UFC 297 has simply wrapped up and now we have a brand new UFC Middleweight champion of the world – Dricus Du Plessis. After an thrilling, razor-close title combat – judges deemed Du Plessis the victor by way of cut up resolution. With this, “Nonetheless Knocks” turns into the 4th holder of the middleweight championship since November of 2022 (just a bit over a yr).
Scenario on the high of this division could be very fascinating and there are a few high-profile matchups which are as clear as day for UFC to make. DDP, Strickland, Adesanya, Chimaev – these are the names, however what’s the greatest mixture? Let’s look into it and resolve the middleweight puzzle.
Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya is a no brainer for UFC 300
The disagreement and beef between the previous champ and the present one carry out one of many hottest standing rivalries contained in the UFC. Du Plessis infamously struck a significant nerve with former Welterweight and Middleweight champs – Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya, when he declared his opinions on being the African preventing within the UFC.
DDP acknowledged: “Did these belts ever go to Africa? So far as I do know, they got here to America and New Zealand. I’m going to take a belt to Africa. I’m the African preventing within the UFC. Myself and Cameron [Saaiman], we breathe African air. We get up in Africa day-after-day. We practice in Africa, we’re Africa born, we’re Africa raised, we nonetheless reside in Africa, we practice out of Africa. That’s an African champion, and that’s who I’ll be.”
After Stylebender’s enormous outrage, Dricus doubled down on what he mentioned. Stating that he has by no means known as Izzy and Kamaru ‘non-Africans’ and that he by no means mentioned he was extra African than them however merely informed information about being an African resident, in contrast to the previous two.
This combat has PPV, numbers and cash written throughout it, as Adesanya is among the greatest stars within the UFC at the moment and one of many biggest, most lively champions the game has seen. DDP is now the champ, he doesn’t shrink back from blowing his personal trumpet and definitely brings a number of viewers due to that and his thrilling fashion of preventing. UFC 300 is slowly approaching and Dana White mentioned on the post-fight presser that he’ll quickly announce its principal occasion.
All through the years, we’ve witnessed the truth that dangerous blood, grudge-filled matchups are probably the most watched and high-profile fights the UFC can placed on. Masvidal vs Covington, Khabib vs McGregor, McGregor vs Aldo, Lesnar vs Mir 2 – these are a few of the greatest examples. The story of this match isn’t any completely different.
Sean Strickland vs Khamzat Chimaev because the clear number one contender combat
Given the truth that ‘Tarzan’ misplaced such a detailed resolution, with many individuals considering he gained – it’s protected to say that he’s nonetheless closely within the title image. The opposite man (Khamzat Chimaev) is among the scariest prospects we’ve ever seen contained in the Octagon and is slowly approaching title rivalry at 185 lbs.
Strickland and Chimaev have historical past collectively, when Chimaev got here to Xtreme Couture in 2022, together with Darren Until to coach with Sean and at that expertise stacked gymnasium. In line with Chimaev, Strickland was ‘no downside’ for him, citing that he choked out, outwrestled and beat the man up.
If these two matchups get introduced, two storylines would get a definitive finish and we’d have gotten the right matchmaking for middleweights.
DDP vs Stylebender – Dana White, Joe Rogan are foreshadowing this matchup?
After UFC 297 ended, Dana White talked to media members on the post-fight press convention. When requested in regards to the potential of DDP and Adesanya headlining 300, Dana mentioned: “I’ll have UFC 300’s principal occasion for you quickly. Subsequent week!”
Additionally, Joe Rogan not too long ago had a Battle Companion episode on his JRE podcast, the place he was requested by Eddie Bravo about UFC 300 and he mentioned that it isn’t but completed, whereas claiming he is aware of “one thing” about the principle occasion for that card, however (in fact) he can’t say something, but.
With Ariel Helwani talking on the current episode of the MMA Hour – we all know that Dana and co. try to make 300 as particular as it may be. Helwani mentioned that UFC has a “rabbit of their hat” and they’re making an attempt to drag some stuff off, to ensure that the monumental occasion to be an actual juggernaut and a one to recollect. We nonetheless have a number of matchups to be introduced for this card and we must always undoubtedly anticipate at the very least yet one more title combat!
