Video: Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis come to blows in crowd at UFC 296
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.
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
Whether the altercation caused any damage to the fighters remains to be seen, but UFC boss White will surely be asked about it at the post-fight press conference, which MMA Junkie will stream following the event.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
