UFC 312: Du Plessis wanted Chimaev fight instead of Strickland

Dricus du Plessis says he would have preferred to fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 312, after it was announced that he would face Sean Strickland this February in Sydney.

The UFC middleweight champion has fought Strickland once before, winning a split decision at UFC 297 to claim the division’s belt.

However, after Chimaev submitted Robert Whittaker in emphatic fashion at UFC 308 in October, many wanted to see the Russian fight for the title, including du Plessis.

“Just for clarification I preferred the Khamzat fight but the [Strickland] rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs Whittaker,” du Plessis wrote on Tuesday.

“I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision.

“Like I said I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy.

“He was promised the fight, so Strickland it is.”

It is not yet known if Chimaev will fight again to secure his position as the No.1 contender for the middleweight belt, or if he will face the winner of du Plessis v Strickland.

In the comments section of his post, du Plessis gave away more of his views on the fight.

“Literally nobody thought Strickland was the next best guy,” one fan commented.

“I have to agree with you on that one,” du Plessis replied.

Early UFC odds have du Plessis as a moderate favourite to defeat Strickland, with Bet365 paying -151.52 to +125 in the South African’s favour.

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