Sean Strickland, the UFC middleweight champion, believes a fight between him and Johnny Eblen is inevitable.
What happened?
Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev to become a two-time 185-pound champion at UFC 328 in May.
Why it matters for Sean Strickland
He continuously touts one of his main training partners at Xtreme Couture, Eblen, as one of the best fighters in the world.
Eblen is currently a PFL fighter and will look to reclaim his belt after suffering a come-from-behind submission loss to Costello van Steenis at PFL Africa 1 last July.
What comes next?
Eblen was slated to face van Steenis in the main event of PFL Austin on July 18 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, but he'll instead meet Impa Kasanganay for the interim title after van Steenis withdrew due to an injury.
Strickland said on his Instagram story, "This guy is going to win the belt, he's going to the UFC, he's going to get one fight, and then we're going to fight for the belt."
Eblen responded, "It's going to be fun."
The potential matchup between Strickland and Eblen has sparked interest in the MMA community, with many anticipating a thrilling fight between the two skilled fighters.
On July 18, Eblen will face Kasanganay, and a win could bring him closer to a title shot against Strickland.
Strickland's prediction of a future fight against Eblen has added to the excitement surrounding the UFC middleweight division.
The UFC middleweight champion has been vocal about his respect for Eblen's skills, and their potential matchup is expected to be a highly competitive and entertaining fight.
As the MMA world waits for the potential showdown between Strickland and Eblen, both fighters will continue to prepare for their upcoming matches, with Strickland looking to defend his title and Eblen seeking to reclaim his belt in the PFL.