What’s next for Dricus Du Plessis following his victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 312

Dricus Du Plessis has once again shown why he is one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. At UFC 312, the South African faced off against Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia, successfully retaining his middleweight belt via a wide unanimous decision. It was a statement-making victory that marked the second defence of his title and extended his undefeated record in the Octagon to an impressive 9-0.

From the onset, Du Plessis dictated the pace of the fight. Precision striking and unrelenting power saw him edge out a contentious first three rounds before exploding in the fourth with a clean right hand that shattered Strickland’s nose, turning the momentum squarely in his favour. By the fifth round, it was clear who the superior fighter was as DDP stuck to his game plan, inflicted a bucket load of damage, and secured an undeniable decision win. 

With the brash American now firmly in the rearview mirror, the question on everyone’s minds is simple—what’s next for the South African phenom?

How UFC Fans Can Watch 

Du Plessis’ next fight promises to be a blockbuster affair, and a lot of people are looking into how to watch UFC as it unfolds. Fans should be aware of their viewing options before the bout is booked to make sure they’ve got the access they’ll want. Those wondering how to watch UFC in Australia can catch the action on pay-per-view, usually available through Foxtel and Kayo Sports.  For UK viewers, TNT Sport offers exclusive coverage, often included in existing subscription packages. Meanwhile, fans in the US can watch live and exclusive on ESPN+. 

Okay, so now you know where to watch, but what will you be watching? Well, let’s take a look at the current candidates that DDP could face next. 

Khamzat Chimaev

“Khamzat is next.” That’s what Du Plessis declared in the immediate aftermath of that comprehensive win against Strickland in the Land Down Under. He stated that he wants to leave no doubt as to who the best middleweight on the planet is and to do that, he knows he needs to go through the Chechan behemoth. The champ also stated that The Wolf deserves a “hiding,” but many may be thinking that other than that, he certainly deserves a title shot. 

Khamzat is currently undefeated, and only Gilbert Burns and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman have stood up to his relentless wrestling onslaught. Australia’s own Robert Whittaker was the most recent to step up back at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, and the experts thought that The Reaper could more than hold his own in the contest. They were proven wrong as Chimaev mauled the Aussie from the outset, wrestling him to the ground, locking in a neck crank and breaking Whittaker’s jaw en route to a first-round submission victory. 

The result was without question the biggest win of Chimaev’s and put him directly in line for a title shot. Now, the only question is whether the Chechan is in shape and ready to go for his first-ever crack at the championship and how soon a date can be announced. 

For Du Plessis, there is no question that he is as game as they come. He has already admitted that he wants to remove any doubt regarding his claim as the best middleweight in the world. Chimaev is considered by many to be the uncrowned king of the division, given his extraordinary talent and hype. Defeating a dangerous and undefeated fighter like Khamzat would cement Du Plessis as the undisputed top dog at 185 pounds.

Alex Pereira

Another tantalising option for Du Plessis is a move to the light heavyweight division to square off against current 205-pound champion Alex Pereira. The two exchanged respectful words following UFC 312, but DDP made it clear that while he envisions a super fight with Poatan, he’s in no rush to move up in weight—at least not yet. However, if a clash with Chimaev is unable to be thrashed out, then going up in weight could be the most lucrative option. 

A fight against Pereira would represent the pinnacle of ambition for Du Plessis, pitting him against a champion some regard as one of the pound-for-pound best. His devastating kickboxing and knockout power have already turned the lights out on the likes of Israel Adesanya, Jiří Procházka, and Jan Błachowicz, and that would provide a compelling challenge for the South African. 

However, the timing for this fight remains uncertain. For Pereira, who only recently ascended to light heavyweight gold, the focus is likely on securing his own legacy at 205 pounds before entertaining super fights, perhaps even going up in weight himself to challenge Jon Jones. DDP, meanwhile, is squarely focused on seeing off the challenge of Chimaev.

Nassourdine Imavov

Frenchman Nassourdine Imavov recently catapulted himself into contention with a spectacular knockout victory over former champion Israel Adesanya in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Dagestan-born star has been on a tear since dropping a unanimous decision to Strickland two years ago. Since then, he has knocked out Jared Cannonier, out-pointed Roman Dolidze and Brendan Allen, and finally brutalised the Last Style Bender. 

That most recent victory has powered him up to number two in the rankings, even ahead of Chimaev. Again, if a deal can’t be penned with the Chechan behemoth, Imavov may find himself in title contention sooner than he may have expected.