In the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia’s inaugural event, former champion Robert Whittaker faced Ikram Aliskerov and secured a dominant first-round knockout victory. This win propelled Whittaker to the number three spot in the middleweight division, making him a strong contender for a title shot. However, he isn’t the only one in line—Sean Strickland is also vying for a title opportunity and has refused to fight Whittaker before getting his shot. Let’s delve into the details.
Sean Strickland Seeks Title Shot, Rejects Robert Whittaker Matchup
After his recent victory over Paulo Costa, Sean Strickland stated he is aiming for a title shot. However, following Robert Whittaker’s first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov, there were suggestions for a title eliminator fight between Whittaker and Strickland. Strickland, though, is focused solely on a direct middleweight title opportunity and has rejected the idea of fighting Whittaker as a title eliminator.
In his recent interview, Strickland said, “Ain’t happening. I’ll say no, Whittaker, he doesn’t deserve it. I’m next in line, I defended my title shot, I’m the number one contender, it ain’t happening. He lost [inaudible] pretty unanimously. I beat [Adesanya], I beat Dricus. I got f**ked in Canada. It ain’t happening. Ain’t f**king happening… If it ain’t for gold, I ain’t doing it.”
UFC 305 will feature a middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. Du Plessis won the title by defeating Sean Strickland and will defend it for the first time against former champion Adesanya. Strickland has requested to fight the winner of this bout, but his next fight remains uncertain. It’s unclear whether he will receive a title shot or if he will need to face Robert Whittaker first.
ALSO READ: UFC 303: Who Will Be Referee and Judges for Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka II?
