“There’s the Beef Behind…” – Maxx Crosby Defends Sean Strickland Against Dricus Du Plessis Ahead of UFC 297

Sean Strickland has found an ally in a star outside the world of MMA ahead of his title clash against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297! Maxx Crosby, the defensive end for the NFL team, Las Vegas Raiders, has been a supporter of Strickland for a while. The two also engaged in an intense sparring session while Crosby was training during the NFL offseason!

Strickland and Du Plessis have been involved in a heated build-up ahead of their clash with trash talk and even an all-out brawl at UFC 296. As such, Crosby’s statements highlight the massive stakes involved for both men in the clash. But as the event draws near, Du Plessis has also revealed that all trash talk aside, he is focused on only one thing come fight night! 

Sean Strickland has NFL star Maxx Crosby rooting for him

Maxx Crosby has been spotted at multiple UFC events and is a fan of the sport. His relationship with Sean Strickland is unique as both men trained together during the NFL offseason. In an interview on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ in 2023, Crossby revealed, “We did three rounds of sparring and we beat the s*** out of each other.”

And so, fans shouldn’t be surprised to hear that Crossby has proclaimed his support for Strickland as he gears up to defend his title. In an Instagram Reel recently shared by UFC’s official account, Crossby proclaimed, “I already know, there’s beef behind it, there’s drama behind it, and I cannot f***ing wait to watch it. I know he’s going to be at his best.”

Strickland, responding to the anticipation, shared his perspective on the fight. He emphasized his focus on the act of fighting itself and revealed, “I never really like focus on the win, I just want to fight. So it’s never about winning or losing, it’s just about being a f***ing man and just letting the hands go.”

The UFC middleweight champion also expressed his excitement, acknowledging Crosby’s viewership and conveying a positive outlook on life. The anticipation for the UFC 297 clash is definitely getting intensified with support coming from notable figures like Max Crosby.

However, the challenger, Du Plessis is ready to dethrone Strickland and recently revealed his honest thoughts on the heated exchanges between the pair!

Watch This Story: TW Watch: Sean Strickland Threatens To Stab Dricus Du Plessis If UFC Star Brings Up His Abusive Father In Trash Talk 

‘Stillknocks’ has no regrets ahead of UFC 297

Dricus du Plessis is gearing up to challenge Sean Strickland for the middleweight title at UFC 297, with the bad blood between them reaching its peak after a fiery press conference in December turned into a full-blown brawl at UFC 296. Du Plessis, however, holds no regrets about the verbal exchanges that led to the altercation.

In a recent interview on The MMA Hour, Du Plessis addressed the fallout and stated, “I said what I said. Listen, if you’re dishing it out, you’re going to get it. I’m not going to keep on hammering on it, but I stand by what I said.”

While du Plessis acknowledged the severity of what happened to Strickland regarding his rough childhood, he emphasized that boundaries were crossed when Strickland disrespected him and his coach. Now, as they approach their title fight, the South African fighter’s statements indicate that he aims to reset and focus solely on the business aspect of the match!

Read More: “He Does Not Like When…” – Dricus Du Plessis Claims Dana White’s Resentment “Made Sense” as Sean Strickland Grabbed His Opportunity Against Israel Adesanya

Do you think Sean Strickland will be able to hold on to his title at UFC 297? Share your thoughts in the comments below!