Dricus du Plessis Calls His Victory Over Sean Strickland ‘Very Clear,’ Says ‘I Don’t Owe Sean Anything’ – Morning Report

Dricus du Plessis is making it clear that he’s not inclined to offer any easy victories, particularly to Sean Strickland. The UFC middleweight championship has seen frequent changes since Alex Pereira’s debut, which disrupted the MMA landscape. Since Pereira won the title in November 2022 against Israel Adesanya, there has been a revolving door of champions: Adesanya reclaimed the title only to lose it to Strickland, who was then defeated by du Plessis at UFC 297 in January.

Du Plessis’s split decision victory, while close, was deemed straightforward by him, although Strickland has been vocal about seeking an immediate rematch. Strickland’s recent split decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June did not prompt an immediate rematch. Du Plessis, focused on defending his title against Adesanya at UFC 305 next Saturday, sees no reason to prioritize Strickland over this important bout.

“I have no obligation to Sean,” du Plessis told Kevin Iole. “The judging criteria are clear, and the split decision outcome was surprising to me since I felt it was a decisive win. My priority is to fight the match that excites the fans and contributes to my career. Adesanya is a major draw and a serious fight for this year. A rematch with Strickland might make sense eventually, but for now, my focus is on Adesanya. I’m ready to fight Strickland if it fits into the UFC’s plans after this.”

Strickland’s unimpressive win against Costa does not seem to justify a second title shot at this moment. With Whittaker vs. Chimaev scheduled for UFC 308 in October, which is likely a title eliminator, and other potential matchups being considered, Strickland’s waiting game will be remarkable. Javier Mendez’s recent mention of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev moving to middleweight was dismissed by du Plessis with a laugh.

“That’s a big dream,” du Plessis responded to Mendez’s speculation. “Everyone dreams big, and while it’s exciting, I believe a champion should defend their title multiple times before considering moving up in weight. I think defending the belt at least three times is a fair expectation before pursuing another division, unless there’s a unique circumstance.”

A potential match between a middleweight and a lightweight champion is intriguing, but du Plessis is focused on securing his position at 185 pounds before considering such options. “I respect those who aim for multiple titles, but my immediate goal is to establish myself as the top middleweight before thinking about other weight classes,” du Plessis said. “Conor McGregor was the pioneer in achieving dual championships, and while I aim to achieve similar success, my focus right now is on dominating at middleweight and then exploring other opportunities.”