The UFC returns to Toronto for the first time since December 2018 with UFC 297 taking place at Scotiabank Arena. The card features a middleweight title headliner as current champion Sean Strickland looks to defend his title for the first time when he faces the streaking Dricus Du Plessis.
There is another title fight on the cards as the co-main event features a women’s bantamweight title fight between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva. Let’s take a look at all of the action taking place this weekend.
UFC 297 Prelim Card
The card opens with a flyweight contest featuring Malcolm Gordon and Jimmy Flick. The Canadian Gordon is expected to emerge victorious in this affair sending the Londoner to his third straight loss.
Canada's Jasmine Jasudavicius takes on Priscilla Cachoeira in a women's flyweight contest. Jasudavicius is heavily favored to get the win on home soil against the Brazilian.
Welterweights are in action as Yohan Lainesse battles Sam Patterson. It should be competitive with Patterson moving up to welterweight, but Lainesse is just about expected to win this bout.
There are more Canadians in action as Niagara Falls native Gillian Robertson takes on Polyana Viana in a women's strawweight tilt. Expect a grappling-heavy match with Robertson to come out on top.
Serhiy Sidey and Ramon Taveras run it back in a bantamweight contest in what is seen as a controversial stoppage for Sidey. Sidey is expected to get his 7th win in a row in this 135-pound matchup, but don’t count out Taveras!
The always exciting Quebec native Charles Jourdain returns to action when he faces Sean Woodson in a featherweight contest. In what should be a purely standup affair, expect Jourdain to come out on top.
Brad Katona battles Garret Armfield in a bantamweight affair. The Canadian Katona will likely emerge victorious by decision to end the prelim card.
UFC 297 Main Card
Allen (19-2) vs Evloev (17-0)
Perhaps the most intriguing fight on the card is the main card opener in a featherweight contest between #4 ranked contender Arnold Allen and #9 Movsar Evloev. Allen hasn't competed since a unanimous decision defeat to Max Holloway back in April. It snapped a 10-fight winning streak in the UFC for the talented Brit who is now looking to restart his title run.
“Almighty” won’t face an easy test in grappler Evloev, who remains undefeated not only in the UFC, but in his entire professional career. The Russian last competed in May when he defeated Diego Lopes on short notice. Prior to that, he earned wins over the likes of Dan Ige and Hakeem Dawodu. Evloev is a big favorite, but don’t count Allen out.
Curtis (30-10, 1NC) vs Barriault (16-6, 1NC)
A middleweight encounter between Chris Curtis and Marc-Andre Barriault is also on the cards. Curtis is coming off a no contest with Nassourdine Imavov in June. Prior to that, he was outpointed by Kelvin Gastelum with his last win being a knockout over Joaquin Buckley in December 2022.
Barriault, meanwhile, is on a two-fight winning streak following a TKO win over Julian Marquez and a unanimous decision victory against Eryk Anders last year. The Canadian will be looking to make it three wins in a row on home turf. All that said, Curtis is expected to edge this contest and snap his current two-fight winless streak.
Magny (28-12) vs Malott (10-1-1)
Another Canadian is showcased on the card as Mike Malott takes on Neil Magny in a welterweight battle. Malott is undefeated in the UFC so far with three wins out of three. Those include finishes over the likes of Mickey Gall, Yohan Lainesse and Adam Fugitt. However, he will have a big step up in competition against the veteran Magny.
The American has alternated between wins and losses and is most recently coming off a unanimous decision defeat to Ian Garry on short notice. Prior to that, he earned a split verdict over Philip Rowe. Unfortunately for Magny, he is slowing with each fight and looks likely to embark on a two-fight losing streak as the younger Malott is favored to get a decisive victory in front of his home crowd.
Pennington (15-9) vs Silva (10-2-1, 1NC)
The first of two title fights see Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva collide for the vacant women’s bantamweight title. The title became vacant after Amanda Nunes announced her retirement last year. And so, Pennington -- who lost to Nunes back in May 2018 -- is one half of the co-headliner who will look to become the new 135-pound queen. “Rocky” has enjoyed a solid run of late with a five-fight winning streak including a most recent split decision win over Ketlen Vieira.
Silva, on the other hand, is undefeated in her last four. The Brazilian has defeated the likes of Wu Yanan, Stephanie Egger and Lina Lansberg. She also submitted former champion Holly Holm in July. However, it was overturned after she tested positive for a banned substance. That aside, she is still a slight favorite and I like a play for a submission to secure the belt.
Strickland (28-5) vs Du Plessis (20-2)
The headliner sees middleweight champion Sean Strickland defend his 185-pound strap against Dricus Du Plessis. “Tarzan” shocked the world when he knocked down early and then outstruck Israel Adesanya over five rounds to become the new middleweight king back in September. As a result, the American is currently on a three-fight winning streak, has won 9 of his last 12 fights in the UFC.
Du Plessis will be looking to end that streak and become the new middleweight champion. The South African brawler is undefeated in the UFC with a 6-0 record. That notably includes finishes over the likes of Darren Till, Derek Brunson and most impressively, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker who Du Plessis knocked out in the second round back in July.
It wasn’t always pretty as far as his performances went, but there’s no doubt that the South African has shown remarkable improvements in recent fights and the fact that he underwent nose surgery to correct a breathing issue prior to his last outing.
This is a tough one to call, especially given the unorthodox styles of both fighters as well as the fact that they upset the odds in a huge way in their last outings. Strickland is the slightest of favorites, and it’s easy to imagine him outstriking the challenger following his last 25 minutes in the Octagon. Du Plessis has no experience going into championship rounds, and I think this is when the American will put on the pressure to get up on the scorecards to retain the title.
