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January 20, 2024 | Posted by Robert Winfree
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MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Sean Strickland (184.75 lbs.) vs. #2 Dricus Du Plessis (184 lbs.) – for middleweight title
#2 Raquel Pennington (134.8 lbs.) vs. #3 Mayra Bueno Silva (135 lbs.) – for vacant women’s bantamweight title
#13 Neil Magny (170.75 lbs.) vs. Mike Malott (170.5 lbs.)
Marc-Andre Barriault (184.5 lbs.) vs. #14 Chris Curtis (185.25 lbs.)
#4 Arnold Allen (145.5 lbs.) vs. #9 Movsar Evloev (145.75 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
Garrett Armfield (135.25 lbs.) vs. Brad Katona (136 lbs.)
Charles Jourdain (145.5 lbs.) vs. Sean Woodson (145.5 lbs.)
Serhiy Sidey (135 lbs.) vs. Ramon Taveras (139.75 lbs.)*
Gillian Robertson (115.75 lbs.) vs. Polyana Viana (115.75 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Yohan Lainesse (170.75 lbs.) vs. Sam Patterson (169.5 lbs.)
Priscila Cachoeira (133.5 lbs.) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (133 lbs.) – moved to bantamweight after initial flyweight contract weight
Jimmy Flick (126 lbs.) vs. Malcolm Gordon (127.5 lbs.)*

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 297, I’m your host Robert Winfree and I’ll be keeping you up to date on all the action. We’ve got the first UFC PPV of 2024 here and it’s a bit of an odd duck. The main event is for the middleweight title when newly minted champion Sean Strickland looks for his first defense when he takes on the surging Dricus Du Plessis. These two beat divisional mainstays Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker respectively in their last fights and now try to shape the future of the division. Things fall off a bit after that, our co-main event is one of the most inauspicious title fights in UFC history. The women’s bantamweight title spent almost all of 2023 inactive after Amanda Nunes retired early in the year and now for the first time since June of last year it’s in action when Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva fight for the vacant belt. Elsewhere on the card Neil Magny tries to avoid his first losing streak in a decade against Mike Malott, Chris Curtis and Marc-Andre Barriault has some potential, and the featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Movsar Evloev could be important for the future of that division. On the prelims the pickings get super slim but I’ve got Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson circled, and our curtain jerker between Jimmy Flick and Malcolm Gordon might have some fun grappling exchanges. Apart from that let’s hope for good action.

UFC 297 comes to the world from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Jon Anik, Dominick Cruz, and Daniel Cormier will be on the call with Megan Olivi roving around. I believe the Ontario commission uses the same rules as the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board so I’m not sure about the stance on instant replay but everything else should be pretty standard. Keep in mind that we’re in the larger 30 foot Octagon set up as well.

Malcolm Gordon has gone 2-4 in the UFC and is on his second two fight losing streak during that stretch, he also missed weight for the second time in his UFC run and needs a win to try and smooth all that over. Jimmy Flick has gone 1-2 in the UFC and is on a two fight losing streak, much like Gordon he could realistically be fighting for his job here. The odds are with Gordon at -200 to +165 for Flick.

Flyweight Bout: Jimmy Flick (16-7, 126 lbs.) vs. Malcolm Gordon (14-7, 127.5 lbs.)*

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height but Gordon has three inches of reach advantage. Gordon comes out jabbing and looking to scrap. Flick misses a head kick. A couple of uppercuts from Gordon land before Flick ties him up in a clinch. Flick gets taken down into side control and Gordon looks to start landing strikes. Flick quickly hip escapes to full guard and starts working from there. Some punches from Gordon land, Flick tries a triangle choke and it’s pretty tight. Flick starts adjusting the choke, Gordon is trying to strike through it while Flick looks to change the angle and really lock down the choke. After a bit Flick bails on the choke and Gordon moves to half guard. Gordon lands a few more punches and looks to pass. Flick is trying to work his half guard now, he gets full guard back but Gordon keeps trying to hit him in the head. Gordon keeps looking to pass but he can’t quite get around the knee of Flick as the “woos” start, immediately dropping Canada in my estimation. Flick starts to wall walk, Gordon grabs a guillotine and rolls to top position with it but Flick keeps rolling and looks to counter with a Von Flue choke. Gordon is able to block Flick from getting to side control with the choke and they’ll just kind of hang out there as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gordon

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Flick opens with a leg kick. Gordon is coming forward and they both land punches. A couple of rights from Gordon land, Flick is in a bit of trouble but he grabs a single leg and then gets on top of Gordon. Flick grabs at an arm triangle, he’s in half guard but if his grip is right he can still finish it. The choke is pretty tight and Flick drops his weight to fully lock it down and get the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Jimmy Flick via Submission, arm triangle choke, at 1:17 of Round 2

Mic time for Flick despite the crowd booing him pretty loudly, and he sucks up to the crowd just a bit who still boo him. He says he’s been drug through the mud to get this win and while he knows this wasn’t his best performance he got the job done. He mentions how he retired a few years ago and mentions how his relationship with his father has changed and promises to give him these fight gloves. When talking us through the finish he mentions how hard he works on his grappling and says he might have gotten Gordon out of there in the first with that Von Flue choke but ran out of time.

Pretty solid grappling from Flick, Gordon got a bit too excited pursuing him and that allowed Flick to get low on his hips then spin to the back. From there it was about threatening the arm triangle and then leveraging Gordon down to his back where he could finish it.

Jasmine Jasudavicius has gone 3-2 in the UFC but she’s coming off of a loss and is trying to avoid her first ever losing streak. Priscila Cachoeira is the reason this is at bantamweight because she couldn’t make flyweight and asked during fight week for the weight change, she’s also chronically dirty with a bevy of fouls to her name and shouldn’t be in the UFC. She’s coming off of a loss and is trying to avoid another losing streak while also apparently trying to sort out which division she should be in. All things considered I’m a little surprised Jasudavicius is only a -410 favorite, but then again with some of Cachoeira’s punching power +320 might be asking for some trouble if you’re taking bets.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Priscila Cachoeira (12-5, 133.5 lbs.) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (9-3, 133 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Jasudavicius has three inches of reach advantage. Cachoeira comes forward and they trade lefts. Jasudavicius lands a left but Cachoeira tries to bull forward only to get double legged into half guard. Cachoeira tries to roll but Jasudavicius stays on top and keeps her from wall walking. Jasudavicius finally gets some control in leg drag and lands some lefts to the head. Some more hammer fists from Jasudavicius and she passes to side control. Jasudavicius is nearly rocking a stockade position and lands lefts while she moves to the back. Back mount for Jasudavicius now and she unloads with punches while moving to full mount. Elbows from Jasudavicius then more hammer fists. Cachoeira is trying to hold on and control posture but Jasudavicius just keeps punching her. You know, the ref could stop this and no one would complain now. Jasudavicius tries to work elbows but she’s losing urgency on top. Cachoeira keeps trying to get her legs in play but Jasudavicius is blocking them. A big flurry from Jasudavicius could prompt the stoppage here but she’s slowed a lot of her offensive attack. A few short more blows from Jasudavicius land before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Jasudavicius

