Sean Strickland not interested in fighting Robert Whittaker, 'will wait' for UFC title shot

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland doesn’t intend on fighting again until he gets another title shot.

After losing his title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January, Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302.

Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) is also coming off a recent win over Costa, as well as a first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov in this past Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6 headliner. With Strickland and Whittaker vying for a title shot, Whittaker said he’s willing to fight Strickland for a No. 1 contender spot, but Strickland is not on board.

“Keep getting asked to fight Whittaker. I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat Dricus. Whittaker lost to both. I am the number 1 contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa. I will wait…..”

I keep getting asked to fight whittaker. I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat dricus.

Whittaker lost to both.

I am the number 1 contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa.

I will wait…..

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) June 25, 2024

Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) makes his first title defense against Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in the UFC 305 headliner Aug. 17 at RAC Arena in Perth (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Strickland dethroned Adesanya at UFC 293 before losing his title to Du Plessis in a close decision loss.

Whittaker lost to Adesanya twice in title fights and to Du Plessis at UFC 290. He offered to serve as a backup for the title fight between Du Plessis and Adesanya – an idea UFC CEO Dana White is all for.