Welcome to Fightful.com's results, live coverage, and discussion for UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis!
We will bring you live play-by-play for UFC 297's main card and full results for the rest of tonight's card. Scroll down to the Disqus boards below and chat with fellow MMA fans during the event.
Results
Main Card (PPV, 10:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. PDT)
- (#2) Dricus Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland (C) (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) — UFC Middleweight Championship
- (#2) Raquel Pennington def. (#3) Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-46, 49-46) — UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship
- (#13) Neil Magny def. Mike Malott via TKO (strikes) (4:45, R3)
- (#14) Chris Curtis def. Marc-Andre Barriault via split-decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
- (#9) Movsar Evloev def. (#4) Arnold Allen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Prelims (ESPN News/ESPN+, 8:00 p.m. EDT/5:00 p.m. PDT)
- Garrett Armfield def. Brad Katona via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Sean Woodson def. Charles Jourdain via split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Ramon Taveras def. Serhiy Sidey via split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Gillian Robertson def. Polyana Viana via TKO (punches) (3:12, R2)
Early Prelims (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. EDT/3:30 p.m. PDT)
- Sam Patterson def. Yohan Lainesse via submission (rear naked choke) (2:03, R1)
- Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Priscila Cachoeira via submission (anaconda choke) (4:21, R3)
- Jimmy Flick def. Malcolm Gordon via submission (arm triangle) (1:17, R2)
Play-by-Play
Sean Strickland (C) vs. (#2) Dricus Du Plessis — UFC Middleweight Championship
Round One - Du Plessis partially lands a head kick to open the action. Strickland lands a front kick to the body, then a low kick, and the champion pops the jab back up top. Du Plessis lands a low kick, then lands a jab of his own, and Strickland lands a 1-2. Strickland jabs, finds a home for a front kick to the body, and Du Plessis lands a left hook in return. Strickland continues to pepper the jab, then lands another front kick to the body, and Du Plessis lands a side kick to the body.
Strickland lands a left hook, Du Plessis lands a low kick, and dives in for the takedown, Strickland stays upright, but Du Plessis drags the champion down to the mat. Strickland gets back up, Du Plessis trips him right back down, but lets go and circles back to the center of the octagon. Du Plessis lands a low kick, Strickland jabs, and Du Plessis lands a front kick to the body. Strickland blocks a head kick, Du Plessis lands a left hook, and Strickland nails the challenger with a right hook at the horn, which ends an eventful opening frame.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Strickland.
Round Two - Du Plessis jabs to open the action. Du Plessis lands a low kick, Strickland jabs, and Du Plessis goes back to the well of lead leg kicks. Du Plessis whiffs on a spinning back-fist attempt, Strickland continues to jab, and lands a 1-2 to follow. Du Plessis lands a lead leg kick, then finds a home for a left hook, and the champion jabs. Du Plessis lands a 1-2 to the body, followed by a low kick, and a front kick to the body.
Du Plessis lands an overhand left, Strickland jabs, and Du Plessis trips Strickland down to the mat. Strickland has a cut on the outside corner of his left eye, but the champion scrambles back to his feet. Du Plessis lands a 1-2, misses on another spinning back-fist attempt, and the horn sounds to end round number two.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Du Plessis. 19-19 to overall after two rounds.
Round Three - Du Plessis misses an overhand right, Strickland jabs, and Du Plessis' left eye is nearly swollen completely shut. Du Plessis lands a low kick, then a side kick to the body, and Strickland continues to go to the well of jabs. Du Plessis rips a right hook to the body, then a low kick, and misses another spinning back-fist attempt. Du Plessis rips a left hook to the body, then finds a home for a side kick to the body, and Strickland returns fire with yet another jab.
Du Plessis continues to look for but not find a home for spinning attempts as an elbow misses for the challenger. Du Plessis lands a low kick, then a side kick to the body, and Strickland jabs. Du Plessis lands a left hook, then a low kick, but misses an overhand left. Du Plessis lands a low kick and just misses a spinning back-kick to the body. Du Plessis lands a left hook, followed by another low kick, and a jab back up top at the horn, and this one is headed to the championship rounds.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Du Plessis. 29-28 to Du Plessis after three rounds.
Round Four - Du Plessis dives in for a takedown but Strickland slides out of the way and circles back to the center of the octagon. Du Plessis lands a right hook, and the cut on the outside corner of Strickland's eye is starting to leak blood. Du Plessis lands a side kick to the body, then rips a left hook to the body, before missing an overhand right. Du Plessis lands a slick right hook to the body before going back up top with a left hook. Du Plessis lands a 1-2 up top, Strickland clinches, and Du Plessis trips the champion down to the mat.
Strickland scoots to the fence and gets back to his feet, Du Plessis remains in pursuit with the clinch, and lands a right hook on the break. Strickland's face is a bloodied up mess, Du Plessis lands a right hook flush, and a head kick partially lands for the challenger. Du Plessis explodes and drags Strickland down to the mat with a perfectly timed takedown. Strickland gets to his feet but Du Plessis drags him right back down to the mat. Strickland gets back up and jabs, Du Plessis lands a low kick, Strickland jabs, and Du Plessis whiffs on an overhand right. Strickland lands a 1-2, then jabs, and the horn sounds to send this one to the fifth and final round.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Du Plessis. 39-37 to Du Plessis after four rounds.
