Sean Strickland's Rival Dricus Du Plessis Declares Himself No. 1 Contender

Sean Strickland's middleweight title reign is under threat after Dricus Du Plessis declared himself the new No. 1 contender following a dominant win over Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night 281 in Oklahoma City on Saturday.

What happened?

Du Plessis, who had previously beaten Strickland twice in UFC middleweight title fights, pieced up Usman in the headliner at Paycom Center. The victory marked a significant upset, with Usman finishing 21-5 in the UFC and Du Plessis improving to 24-3.

Why it matters for Sean Strickland

Strickland, who had previously beaten Du Plessis, is now under pressure to defend his title against the South African. But according to UFC commentator Daniel Cormier, fans may not want to see a third fight between the two. Cormier believes that Du Plessis' dominant win over Strickland in their second fight may have made fans less interested in seeing a rematch.

What comes next?

Cormier also believes that Nassourdine Imavov, who is on a five-fight winning streak, has earned the opportunity to fight for the title. Imavov reacted to Du Plessis' call for a title shot, but it remains to be seen whether he will get the chance to face Strickland for the belt.

Du Plessis' victory over Usman marked a significant upset in the UFC middleweight division. The South African's dominant win over Strickland in their second fight may have made fans less interested in seeing a rematch. But Cormier believes that Imavov has earned the opportunity to fight for the title, and it remains to be seen whether he will get the chance to face Strickland for the belt.

Strickland's middleweight title reign is under threat, and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to defend his title against Du Plessis. The UFC middleweight division is heating up, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the next move in the title picture.

What's next for Sean Strickland?

Strickland's next move will be crucial in determining his future in the UFC middleweight division. Will he be able to defend his title against Du Plessis, or will Imavov get the chance to face him for the belt? Only time will tell.

The UFC middleweight division is one of the most competitive in the sport, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the next move in the title picture. With Du Plessis declaring himself the new No. 1 contender, Strickland's title reign is under threat. But Cormier believes that Imavov has earned the opportunity to fight for the title, and it remains to be seen whether he will get the chance to face Strickland for the belt.

category: opinion