Dricus Du Plessis next after UFC 293? Dana White reminds: 'You know how much I love guys who turn down fights'

LAS VEGAS – The answer to who is next in line for the UFC 293 main event winner isn’t as easy as some people may anticipate.

Following DWCS 61 on Tuesday at the UFC Apex, promotion president Dana White was asked if previously-penciled-in title challenger Dricus Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will face the titleholder after Saturday’s Israel Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) vs. Sean Strickland (27-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) main event in Sydney.

While he did not provide an alternative, White was noncommittal to the proposed idea – but made a point of Du Plessis’ declination of a previous offer to fight Saturday in Sydney.

“You know how much I love guys who turn down fights,” White said. “I don’t know. We’ll see what happens Saturday and then we’ll go from there.”

White has longly – and very openly – despised the concept of fighters unwilling to take big fights for circumstantial reasons when called upon.

Though divisions are ever-evolving, it’s unclear what alternative could supplement should the promotion not go in the direction of Du Plessis. For Saturday’s UFC 293 event, top contender Jared Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) will weigh in as a backup fighter should unforeseen circumstances render Adesanya or Strickland unable to compete.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.