“Get under his skin,” Former double champ showers praise to ‘King of Africa’ Dricus Du Plessis for playing mind games against Sean Strickland

Henry Cejudo includes Dricus Du Plessis in his naughty list for his antics against Sean Strickland.

“Get under his skin,” Former double champ showers praise to ‘King of Africa’ Dricus Du Plessis for playing mind games against Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland talks about being triggered by Dricus du Plessis (Image via Imago)

Henry Cejudo recently addressed the UFC 296 brawl between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. The clip of the beatdown went viral on social media. Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist wrestler and a two-division UFC champion.

Henry Cejudo recently uploaded a video which he named ‘Cejudo’s Naughty List 2023’. There he went over his top five outrageous moments of the 2023 UFC. Listing Dricus du Plessis at #4 on his list Cejudo said:

I love the fact that he was picking on Sean Strickland. I loved it. Sean Strickland was picking on the rest of the world but guess what? This man was able to get under Sean Strickland's skin. And for that reason, they were able to a brawl in the last fight card of the UFC so for that reason at number four I am going to have to give it to the one and only, the king of Africa Dricus du Plessis.
Henry Cejudo via his YouTube channel
YouTube video

At UFC 296 earlier this December, Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis got into a brawl in the stands. Strickland jumped over chairs and attacked Du Plessis, who fought back. Security separated the two men and escorted Strickland out of the arena. Dricus Du Plessis emphasized no ill will toward Sean Strickland after their UFC 296 brawl.

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Dricus said he respects Strickland and that Strickland showed himself to be a “real man” by standing up for himself. He also said that Strickland’s reaction showed how easy it would be to mentally break him when they face off in January. Du Plessis and Strickland will meet in the main event of UFC 297.

Tension between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis ahead of UFC 297

According to Daniel Cormier, Dricus Du Plessis’s camp views Sean Strickland as an afterthought. Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland will face off in the UFC 297 headliner on January 2024 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Tensions between the two fighters began to rise during the 2024 Season Press Conference when Du Plessis brought up Strickland’s abusive childhood.

Sean Strickland Dricus su Plessis
Sean Strickland attacked Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 296 (Image via X)

Strickland has said that his childhood was rough and that his father was abusive towards him and his mother. He responded to Du Plessis’ comments by writing an emotional note. Strickland also said that the words from Du Plessis and Sean O’Malley were “an utter disgrace.” Du Plessis has said that while it might not be the best behavior for a champion, it is part of the fight game. Here is what Du Plessis said at the press conference: 

Do you think your dad beat the sh*t out of you? Your dad doesn't have sh*t on me. Every childhood memory you have is gonna come back when I'm in there with you.
Dricus Du Plessis at the UFC press conference

Strickland is the new middleweight champion, coming off a major upset win against Israel Adesanya. Meanwhile, Du Plessis is a South African contender who is on a six-fight winning streak and has not lost once since he made his debut in the UFC.

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