Tag: Sean Strickland

Alex Pereira Responds to Dricus Du Plessis’ Call-Out Ahead of UFC 297: ‘You Have to Listen’

Alex Pereira and Dricus Du PlessisDricus Du Plessis’ interest in fighting Alex Pereira has unsurprisingly prompted a response from the reigning light heavyweight champion….

Alex Pereira and Dricus Du Plessis

Dricus Du Plessis’ interest in fighting Alex Pereira has unsurprisingly prompted a response from the reigning light heavyweight champion.

Hours ahead of his highly anticipated title tilt with middleweight king Sean Strickland at UFC 297, Du Plessis opened the door for a potential move to 205 should he leave Toronto with gold wrapped around his waist on Saturday night.

“One hundred percent,” Du Plessis replied when asked about moving up to challenge Pereira at the UFC 297 pre-fight press conference. “After this, I have a whole division to take care of before I start thinking about him. But I’m taking care of that division and whether it’s him or someone else, after this division, that’s the one I’m after” (h/t Yahoo! Sports).

Pereira, who was front and center during Friday’s press event, offered up his response to Du Plessis’ comments during an interview with Full Send MMA.

“He spoke, so you have to listen,” Pereira said. “But I think that’s far from happening, so it’s just talk for now.”

Alex Pereira Will Be Rooting for Sean Strickland in The Great White North

Two months removed from his highlight-reel-worthy knockout of Jiri Prochazka to claim the light heavyweight title, Alex Pereira will be in attendance at UFC 297 to cheer on his friend and former opponent, Sean Strickland.

“The relationship I have with him, it’s good,” Pereira said of Strickland. “He’s not a great friend because I don’t speak English. If I spoke English, maybe we’d speak more. We trained together after our fight. He’s a fun, cool guy, and I’m here supporting him for this fight.”

In July 2022, Strickland stepped inside the Octagon with Pereira determined to stop the Brazilian’s hype in its tracks. Instead, ‘Poatan’ uncorked a vicious left hook nearly the halfway point of the opening round that put Strickland down for the count. Pereira claimed the middleweight crown in his next fight.

Drake slaps eye-Watering $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis in UFC 297 title grudge fight

Drake places $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297Canadian rapper and songwriter, Drake has once more continued in his recent vein of high-profile betting ahead of a…

Drake places $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297

Canadian rapper and songwriter, Drake has once more continued in his recent vein of high-profile betting ahead of a massive Octagon landing – this time placing a staggering $700,000 wager on Sean Strickland to beat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 tonight – having previously betted against the newly-crowned champion last September. 

Drake, who landed a reported payout in excess of $1,000,000 back in December after betting on welterweight champion, Leon Edwards to defeat former interim titleholder, Colby Covington at UFC 296, has turned those winnings into another high-profile wager.

Losing half a million back in September whilst betting on UFC 293, Drake incorrectly predicted a victory for former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya in Australia, with the above-mentioned, Strickland upsetting the apple cart and the bookmakers with his stunning unanimous decision upset victory.

Drake places $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to win at UFC 297

However, tonight, in his home town, Drake has bet a staggering $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to beat incoming title challenger, promotional-perfect contender, du Plessis – with a successful flutter set to net the Canadian just shy of $1,400,000 in returns. 

Attempting to lodge his first successful defense of the middleweight title tonight in Toronto, Strickland meets Pretoria native, du Plessis – who is riding what many have described as a surprising underdog line ahead of UFC 297.

In the midst of perfect run since his UFC landing back in 2020, last July during International Fight Week, du Plessis turned in a stunning second round TKO win over former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker in the pair’s officially billed title-eliminator in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

And in a chilling warning at last night’s ceremonial weigh-ins, former EFC and KSW championship winner, du Plessi claimed that Strickland – who called for a death fight with himself at UFC 297, will see his wish granted in ‘The Great White North’. 

Who wins at UFC 297 tonight: Sean Strickland or Dricus du Plessis?

UFC 297 Title Challenger Dricus Du Plessis Lunges at Sean Strickland During Final Face-Off

Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis weigh-inDricus Du Plessis couldn’t wait to get up close and personal with Sean Strickland during their final face-off. On…

Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis weigh-in

Dricus Du Plessis couldn’t wait to get up close and personal with Sean Strickland during their final face-off.

On Saturday night, January 20, ‘Stillknocks’ will look to end Strickland’s reign at the top of the middleweight division early as the two sensational strikers square off in the highly anticipated UFC 297 headliner. Last month, things reached a boiling point between the fighters when ‘DDP’ made some disparaging remarks about Strickland’s traumatic upbringing. 24 hours later, ‘Tarzan’ lept over a row of seats and attacked Du Plessis inside T-Mobile Arena as UFC 296 unfolded in front of them.

Since then, Strickland and Du Plessis have seemingly buried the hatchet with the 185-pound king suggesting that he has nothing, but respect for his opponent despite threatening to stab him at one point.

During their final face-to-face encounter ahead of fight night, Du Plessis could barely contain himself and practically lunged at Strickland, forcing security to briefly step in and ensure there was no repeat of last month’s insanity.

“I ain’t got no predictions, but like they say, be careful what you wish for,” Du Plessis told Jon Anik at the ceremonial weigh-ins. “He asked for it. Your wish has been granted, my friend.

DDP’ goes into his first UFC title opportunity riding an eight-streak with six of those wins coming inside the Octagon. Du Plessis earned his shot with a brutal second-round knockout of former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July.

