Media Dana: We'll wait out this month to decide Strickland's opponent

[Unheralded Truth]

While speaking to the media at the Contender Series press conference last night, Dana shed some doubt on the potential rematch. According to White, another rising challenger
in the weight class could force his way into contention.



"I mean, that fight [between Strickland and Adesanya] just happened. A couple of fights are gonna play out here now over the next month, and then we'll go from there and figure out what's next.
Whatever the best fight to make when all is said and done. And who's injured, who's not injured, who can go, what time, where, you know? There's a lot of different factors that play into what
we're going to do next."

 

[DjolexMTL]

I guess they want to leapfrog Khamzat with a win

 

[Deleted member 585708]

While speaking to the media at the Contender Series press conference last night, Dana shed some doubt on the potential rematch. According to White, another rising challenger
in the weight class could force his way into contention.



"I mean, that fight [between Strickland and Adesanya] just happened. A couple of fights are gonna play out here now over the next month, and then we'll go from there and figure out what's next.
Whatever the best fight to make when all is said and done. And who's injured, who's not injured, who can go, what time, where, you know? There's a lot of different factors that play into what
we're going to do next."

Fine with that.

Let's see how Costa-Khamzat plays out. There's no need to race towards yet another rematch.

Dricus should be getting the shot, but Dana is being a big baby, so it is what it is.

Maybe Khamzat-Costa will be a terrible fight.

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

While speaking to the media at the Contender Series press conference last night, Dana shed some doubt on the potential rematch. According to White, another rising challenger
in the weight class could force his way into contention.



"I mean, that fight [between Strickland and Adesanya] just happened. A couple of fights are gonna play out here now over the next month, and then we'll go from there and figure out what's next.
Whatever the best fight to make when all is said and done. And who's injured, who's not injured, who can go, what time, where, you know? There's a lot of different factors that play into what
we're going to do next."

Well its not Jared because he is fighting in december

 

[LindyBrah]

It should be the winner of Wolf vs Costa. Set up Dricus vs Izzy to see who’s up next. Izzy just can’t keep getting immediate rematches to avenge a loss. There’s also Cannonier vs Dolidze soon so that’ll shake things up as well.

 

[xentreos]

In some weird way it's like Dana is blaming DDP for izzy losing to Strickland. Give the man his title shot

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

DDP deserves it, Dana is praying that Khamzat smashes Paulo in spectacular fashion so he can float his whole "Look, the kids is undeniable, he just smashed Paulo Costa who fought for a title!" shtick but we all know who the real #1 contender is.

In some weird way it's like Dana is blaming DDP for izzy losing to Strickland. Give the man his title shot

Which is odd, because DDP would have absolutely blasted the Izzy that showed up against Strickland (I've been picking DDP to win the title since he got his nose fixed).

 

[Portland8242]

Mmmhmmm

It's all but confirmed they want Khamzat as the next challenger. If Izzy reached out to the UFC and said he wants the rematch you bet your ass Dana would be on the podium screaming about it.

 

[DecisionSplit]

They can't quite call Chimaev versus Costa a #1 contender match officially. If Costa wins they can easily deny him and just do an Adesanya rematch or get DDP in the title against Strickland. If Chimaev wins but looks terrible or takes massive damage they will not wait around for him and just push Adesanya or DDP as well. UFC almost never locks itself into #1 contender matches anymore to leave itself enough wiggle room for money fights on shorter notice.

 

[Neck&Neck]

You can’t hold the Whafrican man down forever

 

[chiefwiggum]

DDP deserves it, Dana is praying that Khamzat smashes Paulo in spectacular fashion so he can float his whole "Look, the kids is undeniable, he just smashed Paulo Costa who fought for a title!" shtick but we all know who the real #1 contender is.