ROUND TWO: Cachoeira comes forward again and looks to wing punches. Jasudavicius circles away but takes a calf kick. Jasudavicius lands a right hand that drops Cachoeira, she gets on top in half guard and looks to get back to work. Some rights from Jasudavicius, she’s just flowing all over Cachoeira. Jasudavicius moves to full mount, let’s see if she can get some more damaging strikes working this time. Jasudavicius is working for an arm triangle but Cachoeira defends. Cachoeira is trying to shrimp, Jasudavicius moves to side control briefly then grabs a d’arce choke but can’t quite finish it as Cachoeira is holding half guard. Jasudavicius lands a few elbows then grabs the d’arce again and looks to finish it, then she uses it to mount again. The position means the d’arce doesn’t really work but Jasudavicius is happy to bail on it and unload with more punches and elbows from full mount. Jasudavicius once again can’t find anything really damaging as the round ends. Cachoeira’s corner should probably stop this, but they wont.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Jasudavicius, borderline 10-7 really, 20-16 Jasudavicius overall

ROUND THREE: Cachoeira slowly meanders forward looking to try and brawl. Jasudavicius with some leg kicks while circling. Front kick from Jasudavicius. Cachoeira blocks a takedown but then eats a knee. Jasudavicius is coming forward now and lands a couple of rights then a front kick. Cachoeira hits nothing but air with some hooks. Jasudavicius lands a couple of rights. Both women land in close. Jasudavicius tries a double leg but Cachoeira defends. A few labored punches go back and forth then Cachoeira spins away from a clinch attempt. Jasudavicius lands a right hand. Cachoeira avoids a takedown then tosses Jasudavicius aside but Jasudavicius comes up on a double leg when Cachoeira doesn’t just separate and Jasudavicius gets a takedown into side control. Mounted crucifix from Jasudavicius and she starts landing punches to the head. If Jasudavicius had any power on her punches this would be over. Jasudavicius moves to north-south but then goes to knee on throat and lands more hammer fists. Cachoeira is just holding on for the end of the round at this point. Jasudavicius could grab an armbar, she’s thinking about it but instead just lands some body shots. Another d’arce attempt from Jasudavicius, she mounts with it and this time is able to get the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Jasmine Jasudavicius via Submission, d’arce choke, at 4:21 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Ms. Jasudavicius for her work this evening. Mic time for Jasudavicius, she dedicates the win to a friend who’s fighting cancer and asks for prayers for her friend. She admits to gassing herself just a bit in the first round but she really wanted to get the finish after Cachoeira’s weight nonsense during fight week. She promises to be better next time and calls Cachoeira a dirty fighter, which is true, and she wanted to prove she could beat her under any circumstances.

A mounted d’arce is hard to pull off, but having your opponent on the wrong end of a 326 to 26 strike total definitely helps.

Yohan Lainesse has gone 1-2 in the UFC and he’s coming off of a loss, now he’s trying to avoid his first losing streak and get his UFC record back to the .500 mark. Sam Patterson dropped his UFC debut almost a year ago but now he’s back in action and looking for that all important first UFC win. Pretty close one here but the odds are with Lainesse at -140 to +130 on Patterson.

Welterweight Bout: Yohan Lainesse (9-2, 170.75 lbs.) vs. Sam Patterson (10-2-1, 169.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Patterson has two inches of height and reach advantage. Circling from Patterson early as both men do a bit of feinting. Both men miss punches as they try and get a read on each other. Bit of a left hook from Patterson. Lainesse lands a right hand to counter a jab, Patterson stays straight upright when punching and Lainesse caught him with that one. Patterson avoids a takedown with a front headlock and tries to move to a ride position. Patterson now on the back with one hook in and he’s after a choke. The choke is in and Lainesse has to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Sam Patterson via Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:03 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Patterson for his work this evening. Mic time for Patterson, he wants to change his life this year and feels this is a good start to that goal. He says welterweight is a better fit for him than lightweight where he used to fight, the man is 6’3 he shouldn’t be making 155. To close he talks us through the finish.

This is pretty standard stuff from Patterson here getting the finish, but doing the basics correctly will take you a long way.

Gillian Robertson has gone 3-2 in her last five fights but she’s coming off of a loss and has gone 1-1 since returning to strawweight, now she’s trying to get back on the winning side of things and make a move towards the top of the division. Polyana Viana has gone 3-2 in her last fight fights but she’s also coming off of a loss and is trying to right the ship to start the year. Robertson is a decently large favorite at -300 to a +240 comeback on Viana.

Strawweight Bout: Gillian Robertson (12-8, 115.75 lbs.) vs. Polyana Viana (13-6, 115.75 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Viana has four inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get things going. Both women probe with strikes while Robertson is generally pressing forward. Single leg from Robertson and she gets on top in half guard. Robertson is fishing for a kimura grip but Viana is hip to it and defending thus far. Eventually Robertson gets the double wrist lock but can’t keep it. Viana is struggling to keep her left arm safe but does finally get it free. Elbow from Robertson. A few more elbows from Robertson and she passes to full mount. Viana gives up the back and Robertson keeps looking to tee off, then grabs at an arm triangle and is able to threaten to get off to the side but Viana is able to defend but does give up her back again, this time she at least gets to turtle though. Robertson switches to mount as they move around and she lands more elbows then grabs an armbar, the attack gets her to spiderweb position. Viana tries to stack and slam out of the danger, Robertson does lose the arm though and they reset on the feet just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Robertson, might be a 10-8 argument in there if you’re generous

ROUND TWO: Viana looks to punch again as the round starts. They trade rights. Robertson is coming forward again and they trade rights. Viana doing some stance switching but mostly stays orthodox. Robertson eventually hits a single leg and is back on top in half guard. Robertson is trying to pass back to mount, and does so then gets the back. Punches from Robertson as she’s trying to attack an arm triangle. More punches from Robertson, Viana isn’t moving as much now as Robertson rides between back mount and full mount. Robertson with some elbows now, she’s trying to make Viana move and give up a limb. More punches from Robertson and Viana just covers up which leads the ref to step in.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Gillian Robertson via TKO, punches and elbows, at 3:12 of Round 2

Mic time for Robertson, she’s very happy to be fighting in her native Canada again. She puts over her grappling ability then talks us through the finish. Asked about the future she wants a ranked opponent next, which isn’t out of line.

