January 12, 2024 8: 50 am ET
TORONTO – Khamzat Chimaev’s next battle won’t be for the UFC middleweight title if Dricus Du Plessis has anything to state about it.
Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is set to obstacle Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) for the 185-pound belt in the UFC 297 primary occasion on Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena, and Chimaev is one of the names waiting in the wings to battle the winner.
The unbeaten Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was called as the next title competitor when he beat Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October, however has consideringthat exposed a remaining hand injury and other health issues avoided him from getting the title battle.
More justrecently, though, Chimaev stated he anticipates to face Strickland next coming out of UFC 297, however Du Plessis undoubtedly disagrees, and sees a more rational match for a prospective veryfirst defense.
“As far as I understand Khamzat’s a welterweight,” Du Plessis informed MMA Junkie. “What middleweight did he combat? He combated at middleweight, however he battled a welterweight (in Usman). Gerald Meerschaert? When was that? Was he even ranked? No, he wasn’t ranked. So, that makes definitely no sense.
“The UFC guaranteed him a title battle? Where in the world does that takeplace? And he states he’s battling Stricklan