Sean Strickland Faces Trilogy Threat from Dricus Du Plessis

Sean Strickland's reign as UFC Middleweight Champion is under threat after Dricus Du Plessis dominated Kamaru Usman in a highly-anticipated UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Du Plessis, who beat Strickland twice before, is now 2-0 against the champion and is calling for a trilogy match.

What happened?

Du Plessis' impressive performance against Usman, who is clearly past his best, has put all eyes on what's next for him. The South African fighter said that he "absolutely" deserves another shot at the belt after the way he fought against Usman. Du Plessis beat Strickland to win the middleweight title back in January 2024 and defended his belt two times, including another win over Strickland as the champion.

Why it matters for Sean Strickland

Strickland's title reign is under threat from Du Plessis, who is now calling for a trilogy match. If Du Plessis beats Strickland, he will be one step closer to becoming the new middleweight champion. However, if Strickland wins, he will have proven that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the division.

What comes next?

The UFC will undoubtedly be watching the situation closely, and it's likely that a trilogy match between Strickland and Du Plessis will be announced soon. However, the question remains as to who will come out on top in the end. Will Strickland be able to defend his title, or will Du Plessis become the new middleweight champion? Only time will tell.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Khamzat Chimaev, who lost the belt to Strickland in his last fight, will undoubtedly be waiting for another title shot. If Du Plessis beats Strickland, Chimaev will be feeling very confident after his dominant win over the South African. However, if Strickland wins, the UFC would surely sign up for a Chimaev-Strickland rematch after all of the controversy and drama that surrounded their first meeting.

In the meantime, Strickland will have to focus on preparing for the potential trilogy match against Du Plessis. He will have to be at the top of his game if he wants to defend his title and prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the division.

category: match_report