Instant rematches are nothing new in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Although the former two-time Middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, isn’t entering a rematch when he challenges the champion, Dricus du Plessis, at UFC 305, it will be an instant title shot after a loss. Adesanya’s return will mark his first appearance since a unanimous decision title defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023 (watch highlights).
Before the Strickland fight, Adesanya (24-3) won back the title in his mixed martial arts (MMA) rematch against Alex Pereira (watch highlights) — his first instant rematch in a title fight. Ultimately, du Plessis won’t be surprised if it happens again if he earns his first successful title defense this weekend (Sat., Aug. 17, 2024).
“If you lost the belt and had to fight all the way back up then that takes determination but getting a title shot after a loss every single time, that’s interesting,” du Plessis told The MMA Guru (h/t Bloody Elbow). “I’m assuming we’ll have a rematch after this.”
Regardless of the outcome, there is expected to be a rematch … but not between du Plessis and Adesanya. UFC CEO, Dana White, revealed during fight week that the aforementioned former champion, Strickland, will await the winner of UFC 305’s main event. Despite those claims from the boss, du Plessis doesn’t see how the undefeated 13-0 contender, Khamzat Chimaev, won’t be next depending on the outcome of his Robert Whittaker match up at UFC 308 on Oct. 26, 2024.
“It’s a very interesting situation at Middleweight right now because you’re sitting with Strickland who beat [Paulo] Costa, but then you get [Robert] Whittaker who’s been at it, who beat Costa as well. He also beat Costa before Strickland in a much more entertaining fight, for sure.
“Let’s be honest, if the Whittaker-Chimaev fight ends in a draw, Khamzat’s getting a title shot for sure, 100 percent,” he continued. “The UFC have been wanting to give Khamzat a title shot for years he just wouldn’t take it. I’m rooting for Whittaker in that fight although I would love to fight Khamzat.”
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