(LR) Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa beats American Sean Strickland in the middleweight championship fight during UFC 297 at Scotiabank Arena on January 20, 2024 in Toronto. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Dricus Du Plessis did just enough on Saturday night to defeat Sean Strickland via split decision and capture the middleweight title at UFC 297 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Du Plessis pressed the action throughout the fight and rarely took a step back. Strickland was effective with his jab early on, but that wore off as the fight progressed. As Du Plessis became more comfortable, he began to find his range and his blitz attacks against Strickland became more effective.
Both men had Du Plessis' right eye nearly swollen shut, and Strickland, who won the title in September by winning a decision over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, had some nasty cuts on the right side of his face.
Du Plessis, who knocked out former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290, also delivered some timely takedowns along the way. There were questions about his gas tank entering the fight, but all of those questions were answered in the five-round contest, which Du Plessis won with scores of 47-48, 48-47 and 48-47.
After the fight, Du Plessis called out Adesanya, with whom Du Plessis had some issues.
Main card (start time 10:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)
• Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis defeats Sean Strickland via 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) defeated Mike Malott by TKO at 4:45 of the third round
• Middleweight: Chris Curtis defeats Marc-Andre Barriault via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
• Featherweight: Movsar Evloev defeats Arnold Allen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Prelims (start time 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
• Bantamweight: Garrett Armfield defeats Brad Katona by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Featherweight: Sean Woodson defeated Charles Jourdain via split decision (28-29 29-28 29-28)
• Bantamweight: Ramon Tavares defeats Serhiy Sidey via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Women's strawweight: Gillian Robertson defeated Polyana Viana by TKO at 3:12 of the second round
Early Prelims (Start time 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
• Welterweight: Sam Patterson defeated Yohan Lainesse via rear-naked choke at 2:03 of the first round
• Women's flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius defeated Priscila Cachoeira via d'arce choke at 4:21 of the third round
• Flyweight: Jimmy Flick defeated Malcolm Gordon via arm triangle at 1:17 of the second round
Live85 updates
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:35am GMT
This one will be nearby. I can see 48-47 in both directions. On paper, as close as we imagined.
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:35am GMT
Absolutely exhausting affair from Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis. Great fight. I have this 3-2 DDP, but some of those rounds were close. How do you score? #UFC297
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:34am GMT
Great fight. Complete the fifth round. I think DDP wins 48:47 #UFC297
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:34am GMT
Slightly lean Strickland in the 5th and I have it 48-47 Dricus.
Close fight and I'm excited to see how it turns out.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:31am GMT
Du Plessis is still charging forward powerfully on lap 5. Strickland tries to push him back, but only seems to do so in short bursts. #UFC297
– Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:30am GMT
Chants from DDP!! Wow. The crowd turned!
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:28am GMT
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:28am GMT
Du Plessis is in fourth place at 10-9. The fight is actually 38-38 on my card. Fifth should decide on it. #UFC297
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:28am GMT
Very good 4th round for Du Plessis. I have it 2-2. It could well be 3:1 for Du Plessis. #UFC297
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:27am GMT
Strickland is bleeding profusely around his left eye. The crucial question is to what extent it affects his vision. Looks like it might play a role.
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:27am GMT
Strickland appears to be a bit mentally drained. He doesn't fight with his usual style, doesn't listen to his corner at all, doesn't push a tired opponent. He's basically in survival mode, even if Dricus himself hasn't done much. #ufc297
– Fury’s Fighting Tips (@LucaFury) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:26am GMT
Strickland suffered a left eye injury early in the fourth round. Du Plessis pressed well, Strickland still delivered the jab hard. #UFC297
– Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:22am GMT
Strickland does a commendable job of avoiding DDP's worst offense, but that's two rounds in a row where he doesn't offer much offense of his own.
29-28 DDP
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:22am GMT
Very close 3rd round.
Slight tilt towards du Plessis for landing the more effective punches.
29-28 DDP goes into the championship rounds.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:15am GMT
10-9 du Plessis. The lap was much better for him as he had a better feel for the range.
19-19 by two.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:15am GMT
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:10am GMT
Moderate approach right from the start. There isn't much action until the final seconds. #UFC297
– Fury’s Fighting Tips (@LucaFury) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:09am GMT
10-9 Strickland in a close round.
At the beginning, du Plessis' performance was low, but he improved as the lap progressed.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:09am GMT
Good first round for Strickland
– MMA Prediction Guru (@PredictionMma) January 21, 2024
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 at 6:05am GMT