Round Five - Strickland lands a 1-2 to open the final frame. Du Plessis lands a 1-2 of his own, followed by a right hook. The cut on the outside corner of Strickland's left eye is leaking pretty badly now, but the champion continues to find a home for the jab. Du Plessis lands a low kick, then a side kick to the body, before missing an overhand left back up top. Strickland blocks a high kick, Du Plessis looks for the takedown, but Strickland stuffs the attempt. Strickland jabs, Du Plessis returns the favor with one of his own, then finds a home for a right hook to the body.
Du Plessis lands an uppercut then looks for the takedown but Strickland stuffs the attempt once again. Du Plessis lands a clean right hook, Strickland wipes a mound of blood from his left eye, and we have just under one minute to go in this middleweight title fight that could be anybody's. Strickland lands a 1-2, then rips a left hook to the body, and lands a right hook back up top. Strickland goes for a flying knee, Du Plessis lands a right hook, and the horn sounds to end a wildly entertaining main event.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Strickland. 48-47 to Du Plessis overall.
Result: (#2) Dricus Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland (C) (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) — UFC Middleweight Championship
(#2) Raquel Pennington vs. (#3) Mayra Bueno Silva — UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship
Round One - Silva walks inside and clinches Pennington against the fence. Pennington spins off the fence and lands a 1-2 back in the center of the octagon. Pennington jabs, Silva clinches and trips Pennington down to the mat. Silva spins to the back, Pennington stands, Silva looks for the choke, but Pennington defends well.
Silva's still riding the back, Pennington falls back down to the mat, but Silva remains with back control. Both are in a seated position against the fence, Silva lands some punches to the side of Pennington's head, Pennington throws some shots over her shoulder, and the horn sounds to end the opening frame.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Silva.
Round Two - Silva goes right back to the well and clinches Pennington agaisnt the fence. Pennington spins off the fence and lands a 1-2, then a straight right, and Silva presses Pennington against the fence once again. Silva rips a right hook to the body, Pennington shoves Silva back and lights her up with a bevy of strikes. Pennington lands a 1-2, then jabs, followed by another 1-2.
Pennington now has Silva against the fence, but Silva slides out and climbs on the back. Silva gets the body triangle locked in, then an arm under the chin, and looks for the choke. Pennington remains calm and defends well, then falls forward, Silva keeps the body triangle intact, but the horn sounds to end round number two.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Pennington. 19-19 overall.
Round Three - Silva continues to work the grappling and she has Pennington clinched against the fence. Pennington reverses position and has Silva against the fence, Silva pulls guard and looks for the choke, but Pennington slips out of danger. Silva looks for the standing choke now, but Pennington once again defends well and now has Silva pressed against the fence.
Silva reverses momentum and trips Pennington down to the mat, Pennington scrambles, Silva stands up and starts kicking Pennington's legs until Pennington gets her way back to the feet. Pennington trips Silva down to the mat, Silva look for the triangle choke, Pennington starts hammering down some punches from the top, but the horn sounds, and this one is headed to the championship rounds.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Silva. 29-28 to Silva after three rounds.
Round Four - Pennington lands a right hook to start. Silva lands a low kick, then a front kick to the body, then clinches. Pennington reverses position and lands some short punches on the inside. Silva spins back to control and lands an elbow, then a few short shots of her own. Silva wraps her hands around Pennington and uses it to get back control whilst standing.
Silva tries to drag Pennington down to the mat, Pennington remains upright, but Silva ends up getting the takedown. Both are in a seated position, Silva looks for the choke, Pennington rolls to her side, and breaks the hold. Pennington now has side control against the fence, Silva's looking for a kimura, but Pennington defends well. Pennington looks to create some separation for ground and pound but Silva defends well and looks for an armbar. Pennington starts launching hammerfists at Silva, but Silva does a good job of moving out of the way, the horn sounds, and this one is headed to the fifth and final round.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Pennington. 38-38 overall after four rounds.
Round Five - Silva lands a low kick to open the fifth and final frame. Pennington trips Silva to the mat and steps over for mount. Pennington looks for a head and arm choke, Silva looks exhausted but gives the thumbs up to referee Jerin Valel. Pennington still has the choke locked in but lets up to switch it up with some punches to the body. Pennington reapplies the choke, steps over, and is able to tighten it up but Silva rolls to her side to alleviate some pressure. Pennington continues to work for the choke, Silva defends well, and Pennington lets go.
Only 90-seconds remain in this razor-thin bout, and Silva's going to need to do something to try and sway the judge's as it's potentially two rounds apiece. Pennington starts launching punch after punch, Silva looks for the triangle choke, Pennington stands up, and drops down with a huge punch. Pennington stands back up, starts kicking Silva's legs, Silva throws some up-kicks, Pennington continues to kick the legs, then drops back down for a few more punches, and the horn sounds to send this one to the judge's scorecards.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Pennington. 48-47 to Pennington overall.
