Dricus Du Plessis targets Israel Adesanya fight, UFC 300 appearance after title win over Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis is ready to fight Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title at UFC 300 after becoming champion by beating Sean Strickland on Saturday night.

Du Plessis earned the win after five full-blooded rounds with the incumbent champion at UFC 297 in Canada, and he was declared the winner by the judges after both men left it all the cage.

After the dust had settled, he told TNT Sports that he was still reeling from his win.

"You can visualise this as much as you want, but it just never feels like the real deal. When the split decision came, it was almost like my life was flashing before my eyes," he said.

"It was the happiest and most terrifying moment at the same time. When they started announcing the decision I was feeling this might as well go against me or for me."

Turning to his call for a fight with former champion Adesanya, he said: "It's nothing personal towards him, if it sounded like that. I didn't mean it that way, I meant it as 'that's what the fans want to see,' I want to give the fans the fight.

"I fight for the fans, I go out there and I do my job. If the fans want Izzy... that's the fight I want."

As well as title fights, Du Plessis also reflected on what it meant for his country.

Speaking in the cage after his victory, which saw him extend his winning streak to seven, Du Plessis first of all demanded a South African flag from the crowd as he paid tribute to his support and his country.

“I want my flag,” he said. “This is history. South Africa. I don’t know but I can tell you right now, South Africa, we can all probably here them from outside, this is an amazing country, thank you South Africa.”

As in many decision victories in MMA, some fans believe the other man had done enough, but Du Plessis believes the judges had scored it correctly.

He continued: “I honestly think with the takedowns I made sure each round, I could feel it was a close fight, I definitely gave him the first round. I tried to get the takedown first to level the playing field.”

The 30-year-old felt that he had answered any questions about his durability and stamina in the ring, having put in his decisive, best work in the latter stages of the bout.

“I felt that he gets up really well, so I could get down and get under him because I’m stronger,” he said. “I felt that the first three rounds were give-and-take but those last two rounds, I know. Everybody said when it goes past halfway, I have a point to prove. How’s that for round four and five? Who says this guy is not a five-round fighter? What did I tell you?”

Du Plessis was asked if his plan was to keep Strickland on the back foot to keep him from putting together his own attacks, and he explained that was precisely the strategy he had prepared.

“That was our game plan,” he acknowledged. “He has a super, super strong jab. It’s like he doesn’t hit you with an open hand, he’s got to squeeze first. With that jab, it’s like somebody hits you with a rock.

“It’s very deceptive, the way he throws that jab he can turn it into a left-hook. It took me a while because I kept on pushing, he would push, but if I’m pushing with this physique, I promise you’re going to get tired. I got tired too but I had to push through.

“Sean Strickland, I tried to kill you tonight, Didn’t quite get there but you are one hell of a man, thank you for bringing the best out of me. Thank you for being a good guy, doing what you have to, to entertain the fans. We came out here and kept it professional, and it was an honour sharing the cage with you, thank you.”

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