Dricus Du Plessis defeats Sean Strickland to capture middleweight crown

The middleweight title bout between champion Sean Strickland and second-ranked Dricus Du Plessis headlined Saturday’s UFC 297 event in Toronto, Canada.  

Strickland entered his first title defense riding a three-fight winning streak and coming off a convincing win over former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.  Du Plessis made the walk to the octagon riding an eight-fight winning streak and was coming off a TKO win over former champion Robert Whittaker.  

The two meet in the middle of the octagon.  Du Plessis utilized a kick heavy offense early.  Strickland used his jab.  Du Plessis lands a leg kick.  Strickland continues to touch Du Plessis with his jab.  Du Plessis landed a kick to the body.  Du Plessis changes stance and partially landed a head kick.  Strickland checked most of Du Plessis’ leg kicks.  Du Plessis changed levels and took Strickland down.  Strickland got back to his feet but Du Plessis drug him back to the canvas.  Strickland again gets up and Du Plessis backed away.  

Back standing, Strickland went back to landing his jab.  Strickland connected with a clean right hand and Du Plessis pressed forward at the end of the round.  

Du Plessis missed with a right hand at the beginning of the second frame.  Du Plessis landed a spinning back fist.  Strickland continued to land his jab and check kicks.  Du Plessis went to the body with a combination.  Du Plessis connected with a left hand.  He changes levels and took Strickland down.  Strickland stood up but has a cut on his left eye.  Du Plessis’ left eye started to swell.  Another close round.  The fight appeared even after two rounds.

Du Plessis landed a head kick early in the third.  Strickland’s jab continued to find its mark.  Du Plessis pressured Strickland and landed to the body.  Du Plessis landed a left hand with two minutes remaining.  Strickland landed his jab as Du Plessis moved forward.  Round three was a close round.  Du Plessis pressed forward and Strickland’s output declined.  

Strickland’s corner told him to pick up the pace while Du Plessis was advised to go for takedowns.  Strickland landed a right hand.  Du Plessis stepped in with a right hand.  Du Plessis connected with an elbow.  Strickland responded with a right hand.  Strickland landed another right hand.  Strickland’s cut reopened.  Strickland clinches and Du Plessis tripped him to the canvas.  

Strickland stood but ate a right hand.  He started to bleed more.  Du Plessis connected with two right hands.  He landed a head kick.  Du Plessis took Strickland down.  Strickland worked his way to his feet only to be slammed to the canvas.  Strickland stood and the two separated.  Strickland landed a combination late in the round.  Round 4 went to Du Plessis.  

With the fight potentially even heading into the final round, the crowd rose to its feet.  Strickland connected with his jab and a right hand.  Du Plessis answered with a leg kick followed by a head kick.  Strickland just took it.  Strickland stuffed a takedown attempt and landed a right hand.  With 90 seconds to go, Strickland stuffed another takedown attempt.  Strickland connected with a right hand.   Du Plessis responds with a right hand.  They slugged it out for the final 15 seconds.  

The fight went the distance and the judges scored the bout for Du Plessis by split decision.  The scorecards read 47–48, 48–47, and 48–47.  And new!