Chael Sonnen: Dricus Du Plessis, not Robert Whittaker, should be next for Israel Adesanya

Chael Sonnen argues that Dricus Du Plessis should be UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s next title challenger.

Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) reclaimed his belt from Alex Pereira at UFC 287 and now finds himself having already defended his belt against the top-five ranked 185 pounders. Former champion Whittaker, who’s down 0-2 against Adesanya, is making his case for a trilogy bout, but Sonnen wants “somebody new and fresh” for the champion.

“I don’t care if he’s ranked No. 1, if he’s ranked No. 3, in this case, if he’s ranked No. 6, bring the best that you’ve got that’s new,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “That’s not too much to ask. That’s not much of an ask at all.”

He continued, “Being able to feel that one time, getting a comeback, and then go in there again, you are going to close the gap greatly. Sure you are. Whittaker would be a fine example where he did. Sure you are. How many times do you want to do that with Adesanya? How many times does he need to do that? How many times does he have to prove and re-prove, give you an opportunity, then give you another opportunity where you’ve got a better opportunity? How many times does he have to do that?”

The highest-ranked fighter that Adesanya hasn’t already beaten is Dricus Du Plessis (19-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC), who already stirred some drama with Adesanya. After submitting Darren Till at UFC 282, Du Plessis said he plans on becoming the first fighter to bring a UFC belt to Africa since, unlike Nigeria-born Adesanya who calls New Zealand home, he still resides in South Africa.

“Now the first time ever, he’s asked for something. All he wants is a guy that he hasn’t fought before,” Sonnen said. “Come on. We can’t get in the way of that. That’s perfectly reasonable. Not to mention, don’t act like Du Plessis is a day off. Du Plessis can win that fight. Du Plessis is good. If you don’t know that or understand that, you need to go back, and you need to watch him. That young man Du Plessis, he’s ranked No. 6. There’s an argument he should be ranked No. 1.”