Daniel Cormier has admitted that he can be really keen to see Dana White book one UFC trilogy fight, however the MMA legend has his doubts that it might occur.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the 47-year-old UFC color commentator offered his verdict on a 3rd fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis.
Sean Strickland first crossed paths with Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 in 2024 and lost the UFC middleweight championship in a split-decision defeat in Toronto.
The 35-year-old American returned to winning ways against Paulo Costa at UFC 302 before Du Plessis defeated Strickland for the second time at UFC 312 in 2025.
Following Sean Strickland’s win over Khamzat Chimaev, how would you propose the following steps at middleweight?
Why Daniel Cormier would want Sean Strickland to fight Dricus du Plessis again, despite the outcomes of UFC 297 and UFC 312
Dricus du Plessis put the middleweight championship on the road against Sean Strickland of their last encounter and secured a unanimous decision win.
Strickland bounced back from his second loss to Du Plessis and defeated Anthony Hernandez and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Fight Night 267 and UFC 328 respectively.
The UFC star became a two-time middleweight champion in May after his split-decision result against Khamzat Chimaev on the Prudential Center in Recent Jersey.
Daniel Cormier has explained why he has an appetite to see middleweight title holder Strickland to attempt to avenge his two defeats to Du Plessis within the Octagon.
“In the case of Sean Strickland and DDP fighting for a 3rd time, I truthfully consider that while me as a purist, as a individual that loves watching the 2 best within the division fight for the championship, the 2 guys that appear to be the people who needs to be fighting for the belt — the 2 guys which have a history,” he said, as per MMA Junkie.
“I consider that DDP being 2-0 over the champ might actually be a nasty thing. Why? Because I consider that 2-0 with the last fight being so dominant, people almost don’t need to go and watch one other fight.”
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Daniel Cormier thinks that UFC fans would reject a trilogy fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis
Cormier would welcome the third fight between Du Plessis and Strickland within the UFC, however the MMA legend admitted that fans can be against the concept of it happening.
“Because the truth is that this: Regardless of what Strickland had done, if DDP was still the champion, I don’t think that folks would have ever desired to see him fight for the belt again,” he added.
“So, do we wish to see them fight for a 3rd time? I do because I’m a purist. But what does the final fan think once they have seen this act twice, and it got worse the second time by DDP? I don’t know.
“[Nassourdine] Imavov has earned [it], though. He has earned that chance. Let’s see if he gets that chance to fight for that belt.”
Du Plessis, who lost the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev in 2025, last fought within the UFC on Saturday and defeated Kamaru Usman in a unanimous decision win.
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