Dricus du Plessis knows that there is no doubt that Sean Strickland is a powerful fighter in the cage. Yet, the South African also believes that in terms of his character, the champ is a “one-hundred percent” hypocrite for preaching about the limits of trash-talking when he’s a bully himself.
Du Plessis and Strickland recently clashed physically during the UFC 296 while sitting with the crowd. The brawl followed Du Plessis’ comment on the opponent’s traumatic childhood, which “Tarzan” shared in a recent interview. According to the middleweight champ, there are limits in talking trash against a fellow fighter, including “a man’s wife,” “a man’s kids,” and “a kid being abused.”
While some would buy the emotional interview, Du Plessis doesn’t think it fits the character of Strickland as a fighter known for making malicious comments toward his fellow fighters and their relatives. In line with this, the title challenger explained why a crying Strickland in front of the camera confessing his childhood memory is irrelevant.
“…Do I think he’s a hypocrite? One hundred percent,” Du Plessis told MMA On Point. “One hundred percent. Obviously childhood trauma is something you can’t help, but if you know what it feels like to be the one on the receiving end of such trauma, don’t inflict it on others, because that’s exactly what he does. So yes, I feel bad for him, and I don’t think any kid deserves that, ever.
“If you go after other people, eventually they’re going to come after you. And I think he’s used to being the bully, and he’s not used to being bullied. But I don’t have to hammer on that. I already won that fight; I won that press conference. I don’t want to keep on hammering on the same thing. Yes, he cried on Theo Von’s podcast. I guess it was terrible, and like I said, no kid deserves that. No kid deserves to go through that. But if you want to dish it out, you better take it. And like I said, I have mad respect for him as a fighter, even as a person. He’s always been a straight-up guy. Even the fact that he tried to fight me in the crowd, that was him being a man.
“What I’m saying is, if you want to dish it out, be able to take it, man, or you’re just a hypocrite. You didn’t deserve that as a kid, but as a grown man, you dish it out; you’re going to get it. That is the way the world works, unfortunately…”
Despite this, Du Plessis acknowledged the champ’s capability as a fighter who reached the top of the division. “Stillknocks” also tapped recent talks that the champ is now growing some abs, but he doesn’t think it is something to celebrate or bother him.
“I think we give him a lot more credit than he deserves in terms of mindset,” Du Plessis said. “I don’t think he thinks about anything. I think he goes out there and he fights, he fights the way Sean Strickland fights. He always has and he’s an incredible fighter…
‘…I see everybody talking about Sean Strickland having muscle now,” du Plessis continued. “Well, welcome to being a professional. I’ve had it my whole career. Nice, you have abs for the first time. I’m really happy for you. But that’s what you should look like as a professional athlete. Good job. I’m really happy that I can motivate you get some abs. But it doesn’t bother me. Good luck with those abs; I’ve been fighting with mine for years.”
