Dricus du Plessis makes history as South Africa’s first UFC champion, while Raquel Pennington claims her first UFC title. Read about the monumental moments and thrilling fights at UFC 297.
| Fight | Winner |
|---|---|
| Middleweight Title: Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland | Dricus du Plessis |
| Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva | Raquel Pennington |
| Featherweight: Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev | Movsar Evloev |
- Dricus du Plessis becomes South Africa’s first UFC champion with a split decision victory over Sean Strickland.
- Raquel Pennington wins her first UFC title with a unanimous decision win against Mayra Bueno Silva.
- Arnold Allen suffers a second straight loss, this time to Movsar Evloev.
- Controversy surrounds Strickland due to his offensive comments and views on various topics.
- Du Plessis calls out former champion Israel Adesanya after his historic win.
- Pennington finally gets her redemption, claiming a belt almost six years after her first title fight loss.
Dricus du Plessis Makes History
In a monumental moment for South African mixed martial arts, Dricus du Plessis has become the country’s first UFC champion. The middleweight title fight took place in Toronto at UFC 297, where du Plessis secured a split decision victory over American Sean Strickland.
Du Plessis’ Road to Victory
Du Plessis entered the octagon with an impressive seven-fight winning streak in the UFC. His opponent, Strickland, had previously claimed the belt from Israel Adesanya in September. However, du Plessis proved to be the better fighter, winning the match with scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 47-48.
Pennington’s Triumph
In the co-main event, American fighter Raquel Pennington also made history by winning her first UFC title. She competed in a bantamweight fight against Mayra Bueno Silva and emerged victorious with a unanimous decision.
Other Notable Fights
The undercard featured a matchup between British featherweight Arnold Allen and Russian fighter Movsar Evloev. Unfortunately for Allen, he suffered a second consecutive loss, falling to Evloev in a unanimous defeat.
Controversy Surrounding Strickland
Leading up to the event, Strickland faced criticism for making homophobic and transphobic comments, as well as expressing negative views towards women’s mixed martial arts. Despite his success in the early rounds and landing more strikes than du Plessis, Strickland was unable to secure the victory.
A Historic Moment
After the fight, an emotional du Plessis expressed his joy and called out Adesanya, the former champion. This victory marks a significant milestone for South African MMA and solidifies du Plessis’ place in history.
Pennington’s Redemption
For Pennington, this win is a long-awaited redemption. Nearly six years after her initial UFC title fight loss to Amanda Nunes, she finally claimed a belt of her own. The 35-year-old fighter showcased her dominance throughout the match, ultimately winning with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 49-45.
Overall, UFC 297 was a night filled with historic moments and thrilling fights. Du Plessis and Pennington’s victories will undoubtedly be remembered as significant milestones in their respective careers.
