As the unhinged loudmouth pro-American, Sean Strickland would interject — here’s the thing. Strickland is in line for a shot at the UFC middleweight title. But that does not mean the former champ would have it at likely places on home turf! ‘Tarzan’ will have to cover other jungles, and he takes the bashing to UFC CEO Dana White and Co. for it.
As of now, Strickland has the inside track as the top bill against current champion Dricus Du Plessis. The South African just made a maiden defense with a submission win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 this past August. Barring an unlikely result in the upcoming Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev bout, Sean Strickland is next. However, the pro-American gun-toting, bike-riding rugged fighter could go to Land Down Under again.
UFC event planning “I have a great idea, let’s send Sean to go fight for a championship in foreign country where the government absolutely hates him”
UFC are you fu*king with me or are you trying to tell me you want me to spread freedom?! I wonder at times….Sean Strickland wrote via X (@SStricklandMMA)
Dricus Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser told Denis Shkuratov of the ‘Submission Radio’ Show the next fight will be in February in Sydney – also probably against Whittaker. Before his domination at UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov, ‘Reaper’ and Chimaev were clear floaters for a No. 1 Contender match. While Strickland has his promised shot from Dana White, he didn’t like the news about Australian soil next.
UFC event planning “I have a great idea, let’s send Sean to go fight for a championship in foreign country where the government absolutely hates him”
UFC are you fucking with me or are you trying to tell me you want me to spread freedom?! I wonder at times….
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) October 4, 2024
That’s because Strickland’s track record with foreign governments and outspoken political views is not great. Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) also lost gold at UFC 297 in January – in Toronto, Ontario. Have the UFC’s event planners dropped the ball in booking DDP’s next title in Australia? There’s no telling. But if Team Stillknocks have their say, Strickland could be out of it all together! Here’s the thing though. On the plus side, no travel to Kangaroo land for Tarzan.
Dricus Du Plessis’ coach says next fight will be in Sydney in February – but not against Sean Strickland
Dricus Du Plessis’ coach has ruled Sean Strickland out of the race for the gold. ‘Tarzan’ has a rebound win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June. After which he said he won’t fight unless it’s for the 185lb title. After his five-round stomp and stun over Costa, UFC bossman Dana White found it compelling enough to earn a shot. But Visser has other plans.
Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) submitted Izzy to make his first defense of the title. Visser believes that if Robert Whittaker can get past Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 on the 26th of October, he’ll be next.
I had a conversation actually yesterday with Dricus, and I said to him, ‘There’s only one thing for certain at this stage, only one thing, and that’s that we’ve got to be ready to fight in Sydney in February, …He’s just had one win after Dricus and that was against Costa. Whittaker had two, and I think he’s going to go for No. 3 now. So I think my honest opinion is that next for us in line will be Whittaker in Sydney in February.
Morne Visser to Denis Shkuratov for the ‘Submission Radio’ Show for SBNation Netwrok (🎥: @SubmissionRadio on YT)
He also thinks Strickland is ‘overselling’ his shot for gold, after just one win, whereas, Whittaker has had two since losing to DDP in last year’s International Fight Week. Du Plessis himself also considers the Aussie as more deserving of a title shot.
If not, Chimaev has had his promised title shot from UFC earlier than Strickland ever did. ‘Borz’ could be in a top spot for gold should he win. If Chimaev remains unbeaten against Whittaker, Visser said Du Plessis could have a potential fight. But that could be probably at another date.
