Michael Bisping thinks Sean Strickland would be making a mistake if he sat out and waited for a title shot.
Robert Whittaker, who knocked out Ikram Aliskerov at UFC on ESPN 6, said he’s willing to fight Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) for a No. 1 contender spot, but Strickland is not on board.
Strickland rebounded from his title loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 with a unanimous decision win over Paulo Costa. Due to the close nature of his fight with Du Plessis – a fight he thought he won – Strickland refuses to face anyone but the champion in his next fight.
Bisping disagrees.
“You can’t sit around, you can’t feel so entitled,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “You have to go out there, stake your case, continue to apply your craft, get better with every single training camp. Make the statement that you are the uncrowned champion, and make a sh*t ton of dough while you’re doing it.”
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 main event Aug. 17 at RAC Arena in Perth (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
Strickland has already faced both fighters – beating Adesanya to become champion at UFC 293 then losing his belt to Du Plessis. Du Plessis and Adesanya fight in less than a month, but Bisping says they may not be able to turn around as quickly as Strickland hopes.
“You do not want to wait on the sidelines,” Bisping said. “I mean, for example, let’s say Dricus beats Izzy. That’s a big if, but let’s just say he does. What if Dricus gets injured? What if that fight is so grueling, he tears a knee, he busts his eye up, he’s got a broken jaw. He’s coming back, but it’s going to be six to nine months. Is he still going to continue to wait on the sidelines?”
UFC Paulo Costa first pitch Mets Game
May 28, 2024; New York, NY, USA; UFC wrestler Paulo Costa the Eraser throws the first…
May 28, 2024; New York, NY, USA; UFC wrestler Paulo Costa the Eraser throws the first pitch before the game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgersat Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
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Paulo Costa UFC 302 ceremonial weigh-ins
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Paulo Costa is introduced during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in…
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Paulo Costa is introduced during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in at Prudential Center on May 31, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Paulo Costa UFC 302 ceremonial weigh-ins
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Paulo Costa weighs in during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in…
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Paulo Costa weighs in during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in at Prudential Center on May 31, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Paulo Costa UFC 302 ceremonial weigh-ins
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Paulo Costa weighs in during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in…
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Paulo Costa weighs in during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in at Prudential Center on May 31, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Sean Strickland UFC 302 ceremonial weigh-ins
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Sean Strickland is introduced during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in…
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Sean Strickland is introduced during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in at Prudential Center on May 31, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Sean Strickland UFC 302 ceremonial weigh-ins
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Sean Strickland is introduced during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in…
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Sean Strickland is introduced during the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in at Prudential Center on May 31, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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