Dricus du Plessis captured the middleweight title at UFC 297, defeating Sean Strickland via split decision. The middleweight champion expressed his desire for a chance to face Conor McGregor, stating that it would be an honor. Du Plessis spoke to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated ahead of UFC 297 and claimed to be a massive fan of McGregor since his debut in the sport.
Du Plessis admired McGregor’s remarkable career, stating the Irish fighter had revolutionized the sport. Sharing the cage with McGregor would be one of the highlights of Du Plessis’s career. However, McGregor has not returned to the octagon since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in UFC 264 back in July 2021. He recently announced his comeback during International Fight Week on June 29th, facing Michael Chandler in the middleweight division.
After winning the middleweight title at UFC 297, Du Plessis revealed his plans for his return to the octagon. He stated that he expected to face Israel Adesanya. Speaking at the post-fight press conference, the middleweight champion emphasized his desire to fight contenders who deserve the title shot and make sense for a match. He did not want to share the same path as Adesanya, who fought Strickland in a bout he considered unnecessary.
Dricus du Plessis also commented on Khamzat Chimaev’s undeserving claim for a title opportunity. He did not take the No. 9-ranked middleweight seriously, as Chimaev called for a title shot following Du Plessis’s victory in the title bout. Overall, Du Plessis appears to have clear plans for his future in the UFC, pursuing meaningful matchups and welcoming the opportunity to face legendary fighters like Conor McGregor.