Viana just can’t handle the position, and if you can’t address the position you’re just covering up and taking damage.

Serhiy Sidey brings a six fight winning streak into his UFC debut and he’s hoping to make the most of this one chance to make a good first impression on the UFC audience. Ramon Taveras missed weight by nearly five pounds for his UFC debut, never a good look, and he’s trying to at least get a win out of all of this. The odds lean towards Sidey at -190 to +160 on Taveras.

Bantamweight Bout: Serhiy Sidey (10-1, 135 lbs.) vs. Ramon Taveras (9-2, 139.75 lbs.)*

ROUND ONE: Sidey is three inches taller with two inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Taveras. Both men with some feinting, both men will do a bit of stance switching it looks like but they seem to both favor open stance at the moment. Taveras avoids a combination. Sidey keeps pressing forward, he forces a clinch and they hit the fence. They break pretty quickly and without incident. Sidey misses a head kick. Calf kick from Sidey. Taveras lands a calf kick. Left hook from Sidey lands, then a right hand behind it. Sidey with a front kick, he’s maximizing the range difference. Another right from Sidey. Sidey lands a jab after having a head kick blocked. A left to the body from Taveras lands after he slipped a few punches. Sidey lands a calf kick. Taveras with a calf kick. Sidey keeps firing high kicks, they’re blocked at the moment but are dangerous. Taveras slips a one two and lands a left to the body. Sidey lands a body kick. Left hand from Taveras, then a second one. Sidey lands a calf kick then misses a head kick. Hard calf kick from Sidey. Taveras blocks a high kick then wobbles Sidey with a right hand just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Taveras

ROUND TWO: Taveras lands a left to the body then sprawls away from a takedown. Sidey lands a right hand but he’s being a bit predictable with his forward pressure and Taveras is starting to counter him. They trade power hand punches. Bit of a head kick from Sidey then an up elbow. Front kick from Sidey. Taveras slips a few punches then blocks a high kick. Some long range punches from Sidey land then he misses a knee. Hard calf kick from Sidey, every time Taveras goes orthodox he’s slamming that one home. One two from Taveras drops Sidey, he’s back up but Taveras is stalking him now and looking to bomb on him. Sidey’s face is a bloody mess but he keeps coming and lands a one two. Body kick from Sidey. Taveras blocks a high kick. The pressure from Sidey is starting to get to Taveras a little bit but he’s adjusting well so far. A left to the body from Sidey lands. Another body shot from Sidey, he’s still trying to find offense. Bit of a head kick from Sidey then a left hook behind it. Sidey with a body kick. Taveras is starting to hang out in front of the fence now as Sidey just wont stop pressuring him. Left hook from Sidey. Another right from Sidey, then a bit of a combination behind it. Hard body kick from Sidey then a knee to the body. Uppercuts and elbows in close from Sidey as they clinch up. A final elbow from Sidey then a jab to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sidey but a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Sidey gets back to forward pressure right away. Jabs from Sidey. Taveras lands a one two. Sidey with a body kick. Front kick from Sidey and he’s getting Taveras towards the fence again. Sidey lands a body kick. Another body kick from Sidey. Sidey lands a right hand. Taveras lands a one two in close. They trade body kicks then Taveras lands a left hand. Sidey jabs in and lands a leg kick. Taveras lands a left hand. Sidey with a combination along the fence. Knee to the body from Sidey then a right hand behind it. Sidey with a right to the body. They trade jabs. Sidey lands a front kick. Left hand from Taveras and he’s starting to get his legs back under him. Sidey lands another body kick. Another body kick from Sidey. Sidey lands a calf kick then a jumping knee but Taveras just eats it. Sidey with another jab, he’s definitely out working Taveras thus far. Body kick from Sidey. Taveras walks into an elbow but he’s starting to come forward more now. Taveras tries a combination and both men miss punches then Sidey lands one last body kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sidey, 29-28 Sidey overall but ultimately could go either way

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ramon Taveras via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Well that’s your early front runner for Fight of the Night. Can’t be upset with 29-28 either way, round two was super close. Mic time for Taveras, he felt he earned the win with the first and second rounds and ultimately that he connected more. Asked about missing weight he says he needs a nutritionist and apologizes for missing weight. He’s happy with the fight and the win and puts over Sidey to close.

Charles Jourdain has gone 2-2 in his last four fights but he’s on a two fight winning streak and has made no secret of his intention to mount a serious push towards the top of the division this year, to that end he needs a win here if that’s going to be a realistic goal. Sean Woodson has gone 4-1-1 in the UFC and hasn’t lost since 2020, he’s likewise hoping to make a move up the ranks this year and pulling the upset against a respected guy like Jourdain would be a good way to get that going. Jourdain is your -205 favorite while +170 on Woodson might tempt a few bettors out there.

Featherweight Bout: Charles Jourdain (15-6-1, 145.5 lbs.) vs. Sean Woodson (10-1-1, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Woodson is three and half inches taller with a big 9 inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going, Jourdain fighting southpaw. Woodson is doing a lot of feinting and blocks a high kick. Some stance switching from Woodson now as they’re looking for reads on each other. They clash on calf kicks. Stiff jab from Woodson then a calf kick. Another calf kick from Woodson and Jourdain falls short with his counters. Bit of a blitz from Woodson. Another jab from Woodson then a left hand. Jourdain lands a calf kick but he’s struggling with the length of Woodson. Bit of a left from Woodson. Woodson lands a front kick. Jourdain lands a calf kick but eats a right hook. Left hand from Jourdain lands. Woodson lands a right hand. Jourdain tries to bull forward but can’t find the target with his punches. Bit of a left from Jourdain. Woodson avoids a wheel kick then slips away from a right hand. Short punches from Woodson land. Solid left hand from Woodson. Woodson lands a right to the body then a calf kick. Jourdain walks into a knee, he catches it but boy did he eat that one. Woodson defends in the clinch, then lands a left hook and avoids another wheel kick as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Woodson

