\n<\/p>\n
Since then, \u201cDDP\u201d has remained relatively quiet about his next move.<\/p>\n
As it turns out, the promotion had something much bigger in mind.<\/p>\n
Du Plessis\u2019 head coach, Morne Visser<\/strong>, recently revealed that UFC attempted to organize a four-man Light Heavyweight tournament to determine champion Carlos Ulberg\u2019s<\/strong> next challenger. The promotion wanted \u201cDDP\u201d involved, but Visser rejected the proposal.<\/p>\n \u201cUFC wanted him to go up to Light Heavyweight, but that\u2019s not going to happen,\u201d Visser told Fight Forecast<\/em>. \u201cHe\u2019s not a real 205er. They asked me three weeks ago. They asked me for Dricus to move up, and we\u2019d join a pool of four fighters \u2014 Jiri, Dricus, Ankalaev and [Stirling].<\/p>\n \u201cThey wanted the four guys to go into a pool, fight on one night, then the winners fight each other, and then the winner of that fights Ulberg,\u201d Visser continued. \u201cA bit of a Grand Prix.\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Visser believes Du Plessis needs considerably more time to properly prepare his body for the move.<\/p>\n \u201cI said no because it\u2019s very easy to go up to 205, but it took me a year to get Dricus from Welterweight to Middleweight,\u201d Visser said. \u201cTo put on the weight means absolutely nothing. Anyone can put on weight \u2014 just eat. We need to get the power up. So, we will do that gradually because we will go up to 205. That\u2019s 100 percent the plan. But we want our belt back and to defend it once. I made that clear to UFC.\u201d<\/p>\n A Light Heavyweight Grand Prix featuring three former UFC champions?<\/p>\n We really can\u2019t have anything nice.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, with Du Plessis remaining at Middleweight for now, several options are available.<\/p>\n Visser also revealed that Du Plessis is ready to return after his honeymoon and is targeting an early 2027 comeback, most likely in late February or March.<\/p>\n The move to Light Heavyweight is apparently inevitable.<\/p>\n UFC\u2019s intriguing Grand Prix idea simply arrived too soon.<\/p>\n