The aftermath of UFC 298 may have settled the dust for the light heavyweight title showdown at UFC 300, but the middleweight division's narrative is taking its own twists and turns.
Dricus Du Plessis, the newly crowned middleweight champion, is determined to fight on his terms, and he's not swayed by the external pressures.
Du Plessis, who claimed the middleweight belt after a hard-fought split decision against Sean Strickland at UFC 297, finds himself in a position to dictate the course of his title reign. The anticipated clash with former champion Israel Adesanya looms large, but Du Plessis is adamant about choosing the right time for the showdown.
Reflecting on the possibility of a UFC 300 bout against Adesanya, Du Plessis emphasized his commitment to fighting when he's fully prepared. Speaking with Cameron Saaiman, he clarified his stance, "I’m the champion now, and I can fight when I’m ready. I think ‘Izzy’ misjudges himself as still being a champion and he’s not. You will fight when you get the opportunity. You don’t dictate when I fight.”
Responding to Adesanya's claims that Du Plessis declined the UFC 300 matchup, the new champion offered insights into his recovery process. He mentioned returning to boxing training just the past week, highlighting the careful consideration he puts into his preparation.
While missing out on the UFC 300 spectacle might be disappointing for Du Plessis, he remains steadfast in his priorities. "That’s what I tell people. Why wouldn’t I want to fight? Do you know what the payday would look like? Do you know how the hype — that’s gonna go down in history as one of the biggest events ever, UFC 300. Of course, I want to be a part of that, but there’s one thing that matters to me more than fighting on a massive card like 300. That is being able to defend my title and doing it in a spectacular fashion."
Du Plessis is not just interested in winning; he aims for spectacular performances that entertain fans. Confident in his ability to dictate the pace of the fight, he hinted at a desire for a title defense in Africa against Adesanya. As the new middleweight champion, Du Plessis is determined to keep calling the shots and make his mark in the division.