Dana White blames himself for the shocking brawl that erupted after Sean Strickland ATTACKED Dricus Du Plessis after UFC 296: ‘What kind of an ‘a**hole’ sits them next to each other?’
- Dana White admits he's responsible for a brutal cageside fight at UFC 296
- Sean Strickland was filmed arguing with Dricus Du Plessis that night
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Dana White has admitted he is responsible for a shocking cageside brawl that broke out between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 296 on Saturday night.
Strickland will defend his UFC middleweight title against Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January, with the pair meeting at a pre-season press conference on Friday to promote their fight.
Despite this, a video has surfaced on social media showing the middleweight champion appearing to jump over several chairs at the T-Mobile arena before viciously attacking his upcoming opponent.
The American fighter can be seen signaling several people to move aside before standing up in his seat and firing himself at the South African. He was also seen landing several hammer fists to Du Plessis' head, before a crowd of bodies engulfed the two fighters in an attempt to split them apart.
During a press conference after the event, UFC president Dana White called himself an “a**hole” and admitted he wasn't sure how to get the two fighters to sit close to each other.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland attacked rival Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 296
“What kind of bastard is Strickland sitting next to Du Plessis?” He told reporters before adding: “This a**hole, that's who.”
White has been in charge of the fighting championship since 2001 and admitted the blame for the altercation rests on his shoulders.
“I do every seating assignment every week,” he said, to which a reporter responded, “Okay, so that's up to you?”
White replied, “Yes. How fucking stupid is that. I mean seriously.
'Well, I don't know which people you could put Strickland next to… But certainly not Du Plessis. I don't even know how I missed that…'
While it is unclear what caused the altercation, a camera inside the stadium panned around the crowd before zooming in on the pair of fighters sitting just a few rows apart.
Their upcoming fight will mark the first time Strickland attempts to defend his middleweight belt after beating Israel Adesanya to claim the title in September.
“Listen, this is the case we're in. I jumped in and told Strickland to relax and get in the back,” White added during the brawl.
“He decided to leave, so he left the arena and Du Plessis is good. We were literally just outside the door talking to him.
Dana White blamed herself for the altercation, calling himself an “asshole” for sitting the two next to each other
Strickland (L) and Du Plessis (R) will fight for the undisputed UFC middleweight title at UFC 297
Strickland won the title in dominant fashion from Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September
“Gentlemen, we're in the fighting business. And ladies, we are in the fighting business and these are the things that happen.”
Du Plessis, meanwhile, completed a TKO victory over Robert Whittaker in July, extending his record to 20-2 and winning all of his last eight fights.
White was also asked if he saw Strickland ask several young fans between the pair to get out of the way before jumping on Du Plessis.
White replied, “I didn't know that. That is amazing. “Could you step aside so I can attack this gentleman, please?” Yes, no, not good.'