Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis came face-to-face ahead of UFC 297.
UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis ran into each other after a tense last few weeks ahead of UFC 297.
Sean Strickland will defend the UFC’s 185-pound title against Dricus Du Plessis this Saturday in Toronto. He earned the belt by defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 last year by unanimous decision.
Tensions between Strickland and Du Plessis have ramped up ahead of their UFC 297 main event. The two nearly came to blows at a recent pre-fight press conference in Las Vegas, after the South African took personal shots at the champ over his abusive childhood.
Things also appeared heated in recent days, with Strickland even threatening to stab Du Plessis if he brings up his childhood during the upcoming pre-fight press conference.
Despite the harsh rhetoric between the two sides, the two middleweights might’ve put the worst behind them.
Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis Keep It Civil Ahead Of UFC 297
Check out Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis’ fight week encounter below at the fighter hotel in Toronto.
Just weeks ago sitting cageside at UFC 296, Strickland and Du Plessis had a viral brawl, which forced the former’s removal from the venue. Neither fighter was seriously injured during the altercation.
Sean Strickland is looking to earn his fourth consecutive win after recent wins over Adesanya and Abus Magomedov. He is currently listed on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings after earning the belt last year.
Dricus Du Plessis, meanwhile, secured the middleweight title shot after recent finishes of Derek Brunson and Robert Whittaker. He was expected to face Adesanya at UFC 293 before suffering an injury which forced a delayed return to the cage.
Sean Strickland and Du Plessis’ relationship will likely be a roller coaster of emotions ahead of fight night, but it seems that things are amicable midway through the week’s festivities.
