Sean Strickland shares bold prediction for Bellator bantamweight champion's UFC future
Sean Strickland believes Patchy Mix is a future UFC champion.
In late 2023, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) officially purchased Bellator to compete with the UFC. Since then, several well-respected Bellator fighters, including Cris Cyborg, Gegard Mousasi, and Patricio Pitbull, have complained about miscommunication with their new promotion.
Bantamweight champion Mix is arguably the most intriguing fighter to express their desire to leave. He had this to say on Twitter earlier this month:
"My manager told me to hold off but haven’t heard anything from @PFLMMA @DonnDavisPFL If you are not gonna have me fight then just please release me from contract.This is not what I want but if I’m not important to the company being a multi time champ. Then let me go respectfully"
Many fans have called for Mix to join the UFC, as he's widely considered one of the best bantamweights on the planet. Earlier today, former middleweight champion Strickland took to his temporary Instagram story and had this to say about Mix potentially joining the worldwide leader in MMA:
"Will be a UFC champ"
Dricus du Plessis expects "a lot more action a lot quicker" in Sean Strickland rematch
On February 8, Sean Strickland will have a chance to regain the UFC middleweight world title. To do so, the American superstar must defeat Dricus du Plessis in a rematch in the UFC 312 main event, which goes down in Australia.
Du Plessis recently did an interview on 'Breakfast with Martin Bester' and had this to say about his upcoming rematch with Strickland:
"In that fight [against Strickland], my first-ever title fight in the UFC, fighting for a world title there's a lot of pressure coming with that. So, in the beginning, you're kind of playing it safe feeling the guy out. This time around, there's going to be a feeling-out process, but I think it's going to be a lot more action a lot quicker." [3:21-3:41]
Strickland has fought once since being dethroned by du Plessis, defeating Paulo Costa by split decision in June. In the meantime, the champion defended his middleweight throne for the first time with a fourth-round submission against Israel Adesanya in August.
Watch du Plessis' entire appearance on 'Breakfast with Martin Bester' below: