Next title defense not vs. Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis’ coach guidelines Sean Strickland out of the title race.

Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) misplaced his title to Du Plessis by break up resolution at UFC 297 in January – a combat he’s adamant he received. Strickland then rebounded with a choice win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June, and mentioned he received’t combat once more except it’s for a title.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) submitted Israel Adesanya to notch his first title protection at UFC 305 in August. His coach Morne Visser revealed that the plan is to return February in Sydney, however not towards Strickland. He thinks if Robert Whittaker will get previous Khamzat Chimaev Oct. 26 at UFC 308, he’s subsequent.

“I had a dialog really yesterday with Dricus, and I mentioned to him, ‘There’s just one factor for sure at this stage, just one factor, and that’s that we’ve acquired to be able to combat in Sydney in February,’” Visser advised Submission Radio. “My opinion is Sean’s overselling it.

“He’s simply had one win after Dricus and that was towards Costa. Whittaker had two, and I believe he’s going to go for No. 3 now. So I believe my trustworthy opinion is that subsequent for us in line can be Whittaker in Sydney in February. I believe he’s going to beat Khamzat, and I actually assume that they’re going to provide him the shot.”

If Chimaev stays unbeaten towards Whittaker, then Visser says that could possibly be a possible combat for Du Plessis, however seemingly at a unique date.

“Even when you concentrate on it, that there’s even a slight chance that if Khamzat beats Rob, that Dricus has fought and overwhelmed Sean and Rob,” Visser mentioned. “So if Khamzat beats Rob, I believe they’re going to play their playing cards somewhat bit totally different and we’re going to combat Khamzat later. However thus far, the one factor that’s confirmed is we can be preventing in February in Sydney.”