Daniel Cormier is casting doubt on Sean Strickland receiving the next UFC middleweight title shot. Following champion Dricus Du Plessis’ victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, Dana White had stated that Strickland deserves the next title shot. However, with a fight between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev scheduled for UFC 308, Cormier believes the winner of that fight could potentially leapfrog Strickland in the title contention race. Cormier highlighted that Whittaker has also beaten Paulo Costa, a fighter Strickland defeated, making him a strong contender for the title shot.
Cormier expressed concern about the uncertainty in White’s voice when naming Strickland as the No. 1 contender. While White mentioned Strickland as next in line for the title shot, Cormier noted that there was a lack of a definitive tone in his statement. Cormier believes that if White was certain about Strickland being next, he would have confidently stated it without any room for doubt. With the upcoming fight between Whittaker and Chimaev, Cormier sees the potential for Chimaev to work his way into title contention, especially if he emerges victorious and maintains his undefeated record.
Dricus Du Plessis’ coach expressed hope for a potential fight against Alex Pereira in December. Du Plessis, after his win against Adesanya, stated that he believes Whittaker deserves a title shot more than Strickland. Strickland, on the other hand, reacted to Du Plessis’ win by calling for a war against the Dutch fighter. Despite being named the No. 1 contender by White, Strickland may face competition from fighters like Whittaker and Chimaev, who are both strong contenders for the middleweight title.
In light of recent developments in the middleweight division, there is uncertainty surrounding Sean Strickland’s position as the next title challenger. While White initially named Strickland as the top contender, Cormier’s doubts and the upcoming fight between Whittaker and Chimaev have thrown some ambiguity into the mix. Whittaker’s past victories over familiar opponents and Chimaev’s potential as an undefeated rising star add layers to the title contention conversation. Strickland, despite being in the running for the title shot, may need to fend off tough competition to secure his position as the next challenger for the UFC middleweight title.
As the middleweight division continues to evolve, with fighters jostling for position and looking to make their mark, the competition for the title shot intensifies. Strickland’s victory over Costa and his current standing as the No. 1 contender face challenges from fighters like Whittaker and Chimaev, who present strong cases for their own title shots. The landscape of the middleweight division is dynamic, with contenders vying for their opportunity to compete for the championship. Whether Strickland ultimately secures the title shot or faces competition from Whittaker and Chimaev remains to be seen, but the division promises exciting matchups and compelling storylines in the coming months.
