plessis expressed his desire to fight Pereira, stating that he has nothing against Ankalaev but wants to beat Pereira for his legacy. He acknowledged that both Chimaev and Ankalaev are tough opponents who could potentially prevent the fight from happening. Chimaev is considered a superstar in the UFC, with many believing he is destined to dominate the middleweight division. Ankalaev, on the other hand, is a highly skilled fighter with expertise in both striking and grappling, making him a formidable opponent for Pereira.