ROUND TWO: Bit of a one two from Woodson. Jourdain misses a combination and eats a hook during it. Hard body kick from Woodson. Short right from Woodson in close. Woodson lands a couple of calf kicks, that second one seemed to bother Jourdain. Jourdain misses a combination, he’s running out of ideas. Counter left from Woodson lands. Another left from Woodson then a one two. Woodson lands another calf kick. Jourdain eats another knee, he’s trying for a takedown but Woodson lands elbows while defending against the fence. Short punches go back and forth once they settle more into a clinch. Woodson threatens a ninja choke and that gets Jourdain to back off and disengage. Bit of a jab from Woodson. Jourdain is trying to pressure forward but he can’t corral Woodson. Left hand from Woodson. Jourdain punches into a clinch but again Woodson defends on the fence. Woodson avoids a wheel kick when they break. Jourdain misses a jumping kick. Jabs from Woodson keep coming out and bothering Jourdain. Glancing head kick from Jourdain then he avoids a leg kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Woodson but a close one, 20-18 Woodson overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Woodson fires a high kick that’s blocked. Jourdain has a high kick blocked. Woodson lands a jab. Another jab from Woodson and Jourdain falls short on his counters. Jourdain bulls forward but he can’t find the target. More jabs from Woodson then a right hook in close as he pivots away from Jourdain. Jourdain forces a clinch but gets put on the fence. Woodson slips to the back but Jourdain quickly gets chest to chest again then lands a right hand as they break. Jourdain pushes for a double leg but Woodson defends then slips free. Bit of a left from Woodson. Jourdain misses a leg kick then eats a right shovel hook. Woodson avoids a rush attack then lands a hard left to the body. Jourdain misses a jumping knee. Woodson avoids another hook and wheel kick. Jourdain misses a spinning back kick. Woodson lands a jab. Left hand from Woodson then Jourdain forces another clinch. Woodson lands punches while defending a single leg then he breaks the clinch. Another left from Woodson as Jourdain forces a clinch but he can’t keep it again. Woodson lands a couple of punches in close. Jourdain jumps on a guillotine in close, but Woodson pulls his head free and unloads with rights on top as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Woodson, 30-27 Woodson overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Sean Woodson via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

I can’t get on board with 29-28 for Jourdain, the second was close but the first and third weren’t that close. Mic time for Woodson, apparently the ref raised Jourdain’s hand by mistake and the crowd isn’t happy, he says this was the toughest camp of his life and puts over Jourdain as a tough opponent. He admits the fight was close and if it had gone to Jourdain he wasn’t going to cry robbery at all.

Brad Katona returned to the UFC last year and won a pointless season of TUF to get back in the promotion, now he’s trying to build his first UFC winning streak since 2018 and prove he’s found his footing as a fighter. Garrett Armfield has gone 1-1 in the UFC but he is coming off of a win and could build his first UFC winning streak tonight by upsetting the native Canadian Katona. The odds are with Katona at -205 to +180 for Armfield.

Bantamweight Bout: Garrett Armfield (9-3, 135.25 lbs.) vs. Brad Katona (13-2, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Armfield has five and a half inches of reach advantage. Both men come out feinting. Armfield probes with some inside leg kicks. Jab from Armfield lands. Armfield jabs the body a couple of times. More jabs from Armfield then a left hook to the body and a calf kick. That jab from Armfield is working pretty consistently at the moment. Katona misses a left hand. Katona tries an inside leg kick that hits the groin of Armfield, that’s technically the second one but this is the one that draws a reaction from Armfield. Replay confirms the groin shot as though the sound wasn’t enough. Armfield only takes 47 seconds and Katona gets a hard warning from the ref. Bit of a right from Armfield then a calf kick. Armfield lands a left to the body then a right hand behind it. Katona is trying to open up but he’s struggling to find Armfield. Armfield lands a right hand. One two from Armfield. Both men miss rights in close. Katona falls a little short with some punches, that reach difference is bothering him. Katona ties up and lands a knee before Armfield gets free. Armfield lands another jab. Katona gets to the back standing and rides Armfield to the fence. Some short punches from Katona as he works for control. Armfield turns chest to chest and blocks a level change. Katona tries a knee, grabs the fence but the ref doesn’t see it, then does land a knee as the last blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Katona but a close one

ROUND TWO: Armfield comes out and lands a left to the body then a right hand. Right hand from Armfield. They both work the lead hand for a bit, Armfield is just the better boxer when they only engage on those terms. Armfield lands a left hook in close then a left to the body. Bit of a one two from Armfield. One two from Armfield. Katona misses a head kick then forces a clinch but Armfield quickly separates. Bit of a left from Katona. Armfield lands a stiff jab. Katona lands a leg kick. Armfield digs a right to the body. Stiff left from Armfield to counter a kick, then a one two behind it. Armfield with some body work in close. Katona now hits the body. One two from Armfield lands. Sharp right hand from Armfield. Katona misses a few punches. Bit of a head kick from Armfield then a right hand behind it. Armfield blocks a clinch attempt and lands a right hand. Katona is swinging a little wide and trying to force things in close. Double leg from Katona but Armfield immediately bounces up against the fence. Katona is on the back in the clinch as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Armfield, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Both men come out feinting again. Jab from Armfield. Armfield lands a right hand. Katona tries to clinch but can’t secure it and misses a left hook. Armfield lands a combination. Right hand from Armfield. They clinch up and fight over a takedown but ultimately Katona hits an inside trip and gets on top. Armfield quickly scrambles up but Katona is on his back in the clinch firing knees again. Katona tries for another takedown but Armfield gets chest to chest and works to defend. Armfield with some elbows while defending and he’s able to spin free. They trade lefts. Armfield gets back to jabbing then lands a right hand. They get close and trade punches for a bit. Katona lands a right hand, Armfield returns it and avoids a clinch. Double leg from Katona and he gets on top in full guard. Katona passes to half guard but Armfield scrambles to the fence and wall walks with Katona on his back. Armfield gets free but Katona dives into his hips again. They trade some strikes in the clinch while Katona desperately tries a takedown but Armfield is defending. Armfield punches out of the clinch and they reset. Both men land punches, Armfield tries a takedown but Katona defends. Armfield lands a head kick as the last blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Armfield but another close one, 29-28 Armfield but given how this night has gone not much will surprise me

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Garrett Armfield via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Surprised it was unanimous but a deserved win. No interview though as we’re short on time and ready to head to PPV for the main card.

Arnold Allen has gone 10-1 in the UFC but he’s coming off of that loss when he stepped up to Max Holloway last year and got turned back, now he’s trying to avoid his first ever losing streak while defending his top five ranking. Movsar Evloev is undefeated including seven wins in the UFC, now he’s taking a pretty decent step up in class against highly ranked Allen but a win would put him pretty near the title picture going forward. Evloev closed at -185 which was a touch surprising but a +155 comeback on Allen might be a good little value bet.

