Dricus Du Plessis beats Sean Strickland to become new middleweight champion - UFC as it happened
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 21/01/2024 at 08:01 GMT
UFC has come to Toronto, Canada with UFC 297 taking place in the Great North. The event is headlined by Sean Strickland and his 28-5-0 record facing off against Dricus Du Plessis who has a 20-2-0 record. In the women's Bantamweight as the co-main event Raquel Pennington will face off against Mayra Bueno Silva on what should be a thrilling night of action.
Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa punches Sean Strickland in a UFC middleweight championship bout during the UFC 297 event at Scotiabank Arena on January 20, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.
Image credit: Getty Images
DU PLESSIS TO STRICKLAND: 'YOU ARE ONE HELL OF A MAN'
"Thank you for bringing the best out of me," he tells his opponent. Respect after so much bad blood and much shed by both men in the ring. Thanks for joining us for the coverage of UFC 297.
Watch again on discovery+.
DU PLESSIS WINS BY SPLIT DECISION!
We have a new middleweight champion. All three scorecards were 48-47 with two in the South African's favour.
STRICKLAND-DU PLESSIS: ROUND 5
Strickland appeared circumspect as they came out for the last while Du Plessis banged his chest embracing the contest, but the champion fought well landing with straight shots, while the South African's wild effort generally missed the target and he failed in two takedown accounts. Du Plessis seemed winded with a minute to go and Strickland put on an onslaught of shots, as both swung for the fences in the closing stages.
STRICKLAND-DU PLESSIS: ROUND 4
Du Plessis cuts the champion early above his left eye and while he landed less blows, his wilder power shots frequently found their target and he forced Strickland back before taking him down in the mid-point of the contest and once more in the last minute. It feels like the gold belt will be heading to South Africa.
STRICKLAND-DU PLESSIS: ROUND 3
It is not the wild bout we might have expected, but Du Plessis has come back into the bout and forced the fight throughout, his wild kicks and overhand rights landing with more regularity. Strickland was content to rely on landing jabs, which he did on numerous occasions causing further damage to both the South African's eyes. A close round.
STRICKLAND-DU PLESSIS: ROUND 2
Strickland controlled the action once more for the first half of the round, but as it went on the South African came into it, landing with kicks and an overhand right which cut the eye of Strickland. The champion was also taken to the mat. Du Plessis looked a much happier fighter at the end of the round despite having his left eye closing.
STRICKLAND-DU PLESSIS: ROUND 1
A good round for the champion. He landed with numerous front kicks to the stomach and calf kicks, as well as jabs bloodying the South African's nose. Du Plessis burst into action with 90 seconds remains taking Strickland to the ground, but the champion got back to his feet and looked the much stronger in stand up, landing a big right hand seconds before the buzzer.
STRICKLAND ENTERS THE ARENA TO A BIG OVATION
As stone-faced as you would expect. Not far away from the action now.
DU PLESSIS MAKES HIS WAY TO THE OCTAGON
He looks very confident - you would expect nothing less.
THE MAIN EVENT IS NEXT!
The time for trash talk is over...
PENNINGTON WINS UFC WORLD BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE!
She takes an unanimous decision by scores 49-46 (twice) and 49-45.
PENNINGTON-SILVA: ROUND 5
Pennington began landing shots with both hands past her opponent's tired defence. Silva went for a knee bar but fell to her back and Pennington attempted a submission choke hold which the Brazilian avoided but could force no counter and with a minute left Pennington began to ground and pound. The buzzer goes with Pennington landing kicks and Silva just on her back exhausted. Surely Rocky Pennington wins this bout now.
PENNINGTON-SILVA: ROUND 4
Again the fight was mostly spent against the Octagon. Silva was mostly on the defensive but turned things around when she locked in a choke hold midway through but Pennington got out of it and spent the rest of the round on top, landing brutal shots as Silva lay on her back on the mat.
PENNINGTON-SILVA: ROUND 3
The crowd start to boo as they are fed up of the two pressed against the Octagon. Silva was visibly tired and Pennington pounded on her on the floor as the round was ending. A 2-1 lead for the American.
PENNINGTON-SILVA: ROUND 2
A better start to the round from Pennington with her landing heavy head shots as they fought on close terms. Silva looked to fight back, landing a good body shot and uppercut but Pennington had the better of it. Only in the last minute when Silva wrapped her opponent up and was close to a choke hold.
