South Africa’s UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has hinted he wants a rematch with Sean Strickland for his next title defence.

On Sunday, the Welkom-born Du Plessis sensationally beat Israel Adesanya with a fourth-round submission in Perth for his first successful title defence. He became the first fighter to beat Adesanya, Strickland and Robert Whittaker and is now on a ten-fight unbeaten run.

Du Plessis has been called out by Alex Pereira of Brazil, and the South African is prepared to move up a weight division, but said he has unfinished business with Strickland.

Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty

“If Izzy stiffens you like that, you do not want to be in there with me, especially not when you’re going to come in there with the excuse of ‘I cut too much weight’,” said Du Plessis. “That’s going to happen and everybody is going to say that.

“So, stay at 205 and fight your fight against the number eight-ranked guy. Fight your fight there and enjoy it. If Strickland is the next fight people want to see, and that’s the fight right now that people think is the next best guy, then it’s the fight I want.

‘I need to be considered the greatest middleweight first’

“So let me handle my business, you handle your business. You don't have to cut the weight, so you have some sort of excuse. I’ll come up after the Strickland fight. I’ll come up to 205 and we’ll sort it out there.

“I’ll be ready for it right now, but I’m not chasing that. I believe, to be considered as the greatest to ever do the sport, I need to be considered the greatest middleweight first.

“I’m the first guy to beat Adesanya and Robert Whitaker, I beat three of the top 20 pound-for-pound fighters, so can I please get back in the top 10?

Regarding fighting against Strickland again, Du Plessis said it’s not about silencing those who believe the American should have won the fight earlier in the year in Toronto. “No I don’t care about silencing the people,” Du Plessis added.

“I need to hear the people if they’re booing or cheering. Did you see tonight? This was the most electric crowd ever and they weren’t cheering for me, but it was still amazing to be out there. The crowd was insane.

‘He can’t handle what I have to offer’

“Going into that Strickland fight now I know, I’ve been in there with him and he can’t handle what I have to offer. So, yeah, this time I can finish him. We saw it, he beat Izzy, but now we have a comparison and that is how you finish someone.”

Meanwhile, it is reported the wheels are in motion to make Du Plessis’ next fight happen in South Africa.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg/mc