Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Brock's Only Independent Student Newspaper
One of the only worker-managed newspapers in Canada

UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis Preview

|
|

Excitement is building as the UFC gears up for its upcoming event, UFC 297, which is set to take place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Jan. 20. With a stacked fight card, this event promises to be a thrilling spectacle for fight fans in The Six. 

Main Event Showdown: Strickland vs. Du Plessis 

The main event of the evening features the UFC Middleweight Champion, Sean Strickland, making his first title defence against the number two-ranked contender, Dricus Du Plessis. Strickland, coming off an impressive title win over Israel Adesanya, aims to solidify his reign as the middleweight king. Meanwhile, Du Plessis, riding high after a finish of former champion Robert Whittaker, is eager to snatch the title from Strickland’s grasp. It’s a battle between two skilled and determined fighters, promising an explosive showdown in the middleweight division. 

Co-Main Event for the Vacant Women’s Bantamweight Title: Pennington vs. Bueno Silva 

The co-main event showcases a clash for the vacant UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva. Ranked number two and three in the bantamweight division, these two fighters are set to deliver a high-stakes battle. With Amanda Nunes’ retirement leaving the title vacant, the winner of this bout will etch their name in the history books as the seventh champion in the UFC women’s bantamweight division. 

Featherweight Clash: Allen vs. Evloev 

A highly intriguing matchup at 145 pounds features the number four-ranked Arnold Allen facing off against the number nine-ranked contender, Movsar Evloev. The victor of this featherweight bout will undoubtedly position themselves as a strong contender in the division throughout 2024. 

Notable Rematch and Crossroads Contest 

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz is set to square off against Aleksandar Rakic in a rematch. Will Blachowicz go 2-0 in the series, or can Rakic even the score in The Six? Additionally, welterweight contenders Neil Magny and Mike Malott are poised for a rematch, promising a tantalizing clash that could have implications for the welterweight division. 

Exciting Middleweight Matchup: Curtis vs. Barriault 

Chris Curtis and Marc Andre Barriault will lock horns in an exciting middleweight matchup. ‘The Action Man’ aims to halt Barriault’s momentum, while ‘Powerbar’ looks to secure a victory for the Canadian audience. 

Remaining Bouts on the UFC 297 Fight Card 

The UFC 297 fight card also boasts a series of compelling matchups, including Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield, Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana, Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras, Malcolm Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick, Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson, Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson, Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Priscila Cachoeira, and Dominick Reyes vs. Carlos Ulberg. 

As fight night approaches, anticipation grows for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of mixed martial arts action in Toronto. UFC 297 is poised to deliver on the high expectations set by its impressive fight card, making it a must-watch event for UFC fans and Canadians looking to get interested in the sport.

More by this author

RELATED ARTICLES

Ivanov, O’Connor named The Brock Press’ Athletes of the Year 

Michael Ivanov (men’s track and field) and Tatum O’Connor (women’s swimming) have been selected as The Brock Press’ Athletes of the Year for the 2024-25 season. 

Women’s sports threatened by new research cuts  

The intersection of politics and sports took another sharp turn when the Trump administration issued a sweeping directive through Executive Order 14168, removing the terms “female,” gender,” “pregnant” and “LGBTQ+” from all federal research grants. 

By the numbers: Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record 

The chase is over: Alex Ovechkin has broken Wayne Gretzky’s 31-year NHL regular season goal-scoring record. 

Gala caps off Brock’s winning sports year 

The athletic term at Brock University closes with a celebration recognizing student athletes, coaches and teams who defined the 2024-25 season.  

Florida’s journey to winning NCAA championship  

With the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four concluded, the stage was set for the national championship game between the University of Florida Gators and the University of Houston Cougars. 

UConn women finish season as champions 

The University of Connecticut Huskies clinched their 12th NCAA National Championship by defeating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, marking UConn’s first national title since 2016.  

Bayern Munich threatens legal action against Canada Soccer following Alphonso Davies’ knee injury 

German soccer club Bayern Munich have threatened to sue Canada Soccer in the aftermath of Alphonso Davies’ ACL tear, suffered during the latest international window. 

Banner SZN: Recapping U Sports winners of the 2024-25 indoor season 

Another U Sports season full of excitement, disappointment and triumph is in the books, leaving one team standing amongst each sport at the end of a grueling season.