UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis could well have his next two title defenses already laid out in front of him if he keeps hold of the belt.

After earning his first successful defense by submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, a rematch is seemingly on the cards for his new challenge.

However, another challenger looms overhead at this time as Alex Pereira is apparently planning to move back down to middleweight for one more fight, after his light heavyweight title defense at UFC 307.

Given the fact that Strickland and Pereira have become friends after they met inside the Octagon at UFC 276, Du Plessis suggested that they should fight each other for the number one contender status rather than challenging him one after the other.

MMA Fans React To Dricus Du Plessis Calling The Middleweight Shots

The fans on social media didn't respond well to Du Plessis' call for Strickland and Pereira to run it back, which isn't necessarily surprising given the large and vocal fan bases of both fighters.

Though some were complimenting the champion's trash talk, many didn't see why "Poatan" would possibly fight anyone but the titleholder at this stage.

"New champions always talk like they run the UFC. It's f***** annoying."

"alex and a contender fight do not go together"

"DDP just says stupid s*** and idiots eat it up. He’s Colby Covington with an Afrikaans accent."

"Bro is scared af. There’s absolutely no reason alex should be fighting Sean lmao"

"doesnt make sense considering that Pereira is a champ who already beat strickland"

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