Former UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] doesn’t intend on fighting again until he gets another title shot.
After losing his title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January, Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302.
[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) is also coming off a recent win over Costa, as well as a first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov in this past Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6 headliner. With Strickland and Whittaker vying for a title shot, Whittaker said he’s willing to fight Strickland for a No. 1 contender spot, but Strickland is not on board.
“Keep getting asked to fight Whittaker. I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat Dricus. Whittaker lost to both. I am the number 1 contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa. I will wait…..”
I keep getting asked to fight whittaker. I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat dricus.
Whittaker lost to both.
I am the number 1 contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa.
I will wait…..
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) June 25, 2024
Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) makes his first title defense against Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in the UFC 305 headliner Aug. 17 at RAC Arena in Perth (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Strickland dethroned Adesanya at UFC 293 before losing his title to Du Plessis in a close decision loss.
Whittaker lost to Adesanya twice in title fights and to Du Plessis at UFC 290. He offered to serve as a backup for the title fight between Du Plessis and Adesanya – an idea UFC CEO Dana White is all for.
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