UFC 297 Recap: Victors, Exciting Finishes, Bonuses, and Highlights

UFC 297 Recap

In Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night, Dricus Du Plessis secured a thrilling victory over Sean Strickland in the highly contested main event of UFC 297.

Du Plessis emerged triumphant through a split decision, as two judges scored the bout 49-48 in his favor, while the third judge gave the nod to Strickland with an identical score.

Du Plessis maintained relentless pressure that gradually wore down Strickland throughout their grueling five-round battle.

Both competitors bore the scars of the intense bout, with Strickland sustaining a brutal cut near his left eye, while Du Plessis fought through considerable swelling over his left eyelid. Fortunately, the middleweight stalwarts salvaged the evening after a lackluster co-main event fell short of UFC’s championship standards.

Amidst the pre-fight animosity between Du Plessis and Strickland, the fighters exhibited mutual respect in the Octagon and during the post-fight press conferences. Although Strickland expressed a desire for a rematch, Du Plessis used his post-fight microphone time to issue a callout to Israel Adesanya.

Adesanya, a former two-time UFC middleweight champion who took a hiatus from the sport after losing the title to Strickland in September 2023, was the target of Du Plessis’ challenge. A potential Adesanya vs. Du Plessis showdown promises to be a lucrative bout, complete with memorable quotes leading up to the fight, provided Adesanya is prepared to make his return.

In one of UFC’s least memorable championship clashes, Raquel Pennington secured a lackluster victory over a lackadaisical and fatigued Mayra Bueno Silva across five rounds. MMA media and members of the sports community did not hold back on their disappointment, expressing their displeasure with the bout on various platforms.

The majority of the bout unfolded along the cage, with Pennington consistently closing the distance despite her corner’s advice to maintain distance and focus on striking.

Bueno Silva and her corner appeared disorganized, and the fighter showed a lack of urgency by staying on her back for the final 15 seconds of the fight. The overall lack of action was surprisingly uneventful, especially considering the stakes involved.

Regardless, the judges’ decision in favor of Pennington was well-founded, as she clearly deserved the win.

Looking ahead, MMA enthusiasts can anticipate the return of Julianna Pena, the ascent of Irene Aldana, or even Valentina Shevchenko’s potential move up in weight to elevate the division’s overall quality.

UFC 297 Results, Scorecards, Finishes, and Highlights

• Dricus Du Plessis def. (c) Sean Strickland – split decision (49-48×2, 48-49) – new champion
• Raquel Pennington def. Mayra Bueno Silva – unanimous decision (49-46×2, 49-45) – new champion

Neil Magny def. Mike Malott – third-round TKO (Punches)

Chris Curtis def. Marc-Andre Barriault – split decision (30-27×2, 28-29)

Movsar Evloev def. Arnold Allen – unanimous decision (29-28×3)

Garrett Armfield def. Brad Katona – unanimous decision (29-28×3)

Sean Woodson def. Charles Jourdain – split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)

Ramon Taveras def. Serhiy Sidey – split-decision (29-28×2, 28-29)

Gillian Robertson def. Polyana Viana – second-round TKO (Ground-And-Pound Punches)

What’s Next For the UFC?

On Saturday, Feb. 3, at the UFC Apex, Roman Dolidze faces Nassourdine Imavov in a battle between Top-10 middleweights.