Featherweight Bout: #4 Arnold Allen (19-2, 145.5 lbs.) vs. #9 Movsar Evloev (17-0, 145.75 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Allen is an inch taller but Evloev has two and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, Allen fighting southpaw. Both men probe with the lead hand while they circle a bit. Evloev lands a body kick. The crowd with their fourth or so “fuck Trudeau” chant, seems to be their go to when they get bored. Jab from Allen. Bit of a right from Evloev. Allen lands a left to the body. Another left to the body from Allen, he’s moving well. Evloev tries a single leg, he can’t finish it but does get things to the fence. Allen works chest to chest then spins out of the clinch. Evloev lands a jab. Bit of a right from Evloev. Allen blocks a right hand. Allen blocks a high kick. Evloev lands a jab after avoiding a left hand. A bit of a right from Evloev, he’s getting a read on things. Allen blocks a single leg. Double leg from Evloev, he slips to the back though and Allen has to granby roll but Evloev stays with him and mat returns him then lands punches. Allen keeps trying to roll, the granby usually only works the first time and fails more after that. Evloev is on the back as Allen stands and works for mat returns. Double leg from Evloev, then a mat return as Allen stands. Allen stands again but Evloev is still stuck to him as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Evloev

ROUND TWO: Inside leg kick from Evloev. Allen is keeping his lead hand low to help fend off the takedown. Evloev avoids a few body shots. Both men miss power hand punches. Glancing head kick from Evloev, Allen fires one back of his own. Evloev lands a right hand. Another right from Evloev then Allen avoids a high kick. Evloev tries a single leg and gets Allen down into half guard. Allen quickly rolls to his knees and stands, Evloev is on his back and mat returns him then punches as they stand. Evloev is still on the back and switches to a double leg but Allen is defending on the fence. Allen is half threatening a ninja choke but Evloev is aware of it and they wind up breaking. Body kick from Evloev. Allen avoids a couple of rights. Jumping knee from Evloev partially lands. Allen lands a left to the body. Allen misses an uppercut. Hard left from Evloev rocks Allen, then a right uppercut in close. Allen is bleeding, can’t quite see the source but it’s around the left eye. Evloev misses a head kick but lands a left hand. Stiff jab from Evloev then a bit of a body kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Evloev, 20-18 Evloev overall

ROUND THREE: Allen’s cut is under the left eye, it’s not horrible but that eye is swelling up. They touch gloves for the final round. Allen lands a left uppercut. Evloev circles and looks for entries then lands a front kick. Inside leg kick from Evloev. Allen lands a one two but eats a counter right. Evloev lands another jab. Hard inside leg kick from Evloev. Allen lands a left to the body. Evloev lands a right hand then tries a single leg, Allen defends with a front headlock but he’s firing knees and at least one of them was illegal so we get a time out. Definitely a cut on the head of Evloev, we get a replay and some of those were good but at least two were illegal. This is your regular reminder that the rules One FC uses are superior. The doc double checks Evloev but he can fight. The ref gives Allen a hard warning and they restart on the feet. Allen pushes forward but misses a few punches. Left to the body from Allen. Evloev tries a single leg but can’t finish it and Allen is able to spin away from a clinch. Allen avoids a takedown then Evloev misses punches in close. Left to the body from Allen. Evloev lands a knee that Allen nearly ducked into. Counter jab from Evloev. Evloev lands a body kick, Allen responds with a left to the body. Allen misses a few punches then lands a left to the body. Evloev tries the single leg again, Allen grabs a ninja choke and it’s tight but Evloev is able to roll out of it and get on top. Punches from Evloev but Allen fights his way up against the fence. Some knees from Evloev. Allen tries some back elbows and gets chest to chest. They break and Allen misses some strikes as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Evloev but probably the closest round, 30-27 Evloev overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Movsar Evloev via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Mic time for Evloev, he felt a little off at the start of the fight and it took him a while to get his striking going and puts over Allen. He feels like he can fight anyone in the division and would like a title shot after Volkanovski and Topuria. I respect the confidence. Asked to elaborate he says 18-0 is tough and jokes about still not having a finish in the UFC and just thanks God for everything.

Time for our first inductee into the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame and it’s Frankie Edgar. Absolute no brainer call, the man became a near all time lightweight when his natural fighting weight was probably more at bantamweight, he also fought for the featherweight title twice and if not having to compete against the great Jose Aldo he might have won it. Edgar is in attendance and we see him stand up and get his ovation from the crowd. If you only came into MMA with McGregor or around there do yourself a favor and go back to watch some classic Frankie Edgar fights.

Chris Curtis had a pretty forgettable 2023, dropping a decision to Kelvin Gastelum that probably should have gone his way had the officials recognized a clash of heads in the second round and then having another clash of heads lead to a No Contest. Curtis is trying to put that behind him and get 2024 off the ground with a win. Marc-Andre Barriault has gone 3-2 in his last five fights but he’s on a two fight winning streak and if he can extend that to three here he might crash the top 15 rankings and be set up for a big year. The odds tilt towards Curtis at -185 to +160 for Barriault.

Middleweight Bout: Marc-Andre Barriault (16-6 1 NC, 184.5 lbs.) vs. #14 Chris Curtis (30-10 1 NC, 185.25 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Barriault is three inches taller but Curtis has an inch and a half of reach advantage. Southpaw for Curtis, who came out to Edge’s theme if you keep track of that sort of thing. Both men bounce around a bit early. Curtis starts showing the jab, he and Barriault are just looking for openings. Bit of a left from Curtis. Curtis lands a leg kick. Left hand then a leg kick from Curtis. Curtis lands another leg kick. Barriault fires a high kick that’s blocked. Right hand from Barriault. Curtis checks an inside leg kick. Bit of a jab from Curtis, he’s got Barriault along the fence now. Both men land in close. Barriault lands a front kick then lands a body kick. Curtis lands a left hand. Body combination from Curtis. Barriault starts going forward and misses a few kicks. Bit of a jab from Curtis. Curtis digs a couple of body shots. Barriault lands a body kick. Another couple of body shots from Curtis in close. Curtis lands a combination. Barriault with a bit of an uppercut. Another couple of punches from Curtis and he blocks or avoids the counters.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Curtis