PENNINGTON-SILVA: ROUND 1
Silva had early success with calf kicks and though Pennington twice locked a leg on the second occasion it backfired as Silva landed consecutive big elbows. Silva took Pennington down but good defence stopped the Brazilian locking a choke hold, but she was dragged to the floor once more.
PENNINGTON-SILVA NEXT...
They contest the UFC bantamweight crown vacated by Amanda Nunes.
MAGNY WITH ROUND 3 TKO!
What a sensation! Malott took Magny to the mat early and attempted a guillotine but the American's defence kept him off. Magny turned the tables in the last two minutes taking down Malott and firing shots at the Canadian and with his tank empty he took constant unanswered blows before the referee stopped the bout with 15 seconds remaining.
MAGNY-MALOTT: ROUND 2
The second round started the same with Malott landing leg kicks leading to Magny charging in and getting taken down. He dominated on the floor landed unasnwered elbows and punches to Magny's head and the fight may have been stopped if there were a few more seconds.
MAGNY-MALOTT: ROUND 1
Malott's ring generalship controlled the early action not throwing a great deal but landing leg kicks. These visibly had an affect on Magny's stance as the round wore on with him wobbly before the buzzer.
WATCH THE HEADLINE BOUTS ON TNT SPORTS
Live coverage from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, begins at 01:00 UK time on Sunday, January 21 on TNT Sports 1 and on discovery+.
UFC 297 is part of a stacked couple of months of mixed martial arts action on TNT Sports. For full details, click .
MAGNY-MALOTT UP NEXT
The 13th-ranked welterweight Neil Magny (28-12) of the USA, takes on rising star Mike Malott (10-1).
CURTIS WINS SPLIT DECISION
Curtis was given the nod 29-28 and 30-27, with one judge giving it to the Canadian 29-28. No home Canucks have had their hands lifted tonight.
CURTIS-BARRIAULT: ROUND 3
Barriault going forward in this round and landing with knees and lead elbows. Barriault doing better in the clinches with his uppercuts, but a right hand from Curtis backed the Canadian up wiht 90 seconds remaining giving him the initiative. The crowd roared as the fighters went toe-to-toe in the closing seconds.
CURTIS-BARRIAULT: ROUND 2
Barriault showing a bit more ambition but Curtis landing much more with his superior boxing both to body and head, blooding the front of his opponent's nose.
CURTIS-BARRIAULT: ROUND 1
A lot of feinting in the first half of the round. Curtis started to land more with kicks and right hands as the round went on. Barriault giving little for the home fans to cheer, even when he threw he couldn't get through Curtis' defence.
FRANKIE EDGAR ANNOUNCED AS UFC HALL OF FAMER!
He is the first announced inductee in the 2024 class and gets a huge ovation from the Toronto crowd.
NEXT UP THE FIRST OF TWO CANADA-USA CLASHES
It is a middleweight contest between veterans 14th-ranked middleweight Chris Curtis (30-10) and Canadian Marc-Andre Barriault (16-6).
EVLOEV WINS UNANIMOUS DECISION
He gets the nod on all three scorecards 29-28.
ALLEN-EVLOEV: ROUND 3
Allen gamely came forward and landed a good combination but Evloev countered with his right hand as a receipt on each occasion. Allen was given a hard warning for an illegal knee to the head cutting Evloev who was checked by the ringside physician but allowed to continue. The last minute saw more wrestling, which saw Evloev get control but Allen fought off with elbows and was coming forward swinging at the end of the round. A gallant effort but the Russian likely to get the win.
ALLEN-EVLOEV: ROUND 2
The pair striking on even terms in the first half of the round before Evloev went back to wrestling, taking Allen down with a leglock. The wrestling made Allen a little more ragged and Evloev landed with a big one-two cutting Allen on the cheek. A lot of work to do for Allen in the final round.
ALLEN-EVLOEV: ROUND 1
Allen controlled the earlygoing with his southpaw jab early on before Evloev grabbed his leg but Allen's defence stopped a takedown. Evloev with some incredible athletic wrestling got him on top in the last minute as he clung onto a waistlock. The late action swinging the round to Evloev you would think
ALLEN COMES IN TO WE WILL ROCK YOU
Let's not judge him on that though. The Ipswich man has won 12 of his last 13 fights but is the underdog here.
