Today, tensions between UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland and UFC Middleweight fighter, Dricus Du Plessis escalated to a deeply personal level during a fiery exchange at the UFC 297 press conference.
The animosity reached a boiling point when Strickland aimed Du Plessis’ relationship with his coach, Morne Visser, sparking a war of words that went beyond the usual banter.
Dricus Du Plessis’ head coach is Morne Visser. The duo shares a visibly close bond, often celebrating victories with displays of affection, a practice Du Plessis attributes to cultural norms.
The confrontation took a dark turn when Du Plessis fired back at Strickland, delving into the sensitive topic of Strickland’s strained relationship with his deceased father.
“Bro, why are you so angry? You think your dad beat the sh*t out of you? Your dad doesn’t have sh*t 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.”
Du Plessis taunted Strickland, insinuating that the upcoming fight would bring back haunting memories from his troubled childhood.
In response, Sean Strickland aka the Tarzan, unleashed a verbal onslaught, vowing to take Du Plessis’ soul in the octagon.
“I will take your f**king soul, you understand me? You f**king pu**y… Yeah, you did hit a nerve, you f**king bi**h.”
The exchange was marked by explicit language and intense emotion as Strickland sought to assert dominance and defend his honor.
The personal nature of the conflict became evident as Du Plessis touched upon Strickland’s past, referencing his father’s struggles with alcohol, drugs, and violence.
Strickland, who lost his father to cancer in 2017, had a tumultuous history with the man and has openly shared the impact of his father’s abusive behavior on his upbringing.
The impending title fight scheduled for January 20 will take place in Toronto.
Sean Strickland, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, is set to defend his title against Dricus Du Plessis, who boasts a professional record of 20-2-0.
Strickland’s journey to the title has been nothing short of remarkable, with a recent three-fight win streak culminating in a surprising upset over Israel Adesanya.
On the other hand, Dricus Du Plessis boasts a 20-2-0 record.
He started his professional career in 2013 and gained experience in the Polish promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW), ultimately securing the Welterweight Champion title.
His Welterweight debut occurred at EFC Africa 40 in June 2015, where he emerged victorious over Dino Bagattin through a rear-naked choke submission.
