UFC champion Sean Strickland punches Dricus Du Plessis as rivals brawl in stands

17 December 2023 , 05:04

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UFC champion Sean Strickland punches Dricus Du Plessis as rivals brawl in stands

UFC champion Sean Strickland landed blows on rival Dricus Du Plessis as the pair were separated by security whilst cageside in Las Vegas.

The middleweight rivals were just rows apart at UFC 296 on Saturday night and tempers escalated moments after they were caught taunting each other on camera. Strickland made a gesture in which he pretended to shoot Du Plessis, who responded by dodging the champion's bullet.

Their taunts turned to actually fighting shortly after as they began brawling whilst Paddy Pimblett had just left the octagon following his win against UFC legend Tony Ferguson. Video footage shows Strickland asking the people inbetween him and Du Plessis to move before he lunges at his rival and tries to punch him in the head.

Security staff at the T-Mobile Arena were quick to intervene and the brawl was broken up in seconds, as several other UFC fighters such as Alexander Volkanovkski and Jamahal Hill watched on. Strickland was escorted away from his seat after the brawl whilst Du Plessis, who wasn't moved by security, mocked the champion on Twitter.

"Now I understand why you have a 33 percent finish rate, you hit like a girl, also on January 20 the security won’t be there to save your life when I’m on top," he wrote. Tensions were high between Strickland and Du Plessis after the butted heads at the 2024 seasonal press conference earlier in the week to promote their upcoming UFC 297 title fight next month.

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What are your thoughts on Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis brawling at the event? Let us know in the comments section below

Du Plessis made an ugly joke about Strickland's late abusive father as he said: "Bro, why are you so angry? You think your dad beat the s*** out of you? Your dad doesn’t have s*** on me. I’m going to show you what it’s like to get beaten. Every childhood memory you have is going to come back."

Strickland was furious at the comment as he warned Du Plessis: "I will take your f*****g soul, you understand me? You f*****g pu***. Yeah, you did hit a nerve, you f*****g b****.” The rivals faced off after the fiery press conference and had to be restrained by security after trying to go for each other.

Harry Davies