OUR MAN UP NEXT
Can Arnold Allen (#4) defeat the unbeaten Movsar Evloev (#9) in this featherweight contest?
0305 - MAIN CARD IS MOMENTS AWAY
ARMFIELD WINS UNANIMOUS DECISION
Another unpopular decision. The biggest win of his career. The striking in the early rounds got him the nod.
KATONA-ARMFIELD: ROUND 3
Katona with a nice early left hook and then got a takedown with an arm hook. He then controlled the next two minutes before Armfield broke the hold. After each landed a few blows, Katona again had Armfield locked up this time taking the right knee of his opponent. Katona's round. It all comes down to who won that first.
KATONA-ARMFIELD: ROUND 2
Armfield starts quickly with a variety of strikes and bloodies Katona's nose. Both landed shots throughout but Armfield's shots the cleaner and his defence superior. He also landed with a good left kick to the forehead. Katona took Armfield down in the last 30 seconds and held him against the Octagon. Clearly Armfield's round.
KATONA-ARMFIELD: ROUND 1
After a lot of shimmying and feinting from both fights, Katona landed a kick smack in the middle of Armfield's groin and he took a minute for himself to recover. Not a round which had the crowd roaring. Katona may have just taken the round.
THE CHAMP IS HERE...
Sean Strickland is in the building.
NEXT UP CANADA'S SUPERMAN
Brad Katona (15-2) fights American Garrett Armfield (9-3) in the feature prelim bout.
PENNINGTON ARRIVES IN RETRO RAPTORS JERSEY
She faces Mayro Bueno Silva in the Bantamweight title fight later tonight.
WOODSON WINS SPLIT DECISION
Woodson extends his unbeaten run to five wins, once more the crowd are unhappy about it. Woodson initially thought he lost.
JOURDAIN-WOODSON: ROUND 3
Jourdain had a double leg with his hips against the Octagon but Woodson is tougher to hold onto than an octopus. Sublime defensive skills from Woodson but did he do enough offensively to win? Even when he landed they were mostly clipping shots. Jourdain tried a late guillotine attempt but the escapologist escaped once more.
JOURDAIN-WOODSON: ROUND 2
Jourdain starts early with a body shot then left kick to the head. He hooks a leg but can't bring Woodson down. Jourdain lands a spinning elbow and a late head kick which will get him the round.
JOURDAIN-WOODSON: ROUND 1
Woodson a box of tricks with his 6'3" physique in a featherweight build, constantly switching and constantly moving hands and he lands a few straight shots but Jourdain's leg kicks made their mark and he also lands a good left hand at the mid point. But Woodson's defence stops the home fighter landing too much and towards the end of the round he landed with some body shots and a knee. A close round.
ANOTHER HOME FAVOURITE UP NEXT
Canadian Charles 'Air' Jourdain (15-6-1) meets Sean 'The Sniper Woodson (10-1-1).
TAVERAS WINS SPLIT DECISION
Each decision 29-28, two in favour of Taveras. The crowd don't like that. What will Dana White's reaction be? He ordered the rematch after not liking the stoppage in the first fight, he might order a third now. Taveras apologises for missing weight by four pounds.
SIDEY-TAVERAS: ROUND 3
Taveras began the third better with leg kicks and counter left hands. Sidey landed a knee to the body then left hand turned it in the mid point. The fight was still up for grabs as the fight went into the last minute but neither made a big impression so Sidey's extra work rate maube got him the win. What a rematch. A rubber match anyone?
SIDEY-TAVERAS: ROUND 2
Sidey with a right hand wobbles Taveras early in the round and also landed with right kicks, but missed with attempted show stopping knees. A delayed one-two saw Sidey go to the mat and left the Ukrainian with a crimson mask. But Sidey kept going forward and a left to the body hurt the American and landed numerous left hooks upstairs, then elbows in close. A great round from Sidey after having his nose broken and hitting the canvas.
SIDEY-TAVERAS: ROUND 1
Sidey couldn't miss with his lead left hand early, but Taveras caught him with a couple of counter shots to the body which left their mark and then landed with a couple of big lefts with a minutes left in the round. Just on the buzzer, Taveras caught Sidey with a huge right hand which had the Ukrainian wobbling back and just avoiding going to the canvas. Taveras takes the round.
