Du Plessis eliminated any doubt over his championship credentials with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Sean Strickland in their middleweight title rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney, and after his win, his thoughts immediately turned to what could be next for him as he faced the press to discuss what might be in his fighting future.
And, after calling through the cage at light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira during his post-fight speech, Du Plessis confirmed that he wants to move up to 205 pounds to challenge “Poatan” for the undisputed light heavyweight title.
But he said that he wants that test to come a little further down the line, after he’s faced Khamzat Chimaev in his next middleweight title defence.
“I have the world of respect for Alex Pereira. I think he’s the world’s pound-for-pound best,” Du Plessis told reporters at the UFC 312 post-fight press conference.
“I have the most respect for what he’s done in such a short period of time in the UFC, to come from another sport and what he’s done there.
“So yes, I want to share the Octagon with that man. I want to beat that guy. I’ve beaten Adesanya, who’s beaten him. I know I can beat him at 205 (pounds), 100 percent. But Khamzat is next. Khamzat is next.”
Du Plessis made clear that he wants to be a fighting champion who does the right thing for his division, and the contenders vying to compete for the belt. In a sport that often sees fighters win titles, then immediately look to jump divisions in a bid to capture a second championship, Du Plessis wants to make sure he represents his division correctly by facing Chimaev next before chasing a fight with Pereira.
Feels good to be a champion 🏆#UFC312 | #AndStill pic.twitter.com/42Oc9pled3
— UFC (@ufc) February 9, 2025
“I said (to Pereira), ‘Please beat Ankalaev.’ No hate against Ankalaev, I just want to beat Alex Pereira,” Du Plessis stated.
“It’s nothing personal against Ankalaev, it’s just Pereira. He’s such a legend in this sport to me already that it would be amazing to beat him for my legacy.
“I want to be the greatest to ever do this. But Khamzat is next. Khamzat is next. I want to make sure that this belt, that his middleweight title, that there is no question that I’m the GOAT of the middleweight division.
“I know that you have Anderson Silva, and in my mind, he’s the GOAT of this division, and you have Adesanya, who’s done incredible things.
“But it’s not about how many times you just defend, it’s about who you fight, or how you defend it, and in what period of time, and who you’ve fought and making sure that there is no question that I am the best middleweight. And then going up. So I’m not rushing that my next fight is Alex Pereira. No, no, no. I want Khamzat next. I think he deserves a hiding.”
