Trash Talk Between Strickland and Du Plessis Raises Concerns Ahead of UFC 297

The trash talk leading up to the highly anticipated UFC 297 title fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis has taken a controversial turn, leaving some uncomfortable, including former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa.

In an interview with The MMA Hour, Costa expressed his disapproval of the fighters' choice of words, particularly when it comes to involving family. He called for more creativity and less cringe in their verbal exchanges. While he acknowledged that fighters should be authentic in expressing their true feelings, Costa felt that the current level of trash talk was excessive and made him feel uncomfortable.

Costa also shared his thoughts on the fighters' skills, stating that Strickland and Du Plessis may not be widely recognized for their techniques but are formidable competitors nonetheless. He described their styles as unusual, noting that Strickland's approach to MMA is unorthodox, much like Du Plessis. Costa predicted that their clash would be more driven by "bad feelings" rather than technical prowess, claiming to have no idea who would emerge victorious.

As the countdown to UFC 297 continues, Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is set to defend his title against Du Plessis in the pay-per-view main event on Saturday, January 20, 2024. The exciting showdown will take place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

While Costa weighed in on the upcoming fight, he also has his own bout scheduled. He is slated to face former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in Anaheim, and a victory could potentially put him back in contention for the title.

UFC 297 promises to be an action-packed event, with other highly anticipated matchups featuring notable fighters such as Raquel Pennington, Mayra Bueno Silva, Neil Magny, Chris Curtis, and Arnold Allen. Fans can catch the event live on ESPN+ through the pay-per-view stream.

MMAmania.com will provide extensive coverage of the UFC 297 fight card, offering live round-by-round updates and blow-by-blow analysis. The coverage will begin with the early ESPN+ "Prelims" matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the rest of the undercard fights on ESPNN/ ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. The exciting main card, headlined by the Strickland vs. Du Plessis bout, is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

With the trash talk commanding attention and the fighters' skills in question, UFC 297 is shaping up to be an event that fans won't want to miss. Stay tuned for the latest updates and news on "Strickland vs. Du Plessis" as the anticipation builds ahead of fight night.

(Note: This article is generated solely based on the provided information and does not include any additional entities, numbers, or dates.)