It’s time to settle some bad blood. Or maybe, for a new found friendship to kick off? UFC 297 is set for Saturday night in Toronto with middleweight champion Sean Strickland kicking off his reign against Dricus du Plessis.
The two engaged in a bitter back and forth at the initial press conference in December. But as the fight has drawn nearer, a change in tone has occurred. Strickland and Du Plessis noted at media day that the two spoke over social media and agreed to not mention Strickland’s upbringing anymore in the buildup. Now, the two have said that they will simply bring war to each other when the Octagon door closes on Saturday night.
The co-main event sees another title fight when Raquel Pennington battles Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant women’s bantamweight crown. The championship has been unoccupied since Amanda Nunes announced her retirement last year following a title defense win over Irene Aldana.
Can’t get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news, including instant analysis of UFC 297 at the conclusion of the PPV event below.
Elsewhere, rising Canadian contender Mike Malott is back in action when he takes on veteran Neil Magny. Malott has won six in a row, including his first three Octagon appearances, but Magny represents his toughest test to date. Plus, more Canadians help fill out in the undercard, including Marc-Andre Barriault as he takes on Chris Curtis in a middleweight showdown. And on the prelims, Charles Jourdain takes on Sean Woodson in a featherweight tilt.
Below is all the information you need to catch UFC 297 on Saturday night.
CBS Sports will also have live coverage of the fight with round-by-round scoring and blow-by-blow updates to keep you up to date throughout the night.
How to watch UFC 297 prelims
Date: Jan. 20 | Location: Scotiabank Arena — Toronto
Time: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. ET for early prelims)
Channel: ESPN
How to watch UFC 297 main card
Date: Jan. 20 | Location: Scotiabank Arena — Toronto
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Stream: ESPN+ PPV | Price: $79.99
Now, here’s a look at the UFC 297 main fight card and betting odds.
UFC 297 main card, odds
| Favorite | Underdog | Weightclass |
|---|---|---|
| Sean Strickland (c) -110 | Dricus du Plessis -110 | Welterweight title |
| Mayra Bueno Silva -170 | Raquel Pennington +145 | Women’s bantamweight title |
| Mike Malott -370 | Neil Magny +290 | Welterweights |
| Chris Curtis -190 | Marc-Andre Barriault +160 | Lightweights |
| Movsar Evloev -200 | Arnold Allen +170 | Featherweights |
Who wins UFC 297: Strickland vs. du Plessis, and how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on UFC 297, all from the MMA expert who profited more than $6,200 in 2022, and find out.
