UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis hopes the promotion changes its mind about his next opponent.
Du Plessis said he would prefer to defend the title against Khamzat Chimaev than in a rematch with former champ Sean Strickland.
Chimaev finished former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 last weekend in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, quickly tapping him out with a violent face crank to climb to No. 3 in the division.
UFC CEO Dana White had already promised Strickland the next crack at Du Plessis, but Du Plessis believes Chimaev did enough to leapfrog the rest of the division.
“I think the whole world – the fans want to see it,” Du Plessis told Radio Raps. “The fans ultimately pay to watch the fights. So, the fight the world thinks is the best next fight, that’s what I want. So, yeah, I think the Khamzat fight is 100% what I want.
“The UFC is gonna do what they’re gonna do but, from a fan perspective and from a fighter’s perspective, I think Khamzat should get the next shot.”
Du Plessis became the 185-pound champion at UFC 297 in January with a split-decision win over Strickland. The South Africa native defended the belt for the first time this past summer, submitting Israel Adesanya.
Strickland has since bounced back from the loss to Du Plessis, defeating Paulo Costa by decision in June. Despite that, Du Plessis said he’s more intrigued by a fresh matchup against Chimaev, who’s undefeated as a pro at 14-0.
“We always knew that if between Rob and Khamzat, if there was gonna be exceptional that happens, there might be a change in the title fight,” Du Plessis said. “We have no clarity on that.
“But as a fan of the sport, and as the middleweight champion of the world, that’s a fight that gets me more excited. Taking somebody’s 0. I’ve beaten Strickland before, and I know I’ll beat him again. Getting that Khamzat fight, that gets me excited.”
