Dricus Du Plessis cautions fellow UFC champ Islam Makhachev about 185

Dricus Du Plessis is solely targeted on defending his title towards Sean Strickland at UFC 312, so he “did make a lot” of Islam Makhachev’s feedback a few potential transfer to middleweight.

Following this previous weekend’s light-weight title protection towards Renato Moicano at UFC 311, Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) stated he thinks he’s able to profitable UFC belts in three divisions. He particularly talked about Du Plessis at 185 kilos as a battle he wouldn’t hesitate to simply accept, regardless of seemingly being a lot smaller in stature.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who will try to retain his title towards the person he took it from 13 months in the past in Strickland on the Feb. 8 card at Qudos Financial institution Enviornment in Sydney (ESPN+, ESPN2/Disney+, ESPN+), has not given Makhachev’s feedback a lot thought, he stated. Nevertheless, he can solely see one situation the place that kind of champ-vs-champ battle ever comes collectively.

“I assume, good on him for attempting that,” Du Plessis advised FOX Sports activities Australia. “He received’t get that battle now – it wouldn’t make sense. But when there ought to ever be a time the place there may be no one to problem me, no one for him to problem. Yeah, cool.”

Though he respects the boldness and ambition of Makhachev, it’s onerous for Du Plessis to get previous what he thinks could be a quite sizeable edge in measurement over the Dagestan product, who has received 15 consecutive UFC fights.

“Look, he trains with 185ers in his health club,” Du Plessis stated. “However there is just one world champion. So kudos to him for saying what he did, but it surely doesn’t actually matter as a result of I’ll overpower him in any state of affairs.

“I do know he walks round heavy. However I stroll round heavy. He’s a giant light-weight, I’m a giant middleweight. There’s a giant distinction there.”

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