All articles tagged with #middleweight championship
Khamzat Chimaev won the UFC middleweight title at UFC 319 with a dominant grappling performance against Dricus du Plessis, controlling nearly 88% of the fight on the ground and outstriking his opponent significantly, marking a remarkable 15-0 professional record and fueling his potential to become a three-division champion.
Israel Adesanya reveals that he was offered a fight against Dricus du Plessis for UFC 300, but du Plessis and his team declined, likely due to injuries sustained in his previous fight. Adesanya expressed willingness to fight despite injuries and hinted at a potential future showdown in Africa, as both fighters remain on a collision course for a different date.
Israel Adesanya responds to Dricus du Plessis' call-out, hinting at a future showdown and acknowledging their destined rivalry, following du Plessis' post-fight challenge after his win over Sean Strickland. Adesanya posted videos of their joint training session and their heated face-to-face, indicating a potential showdown at UFC 300 in April.
Dricus Du Plessis won the UFC 297 main event against Sean Strickland, becoming the first South African middleweight champion in UFC history. Despite a split decision, UFC CEO Dana White thought the fight was close and scored the last round for Strickland, prompting Du Plessis to bluntly dismiss White's assessment as "bullsh*t." Du Plessis expressed interest in fighting at UFC 300 and aims to hold the middleweight title for a long time, potentially paving the way for a UFC event in Africa.
UFC middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis jokes about his appearance after a tough win, expresses interest in fighting Israel Adesanya at UFC 300, and dismisses Khamzat Chimaev's callout. Despite the rivalry with Adesanya, du Plessis insists it's not personal and is open to fighting other top competition. He asserts his place among the elite and addresses doubts about his cardio following a title win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
Dricus Du Plessis is set to challenge Sean Strickland for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 297, following a buildup of tension and a physical altercation at a previous event. Both fighters have expressed readiness for a war in the octagon, with Du Plessis warning Strickland to be careful what he wishes for. The event will also feature a co-main event for the vacant bantamweight belt and the return of several notable fighters.
Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis engaged in their final staredown before UFC 297, where Strickland will defend his middleweight championship against Du Plessis in the first UFC men's title fight of the year. The ceremonial weigh-in staredown took place at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, with both fighters making weight and sharing some final words before their title grudge match.
Dricus Du Plessis remains unfazed by Sean Strickland's threats ahead of their UFC 297 title fight, revealing private messages where Strickland warned of ruining both their lives if Du Plessis mentioned his abusive childhood again. Du Plessis, focused on winning the middleweight championship, toned down his comments at Strickland's request and is prepared to face him in the octagon.
Ahead of their UFC 297 fight, Sean Strickland threatened to stab Dricus du Plessis over trash talk related to childhood trauma, but du Plessis remains unfazed and even laughed off the threat. Strickland also messaged du Plessis to address the altercation and trash talk, offering apologies and to pull back on any offensive comments. Du Plessis confirmed the exchange and promised not to bring up Strickland's childhood trauma again, stating that nothing Strickland says can affect him mentally.
UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland discusses the impact of his title on his life, noting that his popularity has made it difficult for him to enjoy his usual trips to Walmart. He attributes his appeal to fans to his relatable persona and criticizes other athletes for losing touch with their roots. Strickland is set to defend his title against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, with the event also featuring the return of other notable fighters.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland caused a stir at UFC 296 by attacking his future opponent, Dricus du Plessis, in the crowd before their scheduled fight. Strickland jumped over seats to deliver blows to Du Plessis, who shielded himself while bystanders intervened. The altercation followed a social media feud between the fighters, with Strickland accusing Du Plessis of mocking his childhood abuse. Strickland recently won the middleweight title with a surprise victory over Israel Adesanya, while Du Plessis has been on a winning streak in the UFC.
Israel Adesanya expresses his "quiet confidence" in beating Sean Strickland in a potential rematch, following his loss of the UFC middleweight championship. Adesanya, who suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Strickland, acknowledged his mistakes and described the loss as feeling like a "bad dream." While UFC president Dana White finds the rematch "interesting," it remains uncertain if an immediate rematch will be scheduled. Adesanya's recent record stands at 1-2 in his last three fights, while Strickland, a former welterweight, is on a three-fight win streak. Adesanya praised Strickland's performance but remains confident in his ability to secure a victory in a potential rematch.
Sean Strickland dominates Israel Adesanya to become the new UFC middleweight champion in a shocking upset. The post-fight show discusses Strickland's impressive performance, Adesanya's future, other notable fights from UFC 293, and more.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has posted a heartfelt message on social media to his longtime rival, Brazilian mixed martial artist Alex Pereira. The two fighters have a history, with Pereira securing two wins over Adesanya in kickboxing matches before Adesanya defeated him in their recent UFC rematch. Adesanya expressed gratitude for their rivalry and vowed to team up with Pereira in Brazil later this year.
Alex Pereira, who lost to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, said he wouldn't have mocked Adesanya's son like Adesanya did to his son after the fight. Pereira said he saw his son's joy after his second kickboxing victory and wouldn't want to hurt another child's feelings. Pereira also said he felt he was dominating the fight before the knockout and is open to training with Adesanya in the future.