PERTH, Australia – Dricus Du Plessis is willing to throw down with anyone, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his thoughts and opinions on the meritocracy of his division.
The UFC middleweight champion, who completed his first title defense with a win over Israel Adesanya this past Saturday in the main event of UFC 305, is expected to face Sean Strickland next. This is a fight that interests Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC), but not one he finds to be the most logical.
“Robert Whittaker deserves the shot,” Du Plessis told reporters at the UFC 305 post-fight press conference. “I think he’s being done over. Whittaker beat (Paulo) Costa. Sean Strickland’s only saving grace is the fact he went to a decision with me. That’s it. Robert Whittaker beat Costa in the more spectacular fashion, I believe, than Sean Strickland did. Then willing to step up and fight Khamzat (Chimaev), he pulls out, Whittaker fights (Ikram Aliskerov who is) not a nobody in the sense of he’s not ranked. He can only lose to a great fighter. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s really good. Whittaker made him look like he was fighting an amateur. And what does he get for it? Nothing.
