Dricus Du Plessis has stated that he considers himself superior to both Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov. Imavov recently took to social media to say he has not been offered any fights since defeating Caio Borralho, making clear he has never turned down a bout. The situation has fueled calls for either a Du Plessis–Strickland trilogy or a Du Plessis–Imavov matchup.
Dricus Du Plessis has publicly declared himself better than both Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov, adding fresh fuel to a middleweight title picture that is already crowded with unresolved business.
Du Plessis, the 32-year-old South African currently ranked number two in the middleweight division and seventh in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 24-3-0 record and has built a reputation as one of the most aggressive finishers in the weight class. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he lands 5.21 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and his 1.9 takedowns per 15 minutes show a well-rounded game that goes beyond pure striking.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, brings a 31-7-0 record and a relentless output style that sees him land 6.04 significant strikes per minute — among the highest volumes in the division. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture shares Du Plessis's six-foot-one frame and 76-inch reach, which made their previous meetings a closely contested war of attrition.
Imavov, whose verified data is not included here, recently took to social media to note he has received no fight offers since defeating Caio Borralho, and stressed he has not turned down any bouts. Borralho, ranked fourth at middleweight with an 18-2-0 record, is among the division's most accurate strikers at 56 percent, making Imavov's win over him a meaningful résumé addition that has apparently gone unrewarded in the matchmaking process.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis sits at number two in the division, making him the most logical challenger to Strickland's title for a potential trilogy fight.
- Imavov's public complaint about inactivity, combined with his win over a ranked opponent, strengthens the case for a Du Plessis–Imavov matchup as an alternative title eliminator.
- Both scenarios carry significant divisional weight at a time when the middleweight rankings are unusually unsettled.
