Eugene Bareman, head coach for City Kickboxing and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, previously told the combat sports media that 185-pound contender Dricus Du Plessis would have to “fight someone else” after passing on the UFC 293 headliner.
Apparently not.
Du Plessis (20-2) was recently booked to challenge current middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland atop the UFC 297 pay-per-view (PPV) card on Jan. 20 in Toronto, giving the 29 year-old “Stillknocks” the nod over undefeated division contender Khamzat Chimaev.
rumored to be in the doghouse after turning down Adesanya at UFC 293, a decision that paved the way for Strickland to step in and dethrone “The Last Stylebender.”Working in the South African’s favor was the fact that Chimaev is dealing with a hand injury and still has visa issues.
In addition, Adesanya is taking an extended break and passed on the Strickland rematch.
No. 2-ranked Du Plessis earned his shot at the 185-pound title after winning eight straight fights and putting former champion, Robert Whittaker, on his keister at the UFC 290 PPV event last July.
Bag intact.
