Dricus du Plessis Warns Strickland: ‘The Belt’s Coming Home’ After UFC 293 Upset

Despite missing out on the opportunity to challenge his arch-nemesis, Israel Adesanya, for the gold at UFC 293, the highly-ranked middleweight contender, Dricus du Plessis, has strategically positioned himself for a potential matchup with the newly-crowned champion, Sean Strickland. Du Plessis warned the victorious headliner, expressing his intention to bring the championship belt “home” to South Africa as reported by Low Kick MMA.

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Du Plessis, currently holding the number one ranking in the middleweight division, solidified his position in the competitive weight class during International Fight Week in July. He won significantly by stopping the former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, with a powerful second-round TKO.

Although du Plessis missed the opportunity for a swift title rematch against Adesanya due to a lingering injury, he observed from the sidelines as Strickland, a native of Covina, pulled off one of the most significant upset victories in title fight history. Strickland secured a unanimous decision win over Adesanya in Sydney, Australia.

Expressing his interest in a championship bout against the outspoken Strickland, du Plessis made it clear that the identity of his opponent did not matter to him. He remained confident in his ability to claim the title, stating, “Makes no difference to me, the belt is coming home,” in a post on his official X account after UFC 293.

Before his impressive victory over former champion Whittaker, du Plessis had delivered notable stoppage victories against common opponents such as Derek Brunson and former welterweight title challenger Darren Till.

While du Plessis sets his sights on a title fight in his return to the Octagon, UFC President Dana White has expressed his desire to arrange an immediate championship rematch between Strickland and Adesanya.

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Photo: Twitter / @Dricus Du Plessis