Sean Strickland will have multiple big-fight options on the table if he regains the middleweight title from Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312, but there’s one he wants above all.
Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) will rematch Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the main event of the Feb. 8 card at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+), and has the complete expectation he will take back the strap he lost by split decision just over one year ago at UFC 297.
If that’s the case, Strickland could be looking at multiple potential matchups for the first title defense of his second reign. A trilogy with Du Plessis could come into play, a matchup with undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), or perhaps a rematch with Israel Adesanya if he beats Nassourdine Imavov in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 250 headliner.
