![Dricus du Plessis (left) has a message for Sean Strickland (right). [Image credit: @dricusduplessis, @stricklandmma on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/e6b75-17303404225537-1920.jpg)
![Dricus du Plessis (left) has a message for Sean Strickland (right). [Image credit: @dricusduplessis, @stricklandmma on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has some strong words for his former foe Sean Strickland. The two fought at UFC 297 earlier this year with du Plessis narrowly beating Strickland for the title via a split decision.
Since their fight, the South African champion successfully defended his belt against former champ Israel Adesanya while Strickland dispatched former title challenger Paulo Costa. After the Costa win, UFC CEO Dana White himself said that Strickland would be the next in line to challenge for the belt.
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After UFC 308 last weekend, however, this seemingly changed with Khamzat Chimaev's clinical dismantling of Robert Whittaker. The champion himself now wants the Chechen-born warrior as his next challenger.
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In an interview with TMZ, 'Stillknocks' explained why he chose Chimaev over Strickland. He then sent a message to 'Tarzan', telling him what he needed to do to get the title shot:
"Finish your fights"
Check out Dricus du Plessis' comments below (7:28):
Dricus du Plessis and team wants Khamzat Chimaev in February next year
It seems like the plans are now in motion for Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev with the UFC middleweight title on the line. Du Plessis' head coach, Morne Visser, posted on Instagram and declared his team's plan to meet 'Borz' inside the octagon.
Visser pointed out that three UFC fighters, du Plessis, Ilia Topuria, and Tom Aspinall, debuted in the promotion at the same time and all three are now wearing gold around their waist. He then had a message for Chimaev:
"3 athletes that started their UFC careers around the same time @tomaspinallofficial @dricusduplessis @iliatopuria 3 world champions, that will stay champions for a really long time! Massive congrats to @iliatopuria on a phenomenal performance. We want Khamzat [Chimaev] next in February. Prepare to be amazed once again."
A bout between du Plessis and Chimaev would be interesting to see. So far in his UFC tenure, 'Borz' has been largely dominating everyone he's faced, grappling-wise. The only time he was ever in real trouble was when he decided to stand and trade with Gilbert Burns. With du Plessis' 11 wins coming via submission, he might be the one to truly test the grappling prowess of Chimaev inside the octagon.
