September 6, 2023 8:00 am ET
LAS VEGAS – The reply to who’s subsequent in line for the UFC 293 principal occasion winner isn’t as straightforward as some individuals might anticipate.
Following DWCS 61 on Tuesday on the UFC Apex, promotion president Dana White was requested if previously-penciled-in title challenger Dricus Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will face the titleholder after Saturday’s Israel Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) vs. Sean Strickland (27-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) principal occasion in Sydney.
Whereas he didn’t present another, White was noncommittal to the proposed thought – however made a degree of Du Plessis’ declination of a earlier supply to battle Saturday in Sydney.
“You understand how a lot I like guys who flip down fights,” White stated. “I don’t know. We’ll see what occurs Saturday after which we’ll go from there.”
White has longly – and really brazenly – despised the idea of fighters unwilling to take large fights for circumstantial causes when known as upon. Although divisions are ever-evolving, it’s unclear what various might complement ought to the promotion not go within the course of Du Plessis. For Saturday’s UFC 293 occasion, high contender Jared Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) will weigh in as a backup fighter ought to unexpected circumstances render Adesanya or Strickland unable to compete.
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