UFC 297 on Saturday night features two titles bouts and a much anticipated fight between featherweight contenders. The first PPV of 2024 is a solid card that might not appeal to the casual fan, but it will provide a lot of insight about the middleweight division and perhaps shed some light on the depth of talent at featherweight.
UFC 297: Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Main card (Start time 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV; Key fights in bold, all odds via BetMGM)
• Middleweight championship: Sean Strickland (-135) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (+115)
Strickland (28-5) defends the title he shockingly took from Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September. Du Plessis (20-2) is also coming off a major upset, knocking out former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290. Strickland has elite boxing skills and a stellar jab, but it is Du Plessis who possesses fight-changing power. There are questions about Du Plessis’ gas tank, but his strength and power could end the fight before we get to that point.
• Women’s bantamweight championship: Raquel Pennington (+145) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (-175)
Pennington (15-8) and Bueno Silva (10-2-1) are facing off for the title vacated by Amanda Nunes, the greatest female fighter in MMA history. Pennington is on a five-fight winning streak and coming off a split-decision victory over Ketlen Vieira. Bueno Silva has won three straight with two ending inside the distance. Bueno Silva is the rightful favorite and has a strength advantage, but Pennington does have a path to victory by staying busy and point fighting.
• Welterweight: Neil Magny (+310) vs. Mike Malott (-400)
• Middleweight: Chris Curtis defeats Marc-Andre Barriault via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)