UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and No. 2 ranked contender Dricus Du Plessis had no interest in waiting to throw hands until their scheduled scrap in Toronto, Canada next month.
After a heated verbal confrontation during the UFC Seasonal Press Conference on Friday, Strickland and Du Plessis were in the crown to take in all the action at UFC 296 in T-Mobile Arena. During the main card portion of the event, both fighters were shown on the big screen to promote their impending title tilt.
It’s unclear what transpired once cameras pulled away, but footage taken by fans all around the arena caught Strickland engaging in an all-out brawl with ‘Stillknocks’ that forced event security and event UFC CEO Dana White to intervene. Strickland was escorted out of the arena shortly after.
HOLY CRAP SEAN STRICKLAND AND DRICUS DU PLESSIS GOT INTO IT!!! Had to be separated #UFC296 pic.twitter.com/igZclEMwp5
— Helen Yee (@HelenYeeSports) December 17, 2023
The best view of Sean Strickland's dust up with Dricus Du Plessis. #UFC296 pic.twitter.com/oNIAIRsuO9
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) December 17, 2023
Footage of Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis fighting at #UFC296
— ScreenGeek (@RealScreenGeek) December 17, 2023
It appears Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis had to be seperated in the crowd 👀@chitoveraUFC was loving it 😂#UFC296 pic.twitter.com/m1oYNnQqGk
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) December 17, 2023
🚨 | A better angle of Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis brawling in the crowd at #UFC296 pic.twitter.com/JLMoTg7sBe
— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) December 17, 2023
Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis Reference Their Brawl on Social Media
Shortly after the fracas, Dricus Du Plessis took to social media and made light of the incident while referencing Strickland’s finish rate inside the Octagon.
“Now I understand why you have a 33% finish rate, you hit like a girl, also 20 January the security won’t be there to save your life when I’m on top,” he wrote on X.
Strickland also took to social media and appeared to share his motivation for the sudden attack at T-Mobile Arena.
“I go hard on everyone I know this, izzy mouth feeding his dog, Dricus kissing his coach and grabbing his cup,” Strickland wrote. “Omally talking about sharing his wife in a podcast. You’re a man, on a world stage doing this in public And what do you pick? “You got abused as a kid ha””
During their heated confrontation on Friday, Du Plessis referenced Strickland’s history of growing up in an abusive home, something even the outspoken titleholder thought to be over the line. That may have very well been the catalyst for their brief brawl in Sin City on Saturday night.
Fortunately, they won’t have to wait long to step inside the Octagon and settle their differences in a fully sanctioned fight fist.
Watched their full interaction at the Seasonal Press Conference below:
