The heat from the UFC 297 press conference between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis spilled over into the crowd on Saturday at UFC 296.
After many personal words were exchanged between Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) and Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) as they built up their fight at a press conference Thursday in Las Vegas, they were somehow seated right near each other on fight night at T-Mobile Arena.
In what should’ve been a totally unsurprising turn of events, they got into a physical altercation, with UFC lightweight Jared Gordon claiming Strickland “jumped over the seats” to attack Du Plessis.
UFC security and UFC CEO Dana White ran over to break up the pair, and according to Jon Anik on the broadcast, Strickland was removed from the venue.
After the conclusion of UFC 296, the promotion released their footage of the altercation (via X):
The full incident between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis at #UFC296 tonight.
Bring on #UFC297 in January! pic.twitter.com/HQt0Uj1jiv
— UFC (@ufc) December 17, 2023
MMA Journalist Helen Yee caught the exchange from the balcony seats inside the arena, and you can watch it below (via X):
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
Footage of DDP and Strickland getting pulled apart after coming to blows. pic.twitter.com/3YWAebvRKX
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 17, 2023
I beg to differ cc @JoshIsner
— Kyle Tims (@KyleTims) December 17, 2023
Du Plessis and Strickland reacted to the news after the fact (via X):
Now I understand why you have a 33% finish rate, you hit like a girl, also 20 Jan the security won’t be there to save your life when I’m on top. 🤣🤣🤣 #rentfree
— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) December 17, 2023
I go hard on everyone I know this, izzy mouth feeding his dog, Dricus kissing his coach and grabbing his cup. 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"
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) December 17, 2023
Additionally, UFC boss White reacted to the news at the UFC 296 post-fight news conference, and said he takes full blame for the incident after seating Strickland and Du Plessis too close together (via X):
Dana White takes all blame for the #UFC296 crowd fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. pic.twitter.com/V6aPktun5W
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 17, 2023
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
