The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight division is a chaotic mess right now, and former champion Dricus du Plessis is not happy about it. Du Plessis, who lost his title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, believes that the current situation is absurd. Chimaev, who is no longer the champion, has been pushing for an immediate rematch with Sean Strickland, the man who beat Du Plessis twice and now holds the 185-pound title. But Du Plessis thinks this fight doesn't make sense.
Du Plessis has a strong argument. He has two wins over Strickland, defended the title twice, and is now trying to fight his way back into the championship mix. However, he doesn't believe that simply beating Kamaru Usman this weekend should automatically guarantee him another title shot. Instead, he thinks it's about the performance.
"I don't believe a victory alone can be enough," Du Plessis said. "I think my resume, definitely, but I don't believe just a victory over Usman necessarily gives me a title shot, and the same for him. The performance. Going out there and putting on a performance that eliminates any doubt that I'm the best in the world, that's what's going to guarantee me a shot at that title."
So, who should get Strickland next? Du Plessis believes the answer is Nassourdine Imavov, and he's not alone. Strickland himself supports this idea, thinking that Imavov vs. Strickland is the fight to make.
With the Middleweight division suddenly loaded with deserving contenders, the UFC has several directions it could go. Chimaev wants his rematch, Imavov has the best case, Du Plessis could jump right back into the mix with a big win, and Usman has a chance to blow the whole thing up this weekend. But as far as Du Plessis is concerned, Strickland vs. Chimaev 2 is not the answer.
Du Plessis's perspective is an interesting one. He's not just a former champion, but he's also a fighter who is trying to get back into the title mix. His argument is that the current situation is absurd, and the UFC should focus on making the right fights to build the division. In his opinion, the UFC should prioritize making Imavov vs. Strickland, as it would be a strong test for Strickland and a chance for Imavov to prove himself.
The UFC has a tough decision to make, and Du Plessis's opinion is just one of many. But it's an important one, as it highlights the chaos and confusion in the Middleweight division. The UFC needs to make the right fights to build the division, and Du Plessis is right to point out that the current situation is absurd.
