January 21st 2024.
Dricus Du Plessis made history on Saturday night as he became the first South African to win a UFC championship title. The 30-year-old middleweight fighter defeated Sean Strickland in a thrilling five-round match at UFC 297 in Toronto. It was a hard-fought battle, with Du Plessis winning by a split-decision from the judges. While he lost one of the scorecards, it was enough for him to claim the title and extend his perfect record to seven straight victories in the UFC.
After his win, Du Plessis wasted no time in calling out former champion Israel Adesanya for his first title defense. Apparently, there was some history between the two as Adesanya had previously tried to steal Du Plessis' spotlight. But now, the new champion had the chance to settle the score and he wasn't going to let it slip away. He confidently challenged Adesanya to get back in the UFC and face him in the octagon.
Adesanya, who hasn't fought since his defeat to Strickland in September, was originally scheduled to defend his title against Du Plessis at UFC 293. However, the South African had to withdraw due to injury and Strickland stepped in to cause a major upset and claim the belt. Now, with Du Plessis as the new champion, a rematch between him and Adesanya is being considered for UFC 300 on April 13.
While it may be a tight turnaround for both fighters, the possibility of a Du Plessis vs Adesanya rematch for the middleweight title has fans buzzing with excitement. Adesanya has been on a break from the sport after his busy schedule culminated in a shocking defeat. But with the chance to regain his title, he may be willing to step back into the octagon sooner than expected.
As for Strickland, who put up a tough fight and even left the octagon with a nasty cut by his eye, he has nothing but respect for the new champion. He thanked the Canadian fans for their support and expressed his desire for a rematch with Du Plessis. UFC president Dana White also saw the potential in a rematch, as he felt Strickland had won the fight and may be open to giving him another shot at the title in the future.
In other news, White also commented on a recent fight between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green, calling it "the worst he has ever seen." Turner knocked out Green in a brutal manner, leading to a delayed stoppage from the referee. Meanwhile, White responded to Tom Aspinall's request to fight Jon Jones next after his interim title win at UFC. It seems like the action in the octagon never stops, and fans can't wait to see what's next for these fighters.
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