UFC 297 Brings a New Middleweight Champion

(Photo : (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Image) TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 20: Sean Strickland of the United States fights against Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa in a middleweight title bout during the UFC 297 event at Scotiabank Arena on January 20, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canad

UFC 297 is now in the books. The event, which emanated at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, saw several new champions get crowns in two exciting fights.

UFC 297: Middleweight Clash Strickland Vs Dricius

The South African Dricus Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland to become the new UFC middleweight champion in a split decision during the main event fight, with judges scoring 49-48 in favor of Du Plessis.

It was an excellent match between the two fighters in the middle-weight division, one that lived up to the hype after weeks of trash talk.

Both fighters were left bloodied and battered throughout the fight, with Strickland receiving a nasty gash above his eye and Du Pleses having swelling over his eyelid.

However, in the end, Du Plessis took the crown, becoming the new middleweight champion.

"When they said, 'and new,' it felt like 15 years of work, dreaming, and sacrificing came together in one sentence," Du Plessis said. "It was incredible; it felt surreal. Amazing."

Elsewhere on the card was Raquel Pennington, defeating Mayra Beuno Silva for the vacated UFC bantamweight championship.

Pennington, who won the title nearly six years after suffering a demoralizing defeat to Amanda Nunes, defeated Silva by unanimous decision. The fight, which was often slow, saw Pennington's offense come from her feet. While Bueno Silva struggled to take her down.

However, in the end, Pennington came up on top, picking a victory.

Other fights on the Card include:

Neil Magny def. Mike Malott via third-round TKO (punches)
Chris Curtis def. Marc-Andre Barriault via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Movsar Evloev def. Arnold Allen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Garrett Armfield def. Brad Katona via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Sean Woodson def. Charles Jourdain via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Ramon Taveras def. Serhiy Sidey via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Gillian Robertson def. Polyana Viana via second-round TKO (punches)
Sam Patterson def. Yohan Lainesse via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Priscila Cachoeira via third-round submission (D'arce choke)
Jimmy Flick def. Malcolm Gordon via second-round submission (triangle choke)