Sean Strickland didn’t hesitate to begin a brawl with his upcoming opponent Dricus Di Plessis amidst a packed crowd at UFC 296 PPV. After receiving some taunts from Du Plessis, the UFC middleweight champion advised women and kids on his way to move away before jumping and pouncing his rival.
Gilbert Burns’ wife and kids who were asked to move aside, later revealed how Strickland didn’t put them in danger while making sure he went on to brawl with Dricus Du Plessis. The UFC middleweight champion was criticized by many people for his actions. However, veteran reporter Laura Sanko wasn’t one of them.
She supported Strickland for his actions. Sanko explained why she doesn’t consider the UFC middleweight champion to be at fault.
Sanko said, “I’m not some prude, I realize what game we’re in, right?. I actually prefer guys have physical fights than do this s*** if I’m being honest. Because that way the family doesn’t get dragged into it. And that way there’s not statements. And altered photographs that live on the internet for year and years and years for your kids to have to Google.”
“When they get of age, that’s the stuff that really bothers me is the fact that things that are said now are permanent. If you’re going to get in a fight with each other, go for it. I actually like the fact that [Sean] fought Dricus, and I like how Dricus has handled the whole situation.”
Meanwhile, the in-cage action at UFC 297 would settle who is actually the better athletic fighter between the two.
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UFC 297 Sean Strickland vs Dricus Du Plessis- Everything You Need To Know
UFC 297 will be the first PPV of 2024, taking place on January 20 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. Sean Strickland will put his middleweight title at stake against challenger Dricus Du Plessis in the main event. Meanwhile, the vacant women’s bantamweight title will be up for the grabs as Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva will fight for it.
The entire event will be streamed live on ESPN and ESPN+ PPV in the USA. The prelims will begin at 8:00 PM ET and the main cards shall begin at 10:00 PM ET. Here’s a look at the full fight card.
Main Event
Sean Strickland (C) vs Dricus DuPlessis- Middleweight Title Fight
Co-Main Event
Raquel Pennington vs Mayra Bueno Silva- Women;s Bantamweight (Vacant) Title Fight
Neil Magny vs Mike Mallot- Welterweight Fight
Arnold Allen vs Movsar Evloev- Featherweight Fight
Brad Katona vs Garrett Armfield- Bantamweight Fight
Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault- Middleweight Fight
Charles Jourdain vs Sean Woodson- Featherweight Fight
Serhiy Sidey vs Ramon Taveras- Bantamweight Fight
Gillian Robertson vs Polyana Viana- Women’s Strawweight Fight
Yohan Lainesse vs Sam Patterson- Welterweight Fight
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Priscila Cachoeira- Women’s Flyweight Fight
Malcolm Gordon vs Jimmy Flick- Flyweight Fight