UFC champions are always looking for new challenges. Some dream of conquering multiple weight classes, while others prefer to dominate their own division. Recently, a potential cross-division clash has caught the attention of fight fans worldwide. Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has been eyeing a move up to middleweight. However, the current middleweight king, Dricus Du Plessis, isn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat.
Du Plessis, known for his no-nonsense attitude, didn’t mince words about Makhachev’s ambitions. It seems the South African champion thinks Makhachev might be biting off more than he can chew.
“Everybody can dream right… dream big, but he’s dreaming real big. I’m very big,” Du Plessis said via Kevin Iole.
The idea of Makhachev moving up two weight classes isn’t entirely out of left field. His coach, Javier Mendez, recently hinted at the possibility of bulking up for a middleweight debut. Du Plessis, however, was quick to point out the obvious size difference between the two of about 30 pounds, that also in fighting shape.
The situation becomes even more intriguing when fans consider Makhachev’s original plan. He had his sights set on the welterweight title, but fate had other ideas. Belal Muhammad, a close friend of Makhachev, now holds that belt. This unexpected turn of events has seemingly pushed Makhachev to consider an even bigger leap. But nothing is official as of yet.
Dricus Du Plessis Doesn’t Believe Sean Strickland Will Get A Title Shot
The South African fighter recently made waves with his bold statements. He didn’t just dismiss one challenger, but two potential contenders in one fell swoop. First up was the lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. But Du Plessis wasn’t done. He then turned his attention to former champion Sean Strickland.
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Dricus Du Plessis argued that Strickland‘s title reign was more by chance than merit. He believed the real contenders were elsewhere and pointed to the upcoming bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker. The winner, in his eyes, deserves the next shot at the belt.
“The winner of Khamzat and Whittaker is gonna get the title shot…Strickland says he’s gonna wait until he gets a title shot, he’s gonna wait for quite a while,” said Du Plessis via Shak Fu.
These comments highlight the competitive nature of the UFC’s middleweight division. It’s a shark tank, and Dricus Du Plessis is currently the biggest shark. He is currently getting ready for arguably the greatest fight of his life against Israel Adesanya. Whether he can overcome the challenge and get past ‘The Last Stylebender’ remains to be seen.