Result: (#2) Raquel Pennington def. (#3) Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-46, 49-46)
(#13) Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott
Round One - Not much going on early in this one but that's not having any of the Canadian fans in attendance slow down in their LOUD verbal support of Malott. Magny clinches, Malott reverses position and now has the longtime divisional staple pressed against the fence. Magny shoves Malott back, Malott lands a low kick, Magny walks Malott down with a bevy of punches, but nothing of consequence seems to land for the veteran. Malott lands a low kick, then another, then a third, and Magny just misses on a front kick to the body. Malott goes back to the well with another kick to Magny's lead leg, then another, then ANOTHER, and the horn sounds to end the opening frame.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Malott.
Round Two - Magny lands a front kick to the body to start. Malott trips Magny to the mat and secures the takedown. Magny scrambles and gets back to his feet, where he clinches Malott, but Malott shoves Magny to the mat and gets another takedown under his belt. Malott transitions to mount, Magny spins, but Malott has the body triangle locked in. Magny rolls to his back, Malott lands a few short elbows, mixes in some punches, Magny blocks most of what he can, and the buzzer sounds to send this one to the third and final round.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Malott. 20-18 to Malott after two rounds.
Round Three - Malott explodes and launches himself toward Magny and drags him down to the mat right as the round starts. Malott looks for the choke, Magny rolls, and gets back to his feet, where he has Malott clinched against the fence. Malott reverses position, grabs a leg, and trips Magny back down to the mat. Malott isn't doing a whole lot of damage, Magny stands up, but Malott keeps his legs wrapped around Magny's ankles, and trips him right back down to the mat.
Magny scrambles and ends up with top control with about one minute to go in a fight he may be down on in. Magny rips shot after shot, Malott rolls to his back, Magny is crushing him with ground and pound, Malott keeps rolling but Magny is relentless, 30 seconds to go, Magny isn't slowing down, and referee Marc Goddard waves this one off! The Canadian crowd is STUNNED and Neil Magny continues to be a problem in this division!
Result: (#13) Neil Magny def. Mike Malott via TKO (strikes) (4:45, R3)
(#14) Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
Round One - Curtis lands a leg kick to open. Not much going on here from either competitor and Barriault rips a right hook to Curtis' body. Barriault lands a side kick to the body, Curtis lands a right hook, and the horn sounds to end a very uneventful opening frame.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Curtis.
Round Two - A right hook lands for Curtis to open round number two. Curtis rips a right hook to the body, Barriault responds with a jab up top, and Curtis lands a jab of his own. Again, not much going on from either fighter here, Barriault lands a jab, and the horn sounds to send this one to the third and final round.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Curtis. 20-18 to Curtis after two rounds.
Round Three - Barriault lands a pair of jabs to open the final frame. Barriault lands a low kick, then an uppercut back up top. Barriault lands a right hook, then another, and Curtis comes back with a right hook to the body. Barriault lands a jab, Curtis comes back with an uppercut that lands, Barriault jabs, Curtis jabs, and the horn sounds to send this one to the judge's scorecards.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Curtis. 29-28 to Curtis overall.
Result: (#14) Chris Curtis def. Marc-Andre Barriault via split-decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
(#4) Arnold Allen vs. (#9) Movsar Evloev
Round One - Allen rips a right hook to the body to open the action. Allen lands another body blow, Evloev level changes and looks for the takedown but Allen remains upright for the moment as Evloev shoves him to the fence. Allen spins off the fence and jabs Evloev, who trips Allen down to the mat for the successful takedown. Allen pops right back to his feet, Evloevl remains in pursuit and has Allen clinched against the fence but the horn sounds to end an entertaining opening frame.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Allen.
Round Two - Allen lands a head kick, but Evloev looks to be OK. Evloev goes for and gets the takedown, but Allen pops right back up to his feet and quickly breaks out of the clinch. Allen rips a right hook to the body, Evloev lands a looping left hook and Allen looks hurt! Evloev smells blood but Allen recovers nicely albeit with a nice shiner under his left eye, and the horn sounds to end round number two.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Evloev. 19-19 overall after two rounds.
Round Three - Allen rocks Evloev with a bevy of punches, but Evloev lands a low kick and clinches to allow himself some time to recover. Allen lands a knee while Evloev's hands were on the mat and this one will head to the replay booth after a quick stoppage. It's an illegal knee but Allen gets off with just a warning and this one is back underway.
Allen rips a right hook to the body, Evloev has a takedown attempt stuffed, then goes for another, and also comes up short. Evloev goes for a third takedown attemp and Allen catches him in a choke but quickly lets go and stands back up. Evloev has the back whilst standing, Allen shoves him aside, and the horn sounds, and this one is headed to the judge's scorecards.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 to Allen. 29-28 to Allen overall.
Result: (#9) Movsar Evloev def. (#4) Arnold Allen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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