Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has defeated the previous three 185-pound champions before him: Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland.
Du Plessis captured the title by defeating Strickland at UFC 297 via split decision. He decisively defeated Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312. His last four fights have been against champions or former titleholders, but hopes his next opponent is undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev.
“Yes. I believe so. All things do point to that,” Du Plessis said on The Ariel Helwani Show when asked if Chimaev was next. “Dana [White] has said it many times. We haven’t signed the contract, but I’d really, really hope so.”
Prior to the rematch with Strickland, Du Plessis thought Chimaev had earned a title shot. Some disagree but Chimaev’s destruction of Whittaker in his last fight was enough for Du Plessis to take notice.
“I don’t really care. I just know that he’s a big name. I think after the Whittaker performance, sure. Why not? For me, it’s the next big guy and everybody speaks about him as if he’s ever been close to a title, which he hasn’t,” Du Plessis said.
“People think of Khamzat as this boogieman. That’s a fact. I don’t. I don’t see that. For me, I only see one thing, and that’s potential to do go for my legacy. Potential to make my legacy even better.”
