The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Toronto this weekend. In the main event, the Middleweight Championship will be on the line when Sean Strickland defends his title against Dricus Du Plessis.
Strickland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the organization last year when he dethroned Israel Adesanya as champion.
Du Plessis is no stranger to upset victories as he defeated former champion Robert Whittaker last year in a fight that no one thought he would win.
Strickland and Du Plessis have had something of a bizarre path to Toronto. Initially, there was mutual respect, but then there were comments about Stricklands’ abusive childhood that led to death threats (literally), but calmer heads have prevailed, with both agreeing to settle their differences in the octagon.
Sean Strickland is a very good striker known for having great cardio, so going five rounds, which is the number of rounds in a championship fight, is no issue for him. Du Plessis is more of a pressure fighter and doesn’t slow down. He doesn’t have five-round experience but is undefeated in the UFC.
In the co-main event, the Women’s Bantamweight Championship is vacant. Now that former long-time champion Amanda Nunes has retired, the title will be held by someone not named Amanda Nunes or Juliana Pena.
Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva will fight for the vacant title. Pennington has been in the UFC for years and has a lot of experience. Silva has less UFC octagon time, but most of her wins come by submission. She doesn’t have the resumé that Pennington has, but we will see what happens Saturday night.
This event in Toronto will feature no less than eight Canadian fighters on the cards.
On the main card, Gatineau’s own Marc-André Barriault will take on #14 Middleweight ranked Chris Curtis. Toronto’s Mike Mallot will face #13 Welterweight Neil Magny. A win for Barriault or Mallot should place them in the rankings.
The reception for this event in Toronto has been overwhelming, as it has been years since the UFC was in Toronto. Dana White, President of the UFC, has said that the UFC plans more Canadian dates this year.
UFC 297 is available on Pay Per View, participating sports bars and Cineplex South Keys in Ottawa.
Arnold Allen vs. Mosvar Evloev – Featherweight
Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield – Bantamweight
Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson – Featherweight
Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras – Bantamweight
Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana – Women’s Strawweight
Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson – Welterweight
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Priscila Cachoeira – Women’s Bantamweight
Malcom Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick – Flyweight
