The UFC Middleweight division is a tough test for any fighter who is the division’s champion. The current middleweight champion is South African Dricus Du Plessis.
Du Plessis won the title from former champion Sean Strickland. Many, including myself, believe that Strickland was robbed in his close fight against Du Plessis, but the show goes on and when a new champion is crowned the line of talent in the division is gunning for them.
To backtrack a little, Strickland won the title off of former champion Israel Adesanya. This fight was by no means a close one with each judge scoring the bout 49-46 giving only one round to the former champion Adesanya. This was a fight that would make you think Adesanya would have to work his way back to a title shot.
I believe that Strickland deserved an immediate rematch after his close fight with Du Plessis, rather he was booked for a fight with ranked middleweight Paulo Costa in which he dominated Costa.
Days later, UFC president Dana White announced that Du Plessis would be taking on Adesanya for the title at UFC 305. Many were displeased with the news that Adesanya’s first fight back would be a shot at the title. Adesanya hasn’t earned a title shot yet making this decision seem like nothing more than a cheap handout in favor of Adesanya.
Other fighters in the division have been fighting for a chance at the middleweight title. Robert Whittaker and Strickland are easily more deserving of this title shot than Adesanya. Instead, Whittaker was forced to fight an unranked fighter Ikram Aliskerov, in which Whittaker completely dominated him by way of first-round knockout. While Adesanya is an entertaining fighter, by no means did he deserve this title shot at UFC 305 as he should have been forced to have at least one fight before being given his title shot.