Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa met for a face-off at the UFC 297 news conference in Toronto. The event, held at The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre on Jan. 18, 2024, boasts of a solid fight card featuring two title bouts and a highly anticipated showdown between featherweight contenders.
The main event at UFC 297 will see Sean Strickland (-135) defend his middleweight championship against Dricus Du Plessis (+115). Strickland, with a record of 28-5, snatched the title from Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, while Du Plessis (20-2) marked his ascent with a major upset victory over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290.
In addition, the women’s bantamweight championship bout features Raquel Pennington (+145) against Mayra Bueno Silva (-175). Pennington, riding a five-fight winning streak, will look to capitalize on her recent success, while Silva, with three straight victories, aims to assert her dominance in the division.
The fight card also includes a welterweight matchup between Neil Magny (+310) and Mike Malott (-400), a middleweight bout between Chris Curtis (-200) and Marc-Andre Barriault (+165), and a featherweight clash between Arnold Allen (+155) and Movsar Evloev (-185).
The preliminary and early preliminary fights added to the excitement of the event, with notable victories from Garrett Armfield, Sean Woodson, Ramon Tavares, Gillian Robertson, Sam Patterson, Jasmine Jasudavicius, and Jimmy Flick.
The event was not short on drama, with close fights and standout performances from the fighters, leaving the audience eager for more. As UFC 297 unfolded, fans were treated to thrilling moments and unexpected outcomes, showcasing the depth of talent in the world of mixed martial arts.
