Watch: Strickland, Du Plessis come to blows cageside at UFC 296

Warning: Video contains coarse language

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland came to blows with upcoming challenger Dricus Du Plessis while both were cageside at UFC 296 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

The full incident between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis at #UFC296 tonight.

Bring on #UFC297 in January! pic.twitter.com/HQt0Uj1jiv
— UFC (@ufc) December 17, 2023

Security broke up Strickland and Du Plessis, and Strickland decided to leave the arena after the scuffle, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed.

The middleweights talked a lot of trash at a press conference Friday, which included Du Plessis bringing up Strickland's family issues during his youth.

White took responsibility for the fighters sitting close to each other at Saturday's event.

Dana White takes all blame for the #UFC296 crowd fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. pic.twitter.com/V6aPktun5W
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 17, 2023

Du Plessis spoke to ESPN reporter Megan Olivi on the UFC 296 pay-per-view broadcast about the incident.

"It's probably not a good example, but here we are," Du Plessis said. "Things happen. Nobody got hurt. All is good."

When asked if this adds more fuel to the fire ahead of UFC 297, Du Plessis said "not at all," and that Strickland "needs to get calm in his head."

"He needs to gain his composure," Du Plessis said. "I know I'm not the champ yet, so I shouldn't really be giving the champ advice. But that would be my advice."

The middleweights continued their feud on social media:

Now I understand why you have a 33% finish rate, you hit like a girl, also 20 January the security won’t be there to save your life when I’m on top. 🤣🤣🤣 #rentfree
— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) December 17, 2023

I go hard on everyone I know this, izzy mouth feeding his dog, Dricus kissing his coach and grabbing his cup. Omally talking about sharing his wife in a podcast.

You're a man, on a world stage doing this in public

And what do you pick?

"You got abused as a kid ha"
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) December 17, 2023

Strickland and Du Plessis headline UFC 297 on Jan. 20 in Toronto.