A new era dawns in the UFC middleweight division, ushering in a sense of unpredictability regarding the next title bout.
Sean Strickland's recent ascension to the throne, marked by his dominant victory over the highly favored Israel Adesanya in the UFC 293 main event at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena, has left the division in a state of flux. While "The Last Stylebender" may not be an immediate rematch candidate in the eyes of many, discussions have swiftly turned to who "Tarzan" could face in his first title defense.
Jared Cannonier's recent bout against Roman Dolidze at UFC 295 has taken him out of the title picture for now, putting Dricus Du Plessis in a favorable position.
"Stillknocks" earned his top contender status in July by knocking out former champion Robert Whittaker. Although he initially declined a shot at Adesanya due to injury, Du Plessis believes he's well-placed to challenge the new champion. However, one former fighter-turned-analyst has raised concerns about the potential outcome of this match-up, and the UFC's perspective on it.