Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland thinks he knows why he's fighting Paulo Costa and not getting a rematch with Dricus du Plessis.
"Let me tell you about these f—ing dorks behind computers," he said at the UFC 302 pre-fight press conference. "It's all analytics. They think they'll make more money with somebody else. I don't get it."
Du Plessis is rumored to be fighting former champion Israel Adesanya when he returns back to action though the fight has not yet been announced. Strickland isn't even sure if he beats Costa that he'll get the next shot at the title.
"I don't know man, those f—ing dorks behind the computer, they gonna let me fight the guy? It's not if I beat him, I'm gonna beat him. Yeah, then let me fight the champion. I deserve that s—t, c'mon guys."
Strickland defeated Adesanya via a five-round underdog domination but then lost the title to Du Plessis in his first defense. He's one-half of the co-main event on June 1.