“Our next fight will be Sean”: Dricus du Plessis’ coach drops major Sean Strickland trilogy hint

Dricus du Plessis lost his UFC middleweight title in devastating fashion last year in August. Since then, he has fought just once, where he secured a dominant victory over Kamaru Usman back in July. 

With just one fight this year, Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser ruled out the African’s return this year and believes a trilogy fight between his disciple and reigning middleweight champion Strickland could happen in early next year. 

Dricus du Plessis’ coach reveals why Sean Strickland trilogy could be next 

Strickland pulled up the biggest upset of the year by handing Khamzat Chimaev his career-first loss and capturing the middleweight belt. The American secured the split decision victory at UFC 328 in May to reclaim the middleweight throne. 

Since then, Strickland is out of action, and in his return, he is expected to face Nassourdine Imavov as the Russian-French fighter claimed that he’s next is for middleweight gold, and he has a date for the fight. The rumors circulating are that they will be thrown down at UFC 334 in Madison Square Garden. 

Visser weighed in on the potential fight between Strickland and Imavov for Strickland's title defense in their rematch. In their fight in 2023, the American champion secured a unanimous decision victory. The coach believes the American would approach another fight with the Russian-French with a similar level of preparation, but this time with an even better understanding of his opponent. 

He predicted a win for Strickland over Imavov and believes that after that, the American would fight Du Plessis.

“I think Sean’s got that dialled in,” Visser told Fight Forecast. “He figured Imavov out and Imavov is way too old. I don’t want to say stubborn but he’s been a veteran in this sport so there’s no way that he’ll change from the previous fight to this fight. He’ll just engage and do whatever he needs to do, try to do what did last time, just better, and Sean knows that. Sean is going to capitalize on it. So, I think our next fight will be Sean.”

For context, Du Plessis defeated Strickland at UFC 297 in Jan 2024 in a controversial split decision to dethrone the American. Their rematch happened a year later in February, when the African beat the American handily to defend his title, marking his second title defense. 

Following that, Du Plessis lost his title to Khamzat Chimaev. Then the Chechen-born was dethroned by Strickland at UFC 328. 

Morne Visser expects Du Plessis to beat Strickland in trilogy

The coach pointed out how easily Du Plessis defeated Strickland in their rematch and feels that, in a potential trilogy bout, it would be even easier for Africa to get the victory. 

“With Sean the second time, it was just so much easier for us,” he said. “So, imagine the third time with Sean, how easy that’s going to be because you figure that guy out.”

Check out Morne Visser’s comments below: