Trouble appeared to be brewing in the main event of UFC 297 roughly a month out from the fight, with things between champ Sean Strickland and challenger Dricus Du Plessis turning downright nasty.
Few expected the controversial Strickland to be as emotional as he was in the build-up, but after the South African made reference to his abuse-laden childhood, Strickland quite frankly went off the rails. In the days and weeks that followed a cringe-worthy press conference where Du Plessis promised Strickland a beating worse than his own father had given him, death threats via DMs and a brawl in the stands at UFC 296 ensued.
The pair had toned things down a little during Fight Week in Toronto, but there was little doubt the UFC 297 main event would be a heated affair.
Tension was palpable inside the Scotiabank Arena as Bruce Buffer introduced both fighters. The champion came out in his patented Philly-shell style, and begian to find the range for his jab. Du Plessis opened up throwing a range of kicks, two of which connected to the head of Strickland. Du Plessis proceeded to shoot with about a minute and a half left in the round after minimal success on the feet, and got him to the mat, but Strickland was able to get back to his feet, and continued to land his laser-like jab.
Strickland’s composure defensively had Du Plessis frustrated, which led him to try heavy overhands and spinning strikes, which Strickland saw coming from a mile away. Du Plessis was able to once again get Strickland down on a takedown, and blood began to trickle from the Champion’s eye, as Du Plessis’ eye contininued to get more swollen, an eye for an eye shall we say.
Du Plessis took the centre of the cage in round three and started to land a bit more, but kept getting peppered with jabs. The South African was getting closer and closer with blitzes, as he was controlling the third round, backing Strickland up, while Strickland landed peppering shots, it was nothing significant.
An elbow from Du Plessis opened up a cut underneath Strickland’s eye, but the champ returned fire with a right hand of its own, and continued to land it more after that. More gashes started to appear on the face and head of Strickland, while Du Plessis’s eye continued to swell from jabs. Strickland initiated a clinch but Du Plessis reversed it on him and took Strickland down briefly. The champion’s eye continued to bleed, and Du Plessis’ strength advantage was apparent, as he got the champion down on a takedown again. 6/9 takedowns were landed at the end of the fourth round from the challenger.
With one more round to go, neither corner or media members could agree on a singular scorecard. Both fighters met in the middle and continued to trade blows and slug it out. A technical slugfest throughout the final round, both fighters were landing big, with Strickland landing the more concussive blows in the final round. The battle between two of the best middleweights in the world, received a standing ovation from the Toronto crowd.
Official result: Dricus Du Plessis defeats Sean Strickland via Split decision (48-47, 47-48,47-48)
