Dricus Du Plessis did enough to beat Sean Strickland via split decision on Saturday night to capture the middleweight title at UFC 297 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Du Plessis pressed the action throughout the fight and rarely backed down. Strickland was effective landing punches early, but that diminished as the fight went on. As Du Plessis became more comfortable, he began to find his range, and his attacks against Strickland became more effective.
Both men were tagged, with du Plessis' left eye almost swollen shut, while Strickland, who won the title with a decision win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September, had some nasty cuts on the left side of his face.
Du Plessis, coming off a knockout of former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290, also mixed in some well-timed takedowns throughout. There were questions about his tank coming into the fight, but all of those were answered in the five-round contest, which du Plessis won by scores of 47-48, 48-47 and 48-47.
After the match, Du Plessis called out Adesanya, who Du Plessis had some issues with.
Main Card (start time 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)
• Middleweight Championship: Dricus du Plessis defeats Sean Strickland by unanimous decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
• Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington defeats Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45)
• Welterweight: Neil Magny (+310) defeats Mike Malott by TKO at 4:45 of the third round.
• Middleweight: Chris Curtis defeats Marc-Andre Barriault by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
• Featherweight: Movsar Ivlov defeats Arnold Allen by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Prelims (start time 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
• Bantamweight: Garrett Armfield defeated Brad Katona by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Featherweight: Sean Woodson defeats Charles Jordan by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• Bantamweight: Ramon Tavares defeats Serhiy Sidi by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Women's strawweight: Gillian Robertson defeated Pollyanna Viana via TKO at 3:12 of round two.
Early prelims (start time 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
• Welterweight: Sam Patterson defeated Johan Lainis via rear-naked choke at 2:03 of round one
• Women's Flyweight: Jasmine Gasodavicius defeats Priscilla Cachoeira via Darcy choke at 4:21 of round three.
• Flyweight: Jimmy Fleck defeats Malcolm Gordon with an arm triangle at 1:17 of the second round.
He lives85 updates
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This one will be coming soon. I can see 48-47 in both directions. As close to paper as we imagined.
– Luke Thomas 🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) January 21, 2024
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A very stressful relationship between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. Great battle. I have a 3-2 DDP but many of these rounds were close. How to register? #UFC297
– Shaheen Shatti (@shaunalshatti) January 21, 2024
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Great battle. Close close to the fifth round. I think DDP won it 48-47 #UFC297
– Kevin Iole (@KevinI) January 21, 2024
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A slightly scrawny Strickland is in fifth and I have a 48-47 Drakeus.
A close fight and I can't wait to see how it scores.
– Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 21, 2024
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Du Plessis is still going strong in the fifth round. Strickland is looking to bring him back but seems to only do so in short bursts. #UFC297
– Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) January 21, 2024
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Cheers DDP!! amazing. The crowd has transformed!
– Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) January 21, 2024
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Du Plessis is fourth 10-9. Fighting to 38-38 is on my card. The fifth must decide that. #UFC297
– Kevin Iole (@KevinI) January 21, 2024
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A very good fourth round for Du Plessis. I have 2-2. The score could be 3-1 Du Plessis. #UFC297
– Sean Sheehan (SeanSheehanBA) January 21, 2024
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Strickland is bleeding badly around his left eye. The main question is to what extent his vision is impaired. Looks like it might play a role.
– Luke Thomas 🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) January 21, 2024
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Strickland seems to have been checked out a bit mentally. He doesn't fight in his usual style, doesn't listen to his corner at all, and doesn't put pressure on a tired opponent. He's basically in survival mode even though Dricus hasn't done much himself. #ufc297
– Fury's fight picks (@LucaFury) January 21, 2024
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Strickland collided around his left eye early in the fourth round. Du Plessis was pressing well, Strickland still hitting hard. #UFC297
– Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) January 21, 2024
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Strickland does a commendable job of avoiding the worst of DDP's offense, but in two straight rounds he doesn't have much offense to speak of.
29-28 BD
– Luke Thomas 🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) January 21, 2024
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The third round is very close
He leaned in slightly for du Plessis to land more impactful strikes.
29-28 DDP heading into the championship rounds.
– Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 21, 2024
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10-9 Du Plessis. A much better ride for him as he had a better sense of the range.
19-19 through two.
– Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 21, 2024
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Measure approach from all early. There's not much action until the final seconds. #UFC297
– Fury's fight picks (@LucaFury) January 21, 2024
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10-9 Strickland in a close round.
Low production from du Plessis early, but he picked it up as the round went on.
– Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 21, 2024
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Good first round for Strickland
— Mixed Martial Arts Predictor (@PredictionMma) January 21, 2024
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