Which is odd, because DDP would have absolutely blasted the Izzy that showed up against Strickland (I've been picking DDP to win the title since he got his nose fixed).

ddp is an exciting fighter as he struggles badly with everyone except Whitaker and then turned down a title shot. If khamzat wins he should get it as he’s crushed everyone and despite popular opinion his career except 3 fights are above ww.

 

[Tweak896]

I'm down for Khamzat to get title shot, but he has to make the fight look easy with a finish. Besides DDP could probably use more time to get ready.

 

[Steve Fox]

It should be the winner of Wolf vs Costa.

It shouldn't. Dricus is the #1 contender and the next in line but UFC is going to UFC it seems.

ddp is an exciting fighter as he struggles badly with everyone except Whitaker and then turned down a title shot.

He didn't turn it down, he was injured.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

ddp is an exciting fighter as he struggles badly with everyone except Whitaker and then turned down a title shot. If khamzat wins he should get it as he’s crushed everyone and despite popular opinion his career except 3 fights are above ww.

Khamzat doesn't have a single top 15 win at MW and if he beats Costa he won't have a top 5 win, he doesn't deserve shit. DDP has 2 top 5 wins and a top 10 win. I'm hoping Costa wins just so this stupid nonsense doesn't happen.

 

[Linelo]

ddp is an exciting fighter as he struggles badly with everyone except Whitaker and then turned down a title shot. If khamzat wins he should get it as he’s crushed everyone and despite popular opinion his career except 3 fights are above ww.

I don’t think DDP and Khamzat’s struggles can be compared well when Khamzat’s best competition have been outside of MW (Burns, Holland, Leech).

Khamzat’s stiffest test at MW so far has been GM III or Aliskerov (the latter is more graded on his possible ceiling).

 

[Pain4Pain]

DDP is a fresh challenge and someone Sean hasn't fought. Should schedule it for Feb/March.

I'm down for Khamzat to get title shot, but he has to make the fight look easy with a finish. Besides DDP could probably use more time to get ready.

Should also get 1 win over either Vettori/Cannonier/Whittaker. AFAIK in training Sean was beating Khamzat standing, Khamzat was beating Sean grappling. I'd give the edge to Sean knowing he has better endurance and multiple 5 round fights, whereas Khamzat has never gone more than 3 rounds.

Izzy and Sean are both very active fighters I just hope whoever wins the belt fights at least twice per year.

 

[surgeyou1]

It's either Izzy or Khamzat. DDP ain't getting a shot after turning down. Dana is vindictive.

 

[StonedLemur]

Khamzat doesn't have a single top 15 win at MW and if he beats Costa he won't have a top 5 win, he doesn't deserve shit. DDP has 2 top 5 wins and a top 10 win. I'm hoping Costa wins just so this stupid nonsense doesn't happen.

DDP 100% deserves the next shot, regardless of what happens between Khamzat and Costa.

 

[rjmbrd]

ddp is an exciting fighter as he struggles badly with everyone except Whitaker and then turned down a title shot. If khamzat wins he should get it as he’s crushed everyone and despite popular opinion his career except 3 fights are above ww.

In what dream world are you living in that Khamzat "crushed everyone?"

He's fought exactly ONE ranked opponent, and it was at welterweight. He got knocked down, hurt multiple times and narrowly escaped with a controversial decision win.

Khamzat has never fought a ranked middleweight, let alone crushed one.

Costa is on a 1-2 run. He hasn't won back to back fights since 2019 and looked awful against an unranked opponent in his last outing. He got murdered in his title shot. It is absolutely absurd to say this is a title eliminator.

DDP is the #1 contender and he just KO'd Robbert Whittaker. He's got a perfect 5-0 in the actual division and 4 of those were stoppages. Quit your bullshit.

 

[acannxr]

Based on more objective rankings:

Strickland vs DDP (brand new matchup)
If Khamzat defeats Costa, then book Adesanya vs. Kham (brand new matchup)

Then winner of Strickland/DDP fights winner of Adesanya/Kham