Sean Strickland is determined to reclaim the middleweight title at UFC 312. And once again, he will have Alex Pereira in his corner. Just like at UFC 297, ‘Poatan’ has had Strickland’s back for the fight and will be there to guide him on fight night. The American is grateful for the support, saying, “He [Pereira] said he’s down. He’s a good dude, man.”

And it seems that if Dricus Du Plessis is Strickland’s rival, he is just as much a rival to Pereira. The middleweight champion has already reached the top of the division but has his sights set on an even bigger goal—moving up to challenge Pereira for the light heavyweight title. When asked about this potential showdown, Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, shared his thoughts during an interview with Submission Radio. With the Brazilian now part of their team, Nicksick made it clear where his support lies.

“I think what makes Dricus so good is his unpredictability in the striking. Whereas Alex’s is used to a clean efficient style of striking where the awkwardness can throw guys that are that good off like that clean. So, I think if Dricus kind of stays I mean he is not going to rewrite you know the change his entire approach or anything like but I think because he is starting to understand more and more of what he is trying to create with his striking he is coming into his own.”

He also broke down what makes Pereira such a dangerous fighter. “The biggest thing that I think makes Alex so great is that like in the Jiri fights Jiri tends to leave his defense behind him. He is throwing things and there are holes in his defense and Alex can diagnose that very fast.”

On the other hand, Du Plessis is fully prepared to take on Strickland at UFC 312 and looks to clear his division for the best. While he may not be the most technically refined fighter on the roster, his unpredictable style and relentless pace have proven to be a winning formula. ‘Stillknocks’ has already taken down elite names like Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Strickland with his aggressive approach. Now, his sights are set on Alex Pereira and the light heavyweight title, aiming to add another championship to his resume.

Dricus Du Plessis makes a cryptic callout to Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira is set to defend his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March, but before that, he’ll be in Sean Strickland’s corner at UFC 312. Seeing this as an opportunity, Dricus Du Plessis has sent a cryptic message to the two-division champion. In an interview with ESPN MMA, ‘Stillknocks’ spoke in a calm and composed manner, hinting at his future ambitions. “2024 has been a massive year for me, but 2025 is going to be so much more. Now, the goal to be a champion is one, but there are many more to come. Defending this title, taking over the division—and now, I’m still quite a bit of a way from dominating the division and in a place where there is no competition left.”

Du Plessis made it clear that he intends to climb up and capture another belt to cement his status as the best fighter on the planet. His words strongly suggest that he’s eyeing a future showdown with Pereira—but he knows that such a challenge will require serious preparation. Still, DDP appears more than ready for the task, even throwing a jab at both Strickland and Pereira in the process. During a conversation with Mark Bouris, he cheekily remarked, “How is it going to feel, Sean Strickland’s corner, losing again? I’ll ask him that.”

With tensions rising and the rivalry heating up, the prospect of a future showdown between Du Plessis and Pereira is becoming more intriguing by the day. Could this be the next blockbuster fight in the making? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!