ROUND TWO: Curtis gets back on pressure then lands a double jab and a left hand. Barriault fires a body kick. They trade some leg kicks. Barriault lands a right to the body. Curtis with a bit of a left hand and Barriault is now bleeding from the bridge of the nose. Bit of an uppercut from Barriault. Curtis lands a jab to the body. Barriault backs away and they trade power hand punches. Curtis lands another left hand then avoids an elbow. Curtis lands a left hand. Barriault with a bit of a right hand. Curtis lands a couple of rights in close. One two from Curtis. Curtis is starting to get a read on the timing so he can fire after defending. Both men land body shots. Body kick from Curtis. Barriault has a body kick blocked. Curtis with a right hook then a left to the body. They split some jabs then Curtis lands a left hand. Curtis with a one two then he blocks the counters. Barriault lands a right to the body but eats a couple of counters. Both men land a couple of punches in close but not much lands clean. Curtis with a left to the body. Barriault lands an inside leg kick. Left hand from Curtis. Bit of a right from Barriault. Right uppercut from Curtis then a right hand. They trade elbows. Double right from Curtis to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Curtis but a closer one, 20-18 Curtis overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Curtis lands a left to the body in close. Bit of a right from Curtis. Barriault fires a body kick. Curtis slips a right and lands a few jabs. Right uppercut from Curtis, Barriault returns it. Barriault lands a right to the body, then Curtis returns it and lands a left hand. Barriault lands a body kick. Curtis lands a left hand. Left to the body from Curtis then a combination in close. Curtis lands a right hand. Barriault has started coming forward but Curtis keeps pivoting around him and landing right hands. They tie up and trade strikes in close. Knee from Curtis then a right hand. They get close and trade briefly. Jabs from Curtis land. Barriault tries an elbow that’s blocked. Curtis lands a jab. They tie up and trade elbows in close. Barriault is looking to make this a dog fight now and keeps looking for clinches. Curtis lands a left hand then some body work. They trade uppercuts. Barriault with a knee then Curtis lands a couple of elbows in a clinch. Uppercut from Curtis then an elbow as he circles away. They trade power hand punches. Curtis lands a right uppercut that off balances Barriault then he digs the body. More body shots from Curtis. Barriault keeps walking forward but he’s almost in zombie mode now. Curtis avoids some punches while getting out of a clinch. Curtis goes orthodox to land a few more body shots. Barriault is cut above the right eye now. They tie up and go hell for leather in the clinch for a good 15 seconds to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Curtis, 30-27 Curtis overall but I wouldn’t feel confident as those first two rounds were pretty low activity

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Chris Curtis via split decision (28-29, 30-27 x2)

Mic time for Curtis, he kind of expected this fight and puts over Barriault as a much improved fighter who he had to be very prepared for. He says the third round was fun and wants to fight more, then plays a bit with the crowd and apologizes that neither he nor Barriault died in there.

Neil Magny has been with the UFC since 2013 but he’s been trading wins and losses while going 3-3 in his last six fights, he’s coming off of a loss though and is hoping to avoid his first losing streak since 2013 while also defending his ranking. Mike Malott has gone 3-0 in the UFC and has finished all of those wins, he’s taking a step up in class here to the veteran Magny but a win would indicate pretty big things ahead for Malott. Malott is a pretty heavy favorite at -375 while +295 on Magny has to tempt a few bettors out there.

Welterweight Bout: #13 Neil Magny (28-11, 170.75 lbs.) vs. Mike Malott (10-1-1, 170.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Magny is two inches taller with a solid seven inches of reach advantage. Malott comes out and lands a front kick to the leg of Magny. Leg kick from Malott. Magny avoids a calf kick. Calf kick from Malott. They clash on low kicks, that looked painful. Another calf kick from Malott. Magny jabs forward and lands a bit of a right hand. Magny avoids a punch and clinches up. Malott gets him on the fence and then pushes free. Malott falls a little short on punches. Malott lands a calf kick. Magny ducks under a head kick and gets a clinch. They hit the fence and Malott lands a couple of knees to the body. Magny digs under hooks and then pushes out of the clinch. Blitz from Magny but Malott avoids most of it. Malott lands a calf kick. Those calf kicks from Malott are really chewing up Magny’s lead leg. Bit of a calf kick from Malott. One more calf kick from Malott closes the round, that one caught almost the front of the knee as Magny pulled it back and that’s darn painful.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Malott

ROUND TWO: Calf kick from Malott then a couple of punches. Magny pushes forward but falls a little short with punches. Front kick from Malott. Short right from Malott in close. Hard body kick from Malott as he switched southpaw. Malott lands a calf kick, Magny tries to push forward but Malott double legs him into half guard. Magny gets his guard in play and Malott stands then lets him get up. Malott lands a front kick. Inside leg kick from Malott. Magny gets a clinch but can’t find a takedown and Malott hits an outside trip and gets on top in half guard. Some short blows from Malott as he looks to posture up and get more offense going. Elbow from Malott, then another one as he’s finally able to really control Magny. Magny tries a sweep as Malott over balances but he can’t get up and Malott goes back into his half guard, then quickly passes to full mount. Malott with some punches as Magny tries to move on bottom. Elbow from Malott. The round will end with Malott still in full mount.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Malott, 20-18 Malott overall

ROUND THREE: Malott lands a calf kick to start the last round. Magny forces a clinch but Malott takes him down and immediately passes to mount. Magny tries to scramble and Malott winds up losing the position but does keep a clinch as they stand. They jockey for position then Malott gets a single leg into a trip and gets back on top of Magny in his full guard. Malott lands an elbow. Malott stands and tries to pass but can’t get around the guard of Magny. Magny hits a bit of a sweep as they stand and gets Malott up and slams him down to get in the full guard. Malott inverts towards a leg but Magny blocks that, then Malott hits a kuro kuro sweep and tries a leg lock but Magny spins around to get back on top. Magny is on top in leg drag and then moves to full mount. Lefts from Magny, Malott is tired with 40 seconds left. Malott gets flattened out and Magny tees off with punches until the ref steps in with 15 seconds left.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Neil Magny via TKO, punches, at 4:45 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Magny for his work this evening. Mic time for Magny, he knew once he got a good position that he could get the finish despite all the adversity. He’s happy to show the young guys in the division that he’s not just some guy and that they need to experience these levels.

Raquel Pennington is riding a five fight winning streak coming into what is technically her second shot at UFC gold, back in 2018 she got bludgeoned by Amanda Nunes but she stuck around and now has another chance to put a title belt over her shoulder. Mayra Bueno Silva has actually never lost at bantamweight with both of her losses coming down at flyweight, she tapped out Holly Holm in her last fight before her ADHD medication caused a drug test issue and it got changed to a No Contest, nevertheless she finds herself in her first title fight here and has a chance to keep the women’s bantamweight title in Brazilian hands. The odds lean slightly towards Bueno Silva at -160 to +135 on Pennington.

Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout: #2 Raquel Pennington (15-8, 134.8 lbs.) vs. #3 Mayra Bueno Silva (10-2-1 1 NC, 135 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Pennington has an inch of height and reach advantage. Southpaw for Bueno Silva and she lands a calf kick. Pennington tries a body kick. Knee from Bueno Silva, Pennington catches it and forces a clinch on the fence. They fight for position for a bit with a few short knees going back and forth. Elbow from Bueno Silva and they break. Pennington has some punches blocked then eats a calf kick. Bueno Silva goes orthodox for a bit now and stalks forward. Pennington tries a single leg, Bueno Silva with short elbows while she’s defending on the fence and they break. Knee from Bueno Silva then an elbow and another knee. Bueno Silva gets Pennington on the fence again and then looks for a double leg and gets it. Pennington looks to wall walk but Bueno Silva gets on her back without hooks. Both hooks in now for Bueno Silva, Pennington is hand fighting and stands with Bueno Silva now in the backpack position. Bueno Silva has lost her left hook, then she gives up the other one to keep the back in the clinch. Inside reap from Bueno Silva and she gets the back with both hooks in. A few punches from Bueno Silva while she’s trying to open up a choke but there’s not enough time left in the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bueno Silva

ROUND TWO: Bueno Silva comes out and fires a calf kick. Pennington is trying to jab and move. Bueno Silva lands a calf kick. Bit of a right from Pennington. Bueno Silva lands a left hook. A couple of lefts from Pennington but Bueno Silva gets a clinch on the fence. Some knees from Bueno Silva while they fight for position. Pennington tries a few knees and is able to spin Bueno Silva into the cage. They break briefly and trade punches then Bueno Silva lands an elbow. Another exchange then Bueno Silva grabs a double collar tie and fires knees to the body and head. Some body shots from Bueno Silva then they break. Pennington lands a few punches because Bueno Silva has no defense. Pennington punches in close and lands more rights in a clinch. Knee from Bueno Silva then Pennington lands a punch, Bueno Silva then lands an uppercut and they clinch again. Bueno Silva gets Pennington on the fence and then moves to the back and jumps for the backpack. Choke attempt from Bueno Silva, it’s pretty close but Pennington is able to break the grip. Bueno Silva keeps looking to attack the choke but Pennington is keeping two on one wrist control. Pennington gets on top in the guard of Bueno Silva as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Pennington comes out and looks to punch again. A lot of jabs are being shown by Pennington, then Bueno Silva lands a couple of calf kicks and they trade in close. Bueno Silva grabs a clinch and they hit the fence. They jockey for position and Bueno Silva lands a few knees to the body. More short knees go back and forth while they just spin a bit on the fence. Judo toss from Bueno Silva, Pennington quickly scrambles up into a clinch. Bueno Silva keeps trying for a ninja choke, she’s finally got something like it but Pennington gets her head out. Elbow from Bueno Silva then another one. Pennington fires some body shots but then gets turned into the fence. Bueno Silva with a few more knees. Elbow from Bueno Silva as they break. They tie up again and again Bueno Silva lands elbows then looks for a takedown which she finishes. Pennington quickly bounces up then grabs a front headlock and pushes Bueno Silva over to get on top in half guard. Bueno Silva is working a half guard sweep but can’t finish it and Pennington stands then they make Bueno Silva stand up. Bueno Silva is visibly tired, not a good sign. They clinch up again and trade some dirty boxing then Bueno Silva tries another takedown but Pennington grabs a front headlock and pushes her over to get on top in half guard. Some blows from Pennington as Bueno Silva shrimps to full guard. The round will end with Pennington on top.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington, 29-28 Pennington overall

ROUND FOUR: Pennington lands a superman punch. They get close and trade some strikes. Bueno Silva goes southpaw and lands a couple of body kicks. They clinch up again and hit the fence. Some knees from Pennington. Bueno Silva spins Pennington and lands an elbow then a knee and another elbow. Bueno Silva slips to the back in the clinch and gets one hook in. Pennington gets pulled down and Bueno Silva starts fishing for a choke with only one hook in. This one isn’t fully close but Bueno Silva is selling out for it as she’s losing position and Pennington comes out on top in half guard. Bueno Silva is sort of half fishing for a kimura while Pennington lands some elbows to the body. Pennington gets fully on top, Bueno Silva grabs an armbar but loses the grip. Bueno Silva keeps trying to play her guard, she’s working on a triangle but Pennington is able to land hammer fists and pull out of it. Pennington stands and then goes back into the full guard. Bueno Silva tries another triangle but again can’t quite find it. Some short elbows from Pennington. Pennington lands a left hand. Hammer fists from Pennington and an elbow as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington, 39-37 Pennington overall

ROUND FIVE: They touch gloves for the final round. Bueno Silva blocks some punches but she’s badly faded. Bit of a calf kick from Bueno Silva but Pennington keeps landing punches and wont tie up. They clinch and Pennington pushes Bueno Silva into the fence. Pennington punches but then gets turned into the fence. Bueno Silva sort of drops for a leg, terrible decision as Pennington just gets on top and attacks an arm triangle. Full mount for Pennington and Bueno Silva is too tired to address the choke, she’s being saved by Pennington not being far enough off to really lock it down. Pennington doesn’t want to give up mount to finish the choke so here we are in kind of a stalemate. Some body shots from Pennington then she tries the choke again, it’s a bit tighter now but Bueno Silva is able to roll to a hip and release the pressure for a bit. Again Pennington adjusts the choke and tries to finish but Bueno Silva gets half guard and is able to defend. Full guard now for Bueno Silva but she needs a hail Mary. Some punches from on top from Pennington then elbows. Pennington stands and looks to land punches then some leg kicks to just kill time as the ref doesn’t actually do his job to force action and this utterly forgettable fight ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington, 49-46 Pennington overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Raquel Pennington via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-46 x2)

Well that fight sucked, this division has been a wasteland for a while and now that there isn’t the novelty of Amanda Nunes to prop it up it’s showing. Mic time for the new champion, she tries to appeal to the crowd who are mostly asleep then sucks up to the UFC brass before putting her coaches over. She rambles a bit and tries to be inspiring to basically no reaction. Guys we have another title fight still, please cut this short. She talks us through a few highlights and says this is tough. Asked about Julianna Pena she tells her to heal up and finally get in the cage with her.

Dricus Du Plessis hasn’t lost at middleweight since 2014, he’s gone 6-0 in the UFC and stopped Robert Whittaker in the second round last time out. All of this has earned Du Plessis his first shot at UFC gold here, and he’s hoping to become the first South African UFC champion. Sean Strickland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history last year when he beat Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title, now he’s trying to get his first defense under his belt and begin building a championship legacy. This one closed at a -110 pick ’em, the closest title fight the UFC has booked odds wise in a long long time.

