Dricus du Plessis cools on a Sean Strickland-Khamzat Chimaev rematch, despite Chimaev’s call for it

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis says he is not interested in a rematch between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, a position that could reshape the order of contender fights in the division. The comment lands after Strickland pulled off a major upset at UFC 328 in May, defeating Chimaev via split decision to win the middleweight title. Since that outcome, Chimaev has repeatedly pushed for a second fight with Strickland, but du Plessis is indicating that he would rather not build the championship picture around a redo.

Du Plessis is speaking as the current champion, which means his preferences can carry real matchmaking weight even when a challenger believes he has unfinished business. Titleholders rarely control every variable in the UFC, but they do influence the negotiation and timing of title shots by shaping what they are willing to accept as a next step. In that sense, du Plessis’s stance suggests he sees more value in progressing other matchups rather than restarting a debate that already ended in Strickland’s favor.

The immediate context is the split decision at UFC 328. In a bout that swung contender status, Chimaev absorbed the loss even while the decision left room for dispute. That kind of close result often accelerates rematch demands, especially when one fighter views the fight as a step taken too soon or a performance undermined by a specific tactical failure. According to the report, Chimaev has been “clamouring” for the rematch since the decision, indicating that he wants the UFC to give him another chance to settle the score.

Du Plessis’s reported lack of interest creates a potential friction point between challenger momentum and champion direction. Rematches can be attractive to promoters because they are familiar to audiences, and they can feel fair when the first meeting was competitive. But a champion can also choose to protect the title picture from turning into a carousel of repeat opponents, particularly if the division has other ranked threats ready to compete for leverage.

For du Plessis, the motivation appears to be about what he wants next, not whether Strickland and Chimaev deserve a conversation. While the report centers on du Plessis’s stance, it also highlights the broader tension in middleweight: a fighter can lose a close fight and still believe he should be next, while the champion can decide that the division needs fresh eliminators. If du Plessis remains firm, Chimaev’s pathway back could require him to pursue a different opponent, or for the UFC to treat the first Strickland-Chimaev bout as a completed chapter.

What to watch next is how the UFC interprets du Plessis’s comments in actual matchmaking decisions. The middleweight title landscape often changes quickly once the promotion locks in an opponent for the champion, because it affects what other fights become “must wins” for contenders. If a rematch is not prioritized, Chimaev’s response will be the next storyline to track, including whether he targets a new contender route or escalates demands. Either way, du Plessis’s position suggests the champion is aiming to move the division forward rather than revisit the same rivalry immediately.