Media The South African: Dricus du Plessis first title defense will be against this fighter

[Unheralded Truth]

So, thesouthafrican.com is one of the top 3 largest online news publishers in SA. Averaging 5.7 million readers per month on their site.

Today they published this article regarding the future of DDP:

Who is really next in line to take on South African MMA star and UFC Middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis?

After claiming the UFC Middleweight title in Toronto, Dricus du Plessis called out Isreal Adesanya. But it appears more likely that his first opponent will be chosen by the promotion and not him.

While there is no doubting that Du Plessis vs Adesanya would be blockbuster, circumstances point to another contender.

Sean Strickland was only just defeated by Du Plessis via split decision but he doesn’t appear set to get a rematch, despite claiming that he should have won the battle at UFC 297.
The rankings right now put Strickland and Adesanya at the head of the queue, but insiders suggest someone further down the ladder will be getting that shot.

Adesanya had declared late last year that he would take an extended break from the sport. On ‘The Rock’ podcast, Adesanya said "I know what I can do and what I can change in my lifestyle
to make my body adapt to where I need to be. I’m going to heal myself up. You won’t see me fight for a long time.”

While the rankings favour Adesanya and Strickland, it seems that Chimaev has been promised a title shot. Chimaev has raved at the prospect of not getting what he has been promised.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Chimaev said: “All these guys have fought each other, and only me is undefeated, undisputed.13-0. They promised me after the Usman fight, I will for sure fight for the title.
I won that fight, so I don’t know what’s going on. I heard Dana White say, ‘I don’t know if Khamzat is next’. That’s bullsh*t, man. If you promise me something, you have to answer it."

If Dana White is a man of his word Du Plessis will next face Chimaev.

Then the article ends after that last sentence. Talk about insinuating words there, which seems really weird when they are pro DDP as South African of course. Thoughts on this?

Source: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/mma/dricus-du-plessis-first-title-defence-khamzat-chimaev/

 

[Sticko]

Dana White is not a man of his word.

/Thread

 

[Rio Ferdinand]

If Izzy isn't fighting, which is likely, then its definitely Khamzat next in line for the title shot.

Nothing to complain about from a fans perspective. They are all going to end up having to fight each other at some point anyway.

To me it doesn't matter in which order.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Doesn't he still have visa issues?

Also, who has he fought and beat at MW in the top 10 to be demanding a TS?

This sounds like delusion coming from him, tbh.

 

[Koala]

Fighter available that sells the most will have the shot
If Izzy wants it, he will have it

 

[World eater]

Dana White is not a man of his word.

/Thread

Yep. Especially since Khamzat said that he is apparently not next and is losing his shit over Dana giving his word and now breaking it.
Khamzat - DDP is a fight I’d like to see even if the Chechen doesn’t really deserve it at this point.

 

[Striker33]

Doesn't he still have visa issues?

Also, who has he fought and beat at MW in the top 10 to be demanding a TS?

This sounds like delusion coming from him, tbh.

I guess he might have a better chance of getting a visa for South Africa

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Khamzat is getting used to getting what he wants from his daddy Kadyrov, so now he thinks throwing a temper tantrum will allow him to fight for the title in a division whose only fighter he has beaten is Gerald Meerschart.

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

Doesn't he still have visa issues?

Also, who has he fought and beat at MW in the top 10 to be demanding a TS?

This sounds like delusion coming from him, tbh.

Agree 100% but this is the UFC and Dana has his standard reply ready if he makes the Khamzat/DDP fight..........

 

[Sasha]

Dana White is not a man of his word.

/Thread

It's bad manners to /thread after one's own post... but in this case, yeah, /thread.

 

[chinarice]

Sherdog:
Who has Khamzat beat at MW to deserve a titleshot?
<Has actual wins at MW>

Also Sherdog:
OMG yeah Pereira vs Aspinall for the HW title totally makes sense!
<0 wins at HW>

Me reading Sherdog Forums:

 

[LiQuiD42]

Throwing Khamzat into the title mix isn’t a bad thing, it’s a fresh matchup for the division and a welcomed change. The guy isn’t a welterweight. I’d rather see him fight guys his size than play the weight game and bully 170lb guys. I say let him bang he says he can be the champ, let’s find out.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Doesn't he still have visa issues?

Also, who has he fought and beat at MW in the top 10 to be demanding a TS?

This sounds like delusion coming from him, tbh.

If he can't fight in the states he's not getting it next.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Sherdog:
Who has Khamzat beat at MW to deserve a titleshot?
<Has actual wins at MW>

Also Sherdog:
OMG yeah Pereira vs Aspinall for the HW title totally makes sense!
<0 wins at HW>

Me reading Sherdog Forums:

No reason khamzat should go before cannonier.

 

[chinarice]

No reason khamzat should go before cannonier.

100% but no reason at all Pereira should be getting anywhere near a titleshot either at HW

 

[StonedLemur]

Sherdog:
Who has Khamzat beat at MW to deserve a titleshot?
<Has actual wins at MW>

Also Sherdog:
OMG yeah Pereira vs Aspinall for the HW title totally makes sense!
<0 wins at HW>

Me reading Sherdog Forums:

Tbf Alex holds a belt sir.

Im not down for that Alex fight however.

 

[Megatronlee]

He has to fight izzy

 

[chinarice]

Tbf Alex holds a belt sir.

Im not down for that Alex fight however.

A belt in a lower weightclass holds no relevance to the rankings of a higher weightclass, sir.

No one should be getting fights like this unless they've completely wiped their division out and even then, I think it's questionable.

Pereira literally has less wins at HW than Khamzat has at MW. Racking up wins in a lower weightclass shouldn't give you a free titleshot in a division you literally have 0 wins in.

 

[StonedLemur]

A belt in a lower weightclass holds no relevance to the rankings of a higher weightclass, sir.

No one should be getting fights like this unless they've completely wiped their division out and even then, I think it's questionable.

Pereira literally has less wins at HW than Khamzat has at MW. Racking up wins in a lower weightclass shouldn't give you a free titleshot in a division you literally have 0 wins in.

I definitely agree with you on this one sir.

 

[tymikeson]

Sherdog:
Who has Khamzat beat at MW to deserve a titleshot?
<Has actual wins at MW>

Also Sherdog:
OMG yeah Pereira vs Aspinall for the HW title totally makes sense!
<0 wins at HW>

Me reading Sherdog Forums:

to be fair, poaten is a 2 weight division ufc champ.

chimaev has 0 titles.