UFC 297: Dricus Du Plessis Eyes Alex Pereira After 'Clearing' Middleweight Division
UFC middleweight title contender Dricus Du Plessis has registered his interest in challenging for the light heavyweight throne.
Du Plessis will be challenging for the middleweight title at UFC 297 and was present at the pre-fight presser on January 18 - where light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira was also in attendance.
Reporters at the presser asked Sean Strickland and Du Plessis whether they were interested in challenging Pereira at light heavyweight if either fighter won on January 20. Strickland --- who had already fought and lost to Pereira in 2021 --- remained uncharacteristically silent, whilst Du Plessis came with an answer:
"100% [I would challenge Pereira]," Du Plessis declared. "100% - after this I have a whole division to take care of before I start thinking of that... Whether it's him, whether it's someone else I don't care. After this division, that's what I'm after."
Strickland was quick to retort, "Alex, after I put him away you can put him away next. Don't worry, we got you Dricus."
With a victory over Strickland, Du Plessis would have five wins over opponents who were in the top 15 at the time of fighting:
- Brad Tavares - #12
- Darren Till - #10
- Derek Brunson - #5
- Robert Whittaker - #2
By comparison, Israel Adesanya, who many consider to have cleared out the middleweight division, owned 11 victories over top 15 opponents:
- Brad Tavares - #8
- Derek Brunson - #8
- Anderson Silva - #15
- Kelvin Gastelum - #4
- Robert Whittaker - Champion
- Yoel Romero - #3
- Paulo Costa - #2
- Marvin Vettori -#3
- Robert Whittaker - #1
- Jared Cannonier - #2
- Alex Pereira - #1
It's worth noting that Adesanya did attempt a light heavyweight title fight against Jan Blachowicz in 2021. Regardless, Du Plessis has a tall mountain to climb if he ever considers clearing out the middleweight division.
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