Middleweight Title Bout: (c) Sean Strickland (28-5, 184.75 lbs.) vs. #2 Dricus Du Plessis (20-2, 184 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height and have an identical reach. Orthodox for Strickland while Du Plessis will switch his stance up but he opens orthodox as well. Both men do some hand fighting while circling, Strickland is looking to jab per usual. Bit of a head kick from Du Plessis then an inside leg kick. Strickland keeps popping the jab then lands a front kick. Du Plessis goes southpaw for a bit then back to orthodox. Calf kick from Du Plessis. Some jabs go back and forth but Strickland in general gets the better of those. Strickland keeps jabbing then checks a leg kick. Front kick from Strickland then Du Plessis lands a hard body kick out of southpaw. Bit of a head kick from Du Plessis. Strickland keeps working the jab and largely elbow blocking the punches Du Plessis throws. Body kick from Du Plessis then a bit of a right. Leg kick from Du Plessis is partially checked. Strickland blocks a few punches, then Du Plessis tries a double leg and gets it against the fence. Du Plessis can’t keep him down but does keep the clinch and mat returns Strickland. Strickland wall walks and they separate. Bit of a body kick from Du Plessis. Strickland avoids a right hand but eats a slight calf kick. They trade some more jabs. Front kick from Strickland then Du Plessis lands a calf kick. Strickland lands a right hand then blocks the counters as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Strickland but a close one

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Strickland keeps looking to jab and keep Du Plessis from settling. Du Plessis lands a calf kick after missing a right hand. Strickland checks a calf kick. Bit of a spinning back fist from Du Plessis lands. Front kick from Strickland. Strickland lands a left hook. More jabs from Strickland. Du Plessis with a glancing right hand then a body kick. Bit of a right from Du Plessis but Strickland’s defense is holding up quite well. Calf kick from Du Plessis. Strickland blocks a few punches. Both men miss right hands. They bang shins on kicks, that looked painful. Du Plessis lands a couple of body shots, about time he went to the body with his hands. Strickland lands a couple of jabs. Right hand from Du Plessis. Du Plessis lands a body kick. Left hook from Du Plessis lands then a calf kick. Bit of a one two from Du Plessis, the he hits a single leg. Strickland is cut around the right eyebrow but he’s working to wall walk. Switch from Strickland and they scramble up then separate. Du Plessis pushes forward and lands a double jab but misses the rest of his combination. Front kick from Strickland closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Du Plessis, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: There’s some notable swelling on the left eye of Du Plessis, might be a problem as the fight goes on. Strickland looks to jab again, and blocks a left hand. Head kick from Du Plessis lands but Strickland doesn’t seem too phased. Strickland lands a few jabs while circling. Du Plessis lands a calf kick then a bit of a right hand. Left from Du Plessis then a calf kick and a body kick. Both men miss punches. Du Plessis fires that head kick but it’s blocked, then he lands a right to the body. Strickland checks a leg kick then eats a body kick. Du Plessis falls short with a few punches then lands a body kick. Leg kick from Du Plessis. Strickland avoids some punches. Right hand jab from Du Plessis lands then another left body kick. Bit of a left from Du Plessis. Strickland avoids some punches then jabs the body. Du Plessis pushes forward and misses a spinning back kick. They trade punches in close. Strickland avoids a head kick. Bit of a right from Du Plessis. They split jabs then Du Plessis with a glancing spinning back kick. Bit of a combination from Du Plessis. Strickland keeps his jab pumping. They get close and trade as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Du Plessis but a close one, 29-28 Du Plessis overall

ROUND FOUR: Du Plessis opens southpaw, he’s doing a lot of switching. Bit of a combination from Du Plessis is partially successful. Strickland lands a couple of jabs. They trade rights then Du Plessis forces a clinch but can’t keep it, Du Plessis then lands an elbow as they break and Strickland is cut around the left eye. Strickland lands a right hand. Body kick from Du Plessis. They trade rights now. Both men miss punches in close. Bit of a left from Du Plessis, he’s keeping the pace pretty high. Calf kick from Du Plessis. Strickland checks a calf kick. Bit of a right from Du Plessis. They both land in close but Du Plessis is throwing longer combinations now. They clinch up, takedown from Du Plessis. Strickland wall walks but there’s a bit of blood around the left eye of his as Du Plessis keeps the clinch. They break without real incident. Right hand from Du Plessis lands, he’s starting to get to Strickland. Another left then a right from Du Plessis, and a right to the body. Head kick from Du Plessis lands but Strickland just eats it. Du Plessis hits another takedown against the fence. Strickland looks to wall walk, he’s up but Du Plessis is on his back in the clinch. Du Plessis with a German suplex and keeps the back on the mat. Strickland fights up and they break. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Right uppercut from Du Plessis lands. Strickland checks a calf kick. Du Plessis misses a few punches then lands a spinning back kick towards the leg. Strickland lands a one two. Bit of a right from Du Plessis closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Du Plessis, 39-37 Du Plessis overall

ROUND FIVE: That cut around Strickland’s left eye isn’t bad, just inconvenient. Bit of a body kick from Du Plessis. Strickland looks to land jabs but Du Plessis is pushing him back. Du Plessis blocks some punches then lands a right hand. Bit of a left hook from Du Plessis. Du Plessis pokes some jabs out. They trade some left hands then Du Plessis misses a right hand. Calf kick from Du Plessis then a high kick that’s blocked. Both men miss in close. Bit of a one two from Du Plessis. Strickland blocks a head kick then sprawls away from a takedown attempt. Du Plessis jabs the body. They trade a few punches. Du Plessis lands a right to the body. Strickland lands a right hand. Another exchange of jabs, then Strickland avoids a takedown. They trade rights. A few more jabs are traded then Du Plessis with a leg kick and a body kick to follow. Both men miss rights. Du Plessis fires a couple of rights, he’s just a bit busier still. Strickland swings a right hand and both men land in close. They both swing punches and we get a bit of a brawl to close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Du Plessis but a close one, 49-46 Du Plessis overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis via split decision (47-48, 48-47 x2)

Mic time for the new champion and the first South African UFC champion, he thanks Canada for being awesome and speaks some Afrikaans for his native South Africa. He knows South Africa is going nuts and thanks them as we cut away to a video of the celebration at a watch party in South Africa. He knew the fight was close and that he dropped the first round then puts over Strickland’s get up game, though he did get stronger as the fight went on and calls out those who doubted him being a five round fighter. Asked about the game plan he knew he had to get Strickland going backwards and then had to deal with getting hit by the rock that is Strickland’s jab. He puts over Strickland and thanks him for being a good guy who brought out the best in him and thanks him for the fight. Asked what he’d like next he jokes about facing off with Alex Pereira, then says he wants Israel Adesanya back in the UFC so they can settle things.

Strickland gets an interview as well, he knew this would be a war and puts over Du Plessis and while he’s a little salty he puts over Canada for welcoming him and loving him. He’d like a rematch, then congratulates Du Plessis again and walks out.

Well on that note UFC 297 comes to a close. Thank you all for reading, be that live or after the fact. We’ll be breaking down all the results from this event tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast, which I’d encourage you to listen to. There’s no UFC event next Saturday, they’re likely staying out of the way of the Royal Rumble, but I’ll be back here in 2 weeks for the next Fight Night. Until then thank you again, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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