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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun

Dricus Du Plessis reveals how close Khamzat Chimaev came to getting UFC 312 title shot

Khamzat Chimaev du Plessis Dricus du Plessis UFC Sean Strickland UFC 312

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis claims Khamzat Chimaev was in consideration for his next title defense.

Instead, Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will run things back with Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in the UFC 312 headliner Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) was touted as the potential No. 1 contender when he quickly submitted former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. Du Plessis was excited about the opportunity to hand Chimaev his first loss but acknowledges that fans were previously eager to see him fight Strickland again after their tightly contested affair at UFC 297.

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