Dricus Du Plessis is set to step into the Octagon at UFC 312, ready to take on Sean Strickland and stake his claim as the division’s top contender. While he may not be the most polished technician in the sport, his relentless pressure, unconventional style, and mythical ‘plot armor’ have made him a nightmare for even the most skilled opponents. ‘Stillknocks’ has already taken out most of the elite competition, proving that his aggressive, high-paced approach is a winning formula.

But Du Plessis isn’t stopping there. He has made his ambitions clear—he plans to move up in weight and capture another championship, further cementing his legacy as one of the best in the world. His statements strongly hint at a potential clash with 205lbs god-king Alex Pereira, but he acknowledges that taking on such a challenge would require intense preparation and a well-executed game plan. For now, the matchup remains a distant possibility, as both fighters are focused on their own divisions.

The idea of a Du Plessis vs. Pereira showdown has sparked interest among MMA analysts, including Michael Bisping. Speaking on Submission Radio, Bisping weighed in on how the fight could unfold: “I think Dricus on the feet would obviously lose to Pereira. But we have seen Dricus take down most people that he fights. And we have seen that Pereira doesn’t necessarily have the best wrestling. So I don’t know, I’m not saying that Dricus beats him, we would have to see that one day. But I still think Dricus has work to do at 185.”

At UFC 312, Alex Pereira will be cornering his former rival-turned-training partner Sean Strickland, adding an extra layer of intensity to the night’s main event. During the media day, Strickland made some eye-catching remarks about the relationship between Pereira and Dricus Du Plessis, offering insight into their apparent tension.

“I think Alex (Pereira) is an angry motherf—r. Like, Alex is angry, and for some reason, dude, he hates Dricus (Du Plessis).” Strickland’s blunt comments have only fueled the buildup to his highly anticipated middleweight title fight against Du Plessis. But the question remains—why does ‘Poatan’ seem to have such animosity toward the reigning champion? It turns out Chael Sonnen may have the answer!

Chael Sonnen weighs in on Alex Pereira’s feelings towards Dricus Du Plessis

Former UFC fighter and verbose analyst Chael Sonnen recently shared his thoughts on the situation, shedding light on why Alex Pereira might have a lingering grudge against Du Plessis. In a recent YouTube video, ‘The Bad Guy’ revisited an incident from last year when the Brazilian revealed his plans to make one last return to the middleweight division to fight the champion. However, ‘Stillknocks’ didn’t quite like the idea of him moving down and responded, “You don’t have to cut the weight… I’ll come up to 205.” According to Sonnen, this response might not have impressed The Brazilian champion.

Sonnen added, “What is it that Dricus did to upset Alex to such a degree? I would really like to know. And now, I do. I do remember a few things. Once this was stated, I had a couple of flashbacks. You guys will remember when Alex (Pereira) offered to go down to 185, and Dricus said, ‘Yeah, don’t do it. I’ll come up to 205… we’re doing it for your belt.’ Do you guys remember this? It almost seemed like just words from Alex at that time. But he was very serious.”

With both men hungry for UFC gold and eager to prove they are the best, this fight feels inevitable. The contrast in styles—Pereira’s striking mastery against Du Plessis’ relentless pressure—creates the perfect recipe for an all-out war. Do you think the pair will fight each other in the near future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.