At UFC 296, the central event went far beyond Leon Edwards’ decisive victory over Colby Covington. In addition to the main event, a heated exchange between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis ignited the arena and built anticipation for the upcoming showdown at UFC 297 scheduled in January.
The night’s action primarily took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where footage caught a dramatic incident involving Du Plessis and Strickland. Originally seated several rows apart, the cameras captured Du Plessis openly expressing his displeasure towards Strickland.
In an unexpected turn of events, Strickland stood, mimicked the action of drawing an invisible firearm, and ‘shot’ at Du Plessis. Shortly after this display, Strickland spun around and had a verbal confrontation with Du Plessis, expressing his thoughts and opinions quite clearly.
Strickland then requested the spectators seated between him and Du Plessis, including a young onlooker, to make space. The altercation continued to escalate as the camera kept its focus on the duo.
While under the gaze of live cameras, Strickland advanced upon Du Plessis, throwing punches that made contact with Du Plessis’ head. He managed to land his right hand on multiple occasions before further intervention took place.
The disruption ended with an intervention that dragged UFC CEO Dana White into the mix. Strickland was subsequently escorted out of the T-Mobile Arena, an action shared by ESPN commentator Jon Anik during the live broadcast.
UFC has been known to leverage such incidents for promotional purposes, making the most out of these unexpected moments of drama. They often amplify public anticipation for upcoming events, as proven by past successful campaigns.
Yet, the planned bout between Strickland and Du Plessis at UFC 297 in Toronto seems to go beyond routine promotion. There appears to be genuine animosity between the two fighters, setting the stage for an intense showdown.
This bitter rivalry didn’t stop at the physical encounter. Post the incident, the fighters carried their feud onto social media, with each side sharing strong words.
‘I handle each situation aggressively, be it Adesanya treating his dog or Dricus with his coach.’ Strickland opened fire on social media. In an unusual step, he even mentioned other UFC fighter, Israel Adesanya, escalating the situation further.
Reacting to the verbal onslaught, Du Plessis did not hold back. He responded with a pointed retort of his own, taking aim at Strickland’s lack of finishing moves and his reliance on security during their recent altercation.
Looking ahead, UFC 297 promises to be a remarkable spectacle given the ferocity of the rivalry between Strickland and Du Plessis. The anticipated fight will be one without the interruption of security measures seen in their latest encounter.
There is much to be expected from Strickland, an MMA veteran, boasting a successful career with a track record of 28-5. He has held an impressive performance in UFC with a 15-5 record, showing his experience and skills in the octagon.
Equally esteemed is Du Plessis with his own notable accolades. His overall career stands at an impressive 20-2 while maintaining an undefeated streak in the UFC with 6 wins and zero losses.
Given the preceding drama, the animosity between the fighters, and their impressive track records, UFC 297 is set to be an event to remember, delivering excitement and anticipation for UFC fans worldwide.
