‘The government absolutely hates me’… Sean Strickland rages at UFC over location for Dricus Du Plessis middleweight title rematch

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‘The government absolutely hates me’… Sean Strickland rages at UFC over location for Dricus Du Plessis middleweight title rematch

Sean Strickland has expressed his outrage at the UFC’s decision to place the next middleweight world title fight outside of America.

The former 185lb champion won the belt from Israel Adesanya in Sydney last year, before losing it in his first defence back in January to Dricus Du Plessis in Toronto. He returned to action at UFC 302 in New Jersey, but now may have to venture internationally again to look for the belt back.

Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser has claimed that the South African’s next title defence will take place in Australia. And while he reckons the more likely opponent is Robert Whittaker, Strickland has a serious claim to the top contender spot in the division.

Who is Sean Strickland? Get to know the controversial former UFC Middleweight champion

Dricus Du Plessis’ coach details plans for Sydney title defence

The UFC’s pay-per-view schedule past UFC 310 in December is unconfirmed as yet. But during an interview with Submission Radio, trainer Morne Visser let slip that his charge Dricus Du Plessis will likely be defending his belt on a show in Sydney this February.

Visser believes that Robert Whittaker, who faces Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 later this month, is set to be the opponent for that bout. But Bloody Elbow sources indicate that the rematch with Sean Strickland is much closer to the spot, with an announcement expected before the Abu Dhabi event takes place.

“We spoke to our agent Dan (Rubenstein) and he speaks to the UFC and we’ve been up and down,” he said. “And I had a conversation yesterday actually with Dricus and I said to him, there’s only one thing for certain at this stage and that’s that we’ve got to be ready to fight in Sydney in February.

“My opinion is, Sean’s overselling it, he’s had one win after Dricus and it was against Paulo Costa, Whittaker had two and I think he’s gonna go for number three now so I think, my honest opinion is next for us in line will be Whittaker in Sydney in February.”

Sean Strickland rages over location for UFC title fight

Since defeating Costa back in June, Strickland has been insistent that he deserves another shot at the belt. He has even turned down fights including against former champion Whittaker, claiming that he is now in a spot where he is able to sit out and wait for his chance.

But he now seems to be taking issue with the fact that while he is getting another shot at Du Plessis, it isn’t exactly where he wants it. The bout would likely take place in the exact building where he initially won gold, but he believes there will be political backlash to his involvement.

Sean Strickland of the United States fights against Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa in a middleweight title bout during the UFC 297 event at Scot... — Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Strickland was wildly popular with fans in Australia last time out. But he believes his outlandish antics and interviews angered government officials who had paid for a tourism package that included a UFC pay-per-view.

And he feels it will be a disadvantage to have to fight somewhere he is politically unpopular, writing on X: “UFC event planning; ‘I have a great idea, let’s send Sean to go fight for a championship in foreign country where the government absolutely hates him’.

“UFC are you f***ing with me or are you trying to tell me you want me to spread freedom?! I wonder at times….”