Dricus du Plessis says he believes he could be next in line for the UFC middleweight title

Dricus du Plessis is publicly projecting himself back into the UFC middleweight title picture, arguing that his trajectory since capturing gold makes the next title shot a logical destination. The former middleweight champion won the 185-pound belt at UFC 297 in January 2024 by defeating then-champion Sean Strickland, a victory that has since been treated as a turning point in du Plessis’ championship-level run.

The storyline expanded from there with a rematch against Strickland, where du Plessis again positioned himself as the aggressor and the more effective fighter. According to the report, he dominated Strickland in their second meeting at UFC 312, building on the earlier title-winning moment and reinforcing his belief that he is capable of controlling the fight rather than simply surviving it. Du Plessis’ view of “next” is essentially a claim that his performances have placed him within striking distance of another championship opportunity at middleweight.

For UFC fans, the middleweight division’s title picture tends to revolve around momentum and head-to-head results. Du Plessis is speaking in that context: the idea that a fighter who has already captured the belt and then followed up with a decisive rematch showing should be viewed as a primary contender again. The key detail in the framing is not just that he is competitive, but that his path has included headline-caliber wins over the man he dethroned and then rematched.

The report places particular emphasis on how the first title win happened and how the rematch looked. Du Plessis captured the belt at UFC 297 by defeating Strickland via what the report calls a spit decision, then moved into UFC 312 and, in the account provided, dominated Strickland to underscore that the rematch did not simply go his way on circumstance. This distinction matters because a close first victory can raise questions about whether a fighter is the better overall option for a title run. A dominant rematch, at least in how it is presented, addresses those questions.

Still, du Plessis’ claim is one fighter’s assessment, not an official booking announcement. UFC title trajectories are shaped by multiple factors, including who is currently holding the belt, how contenders perform in the weeks after major events, and what matchups the promotion prioritizes. With that in mind, du Plessis can be confident about his case while the next scheduling decision remains firmly in UFC’s hands.

What to watch next is whether the middleweight championship chase mirrors the logic du Plessis is laying out. If the promotion continues to reward fighters who have shown decisive control over key opponents, du Plessis’ argument gains practical traction. If instead UFC pivots toward other contenders or prioritizes stylistic matchups, his path to the title could require another performance or a clearer separation from the rest of the division.

Du Plessis’ comments also reflect the competitive pressure facing reigning champions and top challengers. For Strickland and the broader contender pool, the message is that du Plessis believes he has already proven a championship-level skill set through both his belt capture and his follow-up rematch showing. For the title picture itself, his position is increasingly about timing, legitimacy of the next challenge, and whether the division’s momentum continues to point toward him.