As for Sean Strickland, the unlikely middleweight king will defend his title for the first time since stunning fans around the world with a dominant five-round performance against two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya last year. Strickland has already made a name for himself thanks to his outspoken nature and sometimes vile commentaries that have redefined love-hate relationships for fight fans.

Next, he’ll look to build his legacy as one of the promotion’s all-time great 185-pounders and it all starts in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Watch the full UFC 297 ceremonial weigh-ins below:

Sean Strickland Buries the Hatchet with Dricus Du Plessis, Blames ‘Cuck’ Sean O’Malley for Bad Blood

Sean Strickland and Sean O'MalleySean Strickland attacked Dricus Du Plessis in the stands at UFC 296 last month and has since threatened to…

Sean Strickland and Sean O'Malley

Sean Strickland attacked Dricus Du Plessis in the stands at UFC 296 last month and has since threatened to stab him, but the reigning middleweight titleholder wants you to know that it’s nothing personal.

According to Strickland, the rift that had him throwing hands with his South African opposition last month rests squarely on the shoulders of UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. During the trio’s appearance at the promotion’s seasonal press event in December, ‘Sugar’ threw some shade at Strickland by bringing up his troubled childhood.

Following O’Malley’s lead, Du Plessis further targeted Strickland’s traumatic past, bringing things to a boiling point that eventually spilled over into the crowd inside T-Mobile Arena 24 hours later.

“Here’s the thing, it was never f*cking personal,” Strickland said during the UFC 297 press conference. “You had the cuck Sean O’Malley say some stupid sh*t he knows nothing about. I go hard on everybody. You don’t think I deserve some sh*t? I go hard on all you motherf*ckers. I’m proud of the motherf*cker. You don’t see me lose character often, this motherf*cker got me there” (h/t MMA Mania).

Sean Strickland Promises Fight Fans a ‘War’

It’s certainly not the first time Du Plessis has found himself in a heated confrontation with a UFC champion. Following his impressive second-round KO of Robert Whittaker in July, then-champion Israel Adesanya entered the cage for a racially-charged staredown that had fight fans chomping at the bit to see them square off inside the Octagon.

Strickland spoiled those plans with his dominant decision victory over ‘The Last Stylebender’ two months later, but ‘Tarzan’ has promised fans a bloody brawl in the UFC 297 headliner.

“Here’s the thing about Dricus, he ain’t f*cking Izzy — Dricus likes to fight,” Strickland continued. “He likes to fight and he’s a hell of a fight. Do you know what that means? We’re going to be d*ck to d*ck, nipple to nipple in that range f*cking fighting. I hope after we’re done, win or lose, we’re f*cking bloody and we put on a show for you f*cking guys. Applaud him and encourage him. Because we want a f*cking war!”

UFC 297 goes down on January 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. The winner of Strickland vs. Du Plessis may find themselves tasked with taking on former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya, who will be sitting cageside for Saturday’s festivities.

Video – UFC 297’s Sean Strickland Punishes Powerslapper with Rib-Breaking Body Shots While Sparring

Sean StricklandSparring with Sean Strickland is not advised. Power Slapper Coltin Cole found out the hard way when he stepped…

Sean Strickland

Sparring with Sean Strickland is not advised.

Power Slapper Coltin Cole found out the hard way when he stepped inside the ring with the reigning UFC middleweight world champion during a recent episode of PowerSlap: Road to the Title. Cole.

“Who wants to box?” Strickland asked the group of PowerSlap hopefuls working out at the facility. Cole quickly stepped forward prompting Strickland to ask if he had any boxing experience. Cole claimed to have had one professional boxing match, 22 amateur MMA fights, and twelve pro MMA fights.

That’s all Strickland needed to hear.

As expected, ‘Tarzan’ didn’t hold back during their brief encounter, landing some brutal body shots that eventually dropped Cole. It was just another day at the office for Strickland, but Cole was left the worse for wear, noticing a painful lump developing over his ribs. It’s uncertain if Cole suffered a broken rib, but he was noticeably struggling to move.

On Saturday, January 20, Strickland will put his 185-pound crown on the line for the first time since claiming the crown with a decisive unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya in September.

Standing in Strickland’s way of his first successful defense at UFC 297 is Dricus Du Plessis, a South African finisher riding an eight-fight win streak, including a stunning second-round knockout of Robert Whittaker over the summer.

Video – ‘Savage’ Fan Storms the Stage at UFC 297 Press Conference to Shake Sean Strickland’s Hand

Sean Strickland UFC 297 press conferenceSean Strickland got an unexpected visit from an overzealous fan during Thursday’s UFC 297 media scrum. On Saturday night,…

Sean Strickland UFC 297 press conference

Sean Strickland got an unexpected visit from an overzealous fan during Thursday’s UFC 297 media scrum.

On Saturday night, Strickland will put his middleweight world title on the line for the very first time as he meets South African finisher Dricus Du Plessis in the evening’s main event. 48 hours ahead of their highly anticipated title tilt, Strickland and ‘Stillknocks’ were addressing members of the press at a pre-fight conference when a fan decided to rush the stage in hopes of shaking Strickland’s hand.

The unidentified individual was detained and removed from the stage within seconds of making his way on camera, but as seen in the above video embeds, it was all relatively harmless. Even UFC CEO Dana White couldn’t help, but smile as Strickland almost appeared to be flattered by the fan’s gesture.

Strickland dubbed the fan a ‘savage’ as he was carted away by security staff.

The 185-pound king received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Canadian crowd, particularly after he echoed many of their concerns regarding the current state of Canada’s government and contentious Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Watch the full UFC 297 press conference below: