UFC 297 is right around the corner.
Middleweight gold is on the line when the reigning champion, Sean Strickland, takes on top contender, Dricus Du Plessis, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada next weekend (Sat., Jan. 20, 2024). In a way, the fight will act as part two for the pair of 185-pound sluggers as they first came to blows in the crowd at UFC 296 last month (Dec. 16, 2023).
Du Plessis got under the skin of his American counterpart at the 2024 seasonal press conference alongside Strickland when he made remarks about the champion’s tough upbringing, specifically the relationship with his father. Due to the two trading shots publicly in the UFC 296 crowd, there were grounds for legal action should Du Plessis feel the need as he was the one attacked. However, it was never a thought for the South African and he now reveals he was willing to take the fall if necessary.
“I know Dana came to me and said, ‘Listen, this is the case. We’re really sorry about this,’” Du Plessis told MMA Junkie. “Obviously, the police had him and charges can be pressed because that’s assault. It’s outside of a professional arena. They didn’t try to convince me otherwise at all. They literally said, ‘If you feel like that was uncalled for, we completely understand if you want to press charges and take this further.’ I said, ‘No, no, no, no, no. Please no.’ We are two fighters. It was a good old scrap like we did before we became professionals. I just paused and was like, ‘I would even take the blame if that’s possible, just to make sure that nothing happens to him.’
“We know to come to Canada, they are very strict,” he continued. “They are very, very strict in getting into the country. I just wanted to make sure that if the fight wasn’t in jeopardy. I never even think of Sean Strickland trying to get away. He’s the type of guy who’s always game. He’s a guy who will go out on his shield and do it with honor.”
In hindsight, Du Plessis doesn’t look back on the skirmish with regret. There’s no need for “one-ups” going forward with the fight as close as it is and “StillKnocks” says the additional hype was created during that previous encounter.
Despite the banter they’ve volleyed back and forth, Du Plessis still has respect for his outspoken opponent.
“I took on his manliness. I was in his face,” Du Plessis said. “I told him, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ He stood up for himself. That’s what a real man does. I’m happy for him. I’m glad he has that in him. No matter what the situation, what the repercussions, he didn’t think about it. He said, ‘I’m standing up for myself,’ and rightfully so. That’s where the respect comes from because that’s exactly what I would’ve done.”