Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland says the ‘only reason’ why the UFC isn’t booking the Dricus du Plessis rematch is to ‘shut him up’.
In the weeks and months since losing a razor-close decision to Dricus du Plessis earlier this year, Sean Strickland and his fanbase have been calling for the UFC to book the rematch with the South African champion for his next fight.
Speaking via The Schmo YouTube channel, the former middleweight king has now said that the ‘only reason’ the UFC isn’t booking the rematch is because they want him to “shut the f*** up.”
Sean Strickland doubles down on Dricus du Plessis rematch speculation
It was a fight that many within the MMA community thought that Strickland had one, yet it was the South African brawler who came out on top, winning 48-47 on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
Yet the brash American isn’t giving up hope of an immediate rematch for the middleweight title later in 2024, calling out the South African in a recent interview with The Schmo and arguing that he needs to “win your title like a man” after such a close decision:
“Here’s the thing guys, I won. Dana [White] said I won, [Joe] Rogan said I won – we all know I won. I went to Canada; I went to Canada, and I fought in front of the commies, and they shafted me.”
“Dricus wants it, I want it, win your title like a man, you know that you got a gift from god, let’s run this s*** back and settle it like men – that’s all I’m trying to say,” explained the 33-year-old.
Whilst Strickland noted that he doesn’t care much for the title itself, ‘Tarzan’ believes that he knows exactly why the promotion isn’t booking the rematch next:
“I don’t really talk to the UFC much, all the UFC does is tell me to shut up but let me tell you something about the UFC: I deserve that rematch and if they don’t give me that rematch, they’re just not one of us.”
“If they don’t give me that rematch, understand it’s for one reason and one reason alone, they want me to shut the f*** up…We’ll all know what will happen, we’ll find out.”
Dricus du Plessis recently revealed that he was only just getting back into the gym after he suffered a fracture to his foot during the fight against Strickland in January, which was the reason why the rumored UFC 300 clash with Israel Adesanya failed to take shape:
“Why would I go and start a camp once again injured if I’m the champion? I’m the champion now and I can fight when I’m ready. I think [Israel Adesanya] misjudges himself as still being a champion and he’s not.”