Dricus du Plessis is attracting a lot of attention after successfully defending his middleweight title for the first time.
On Saturday night at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, du Plessis and Adesanya went toe-to-toe in a championship bout. Du Plessis won the early rounds, but as the bout progressed, Adesanya gained momentum and it was visibly evident he was outmaneuvering the champion in the stands. However, “Stillnox” rocked Adesanya with a ferocious attack in the fourth round and quickly finished him with a rear-naked choke.
Sean Strickland, who lost his title to du Plessis by split decision at UFC 297 in January of this year, has always maintained that his next fight will only be for the title, and he requested a rematch with du Plessis immediately following the main event of UFC 305.
“Dutch people, it is time for war,” Strickland wrote.
Dutch people, the time for war has come…
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA)
August 18, 2024
After a fan suggested South Africa as a possible location for the match, Strickland launched a blistering attack on the country.
Hahaha, me in front of a microphone in an apartheid country. Hahaha, awesome.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA)
August 18, 2024
I’ve been to South Africa. It didn’t look good to me…………
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA)
August 18, 2024
Yes, I saw white people living in gated compounds and poor people living in buildings without walls. Orphanages filled with black children. There were no white children there. It’s not over, even though it’s over.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA)
August 18, 2024
Well you say “equal chances” after you steal everything from them, lol… come on.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA)
August 18, 2024
It’s crazy, I’ve been there too… Nothing is equal there… Zero.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA)
August 18, 2024
The former champion doesn’t mind traveling to enemy territory, but prefers fighting in Las Vegas.
Vegas man. I’m always on the road. Let me fight in my country. Unless you want me to fix South Africa. Go to Africa and fight in front of white people. LOL
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA)
August 18, 2024
Du Plessis’ win over Adesanya has former middleweight champion Alex Pereira also considering moving down to 185 pounds. “Poitan” won the title by knocking out Adesanya in 2022, then lost it by knockout in a rematch the following year before moving up to light heavyweight and winning the title with a win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. Pereira has defended the title twice since then and is scheduled to make a third defense against Khalil Rountree on October 5 at UFC 307. Pereira posted a photo with du Plessis’ win at UFC 305 in the background.
“Getting down to 185 pounds again,” Pereira wrote in the caption.