NEXT UP: BANTAMWEIGHT UFC DEBUTANTS
Two men who could do some damage in this division. Ontario-based Ukrainian Serhiy Sidey (10-1) fights American Ramon Taveras (9-2). Sidey stopped Taveras at UFC Contender Series 61 in what Dana White called "one of the worst ref stoppages" he'd seen, so the boss has told them to go again, this time at the big event.
ROBERTSON WINS BY TKO!
Another early takedown by Robertson leads to some ground and pound and this time she shut down her opponent and with nothing coming back and Viana defenceless, the referee signalled an end to the bout.
ROBERTSON-VIANA: ROUND 1
Robertson brings Viana to the mat early with a single-leg takedown and the action remained their through the round with an arm triangle applied in the last two minutes. Viana showed great resilience to get to her feet in the last 30 seconds and slam Robertson.
0105 - FIRST UP: ROBERTSON-VIANA
A strawweight bout between Gillian 'The Savage' Robertson (12-8) from down the road at Niagara Falls against Brazilian Polyana Viana (13-6) begins the preliminary card.
0100 - LET'S GO...
The coverage is now away on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
0055 - SAM PATTERSON WINS FIGHT BY SUBMISSION
'The Future' made Yohan Lainesse tap within two minutes of their fight.
0045 - WE ARE 15 MINUTES FROM GETTING UNDERWAY
Live coverage from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, begins at 01:00 UK time on Sunday, January 21 on TNT Sports 1 and on discovery+.
UFC 297 is part of a stacked couple of months of mixed martial arts action on TNT Sports. For full details, click .
0035 - DU PLESSIS PROMISES TO END MAIN EVENT IN THREE ROUNDS
0025 - ALLEN ON HIS FEELINGS AHEAD OF FIGHT
0015 - SPEAKING OF UK UFC INTEREST...
Dana White says he will announce next week where and when Leon Edwards will make the first defence of his title.
0005 - HOME INTEREST FOR US TO ENJOY
Arnold 'Almighty' Allen fights tonight, at around 3am, facing a tough test in unbeaten featherweight Movsar Evloev.
2355 - A MOUTHWATERING MAIN CARD...
Headlined by the middleweight title fight in what is likely to be the grudge match of the year as Sean Strickland fights Dricus Du Plessis.
2350 - HELLO AND WELCOME TO UFC 297!
Thanks for joining us for this UFC event in Toronto. I'm Ciaran Baynes and I'll be following tonight's action with you tonight.
UFC 297: What TV channel is the main card on?
Live coverage from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, begins at 01:00 UK time on Sunday, January 21 on TNT Sports 1 and on discovery+.
UFC 297 is part of a stacked couple of months of mixed martial arts action on TNT Sports. For full details, click .
What time does UFC 297 start in the UK? Full fight card
Live coverage starts at 01:00 in the UK.
Prelims
- Chris Curtis v Marc-Andre Barriault
- Brad Katona v Garrett Armfield
- Charles Jourdain v Sean Woodson
- Serhiy Sidey v Ramon Taveras
- Gillian Robertson v Polyana Viana
Main card
- Sean Strickland v Dricus Du Plessis
- Raquel Pennington v Mayra Bueno Silva
- Neil Magny v Mike Malott
- Dominick Reyes v Carlos Ulberg
- Arnold Allen v Movsar Evloev
What channels does TNT Sports offer and on which platforms?
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
Depending on your subscription and device, fans can enjoy access to the following TNT Sports channels:
- TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4 - in standard definition and high definition, plus six red-button channels.
- TNT Sports Ultimate will offer fans coverage of selected events in up to 4K picture resolution with high dynamic range (HDR) -, representing colours and action in almost life-like quality - and Dolby Atmos sound.
- TNT Sports Box Office, offering both subscribers and non-subscribers pay-per-view access to some of the most exciting events in the calendar.
You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
How do I watch UFC live streams on TNT Sports?
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
A select number of events will be on TNT Sports Box Office. TNT Sports Box Office offers both subscribers and non-subscribers pay-per-view access to some of the most exciting events in the calendar.
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement