UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland, is set to defend his title against title challenger, Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297. The two have had a heated press conference, before getting into a scuffle at the UFC 296 event. But what sparked such an animosity between the two?

The middleweight champion is one of the most vocal fighters in the UFC. His blunt nature is what has made him one of the most polarising fighters in the UFC. In the press conference, Strickland brought up Du Plessis, kissing his coach after an old win. Dricus Du Plessis, in response, brought up Strickland’s childhood trauma, which Strickland didn’t take too well. Here’s what coach Nicksick told MMA Junkie about Strickland’s mindset going into the fight.

Eric Nicksick reveals the middleweight champion’s mentality going into the fight against ‘Stillknocks’

When asked if Strickland is more driven by this fight against Du Plessis because of the scuffle, Nicksick stated, “You know, I did mention that to him. I did. I did say something like, Hey, you know, fighting emotional is not who we are. And stylistically, I think that favors Dricus more. It opens us up more. So we need to stick with our game plan and stick with what we want to do. But don’t allow your emotions to take this over.”

Nicksick went on to explain if Sean Strickland can dish out the trash, he should be able to take it as well. He stated, “There’s two sides to that coin. You know, Sean has no problem saying what he says about everybody else, you know, so people are going to probably be poking say things about him as well.”

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The middleweight champion’s coach claimed that the comment by Du Plessis triggered him, but, he went on to say they should stick to their game plan, regardless of what he’s feeling. He stated, “I wanted him to understand that we had we need to have the right motivation; didn’t need to be this infuriated guy going in there ‘I’m gonna kill this guy.’ Because that takes us out of our game and takes us out of our element what we’re good at.”

Eric Nicksick went on to say that Sean Strickland has since calmed down and is focused solely on his fight camp. The Year 2023 has been the year of the middleweight champion, even winning the MMA Junkie male fighter of the year. But Burns revealed in a recent Podcast with Rampage Jackson that the fight between the two was close to being canceled.

Gilbert Burns reveals shocking info on Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis’s scuffle

No.4 ranked UFC welterweight, Gilbert Burns revealed in a recent episode of Jaxxon Podcasts, revealed that he saw how the brawl broke up close. Burns claimed that neither fighter was really able to land clean shots on the other but, the middleweight champion could’ve suffered a serious injury in the scuffle.

‘Durinho’ revealed that Sean Strickland had his ankle stuck between the folding chair, which could’ve snapped it. The 37-year-old exclaimed that Strickland was lucky to come out without any significant injuries.

‘Platinum’ Mike Perry Calls Out the Middleweight Champion, Sean Strickland for a Bare Knuckle Fight

Given the animosity between the two, do you expect Sean Strickland to lose his cool in the fight against Dricus Du Plessis? Or do you believe that the champion would follow the game plan? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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