UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis Full Fight Card, Date & Details
UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis
Canada
Main Card • Final
South Africa
R5, 5:00
Title Fight
Fight of the Night
United States
R5, 5:00
Vacant Title Fight
Brazil
R3, 4:45
R3, 5:00
Russia
R3, 5:00
England
Prelims • Final
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
Ukraine
R2, 3:12
Performance of the Night
Early Prelims • Final
R1, 2:03
R3, 4:21
Performance of the Night
R2, 1:17
Official Event Results
Title Bout
$50k FOTN
Vacant Title
$50k POTN
Official Post-Fight Bonus Awards
$50,000 Post-Fight Bonus Recipients
Fight of the Night: Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland earned $50,000 each for their razor-thin, five-round middleweight championship main event.
Performance of the Night: Gillian Robertson took home $50,000 for her dominant second-round ground-and-pound TKO finish of Polyana Viana.
Performance of the Night: Jasmine Jasudavicius collected $50,000 following a historically dominant striking and grappling clinic, submitting Priscila Cachoeira via third-round anaconda choke.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | — | — | $50,000 | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | $50,000 | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | $50,000 | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | $50,000 | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — |
*Purses for UFC 297 are governed by private promotional contracts and are not publicly disclosed by the Ontario Athletics Commission (OAC). Baseline purses and contractual win bonuses are kept confidential. Amounts marked with (—) represent undisclosed base figures. Figures include official $50,000 post-fight performance bonus awards. Weight-miss penalties assessed against Ramon Taveras (30% to Serhiy Sidey) and Malcolm Gordon (20% to Jimmy Flick) are not itemized.
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records Established at UFC 297
Dricus Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland via split decision to capture the UFC Middleweight Championship, making history as the first South African-born and trained champion in UFC history.
UFC 297 produced a live gate of $7,898,695 USD (CAD 10.6 million), setting an all-time record as the highest-grossing arena event in Canadian combat sports history.
Jasmine Jasudavicius outlanded Priscila Cachoeira 326 to 26 in total strikes, establishing the largest total strike differential (+300) in the history of UFC women’s competition.
Jasmine Jasudavicius landed an astonishing 281 ground strikes against Priscila Cachoeira, breaking the previous UFC modern record for most ground strikes in a three-round bout.
Neil Magny rallied from a heavy deficit to finish Mike Malott via TKO at 4:45 of Round 3, extending his all-time promotional record to 21 career victories in the UFC welterweight division.
Neil Magny’s stoppage of Mike Malott at 4:45 of Round 3 stands as the third-latest finish in a three-round 170-pound bout in UFC history.
Gillian Robertson secured her 10th career stoppage victory inside the Octagon with a second-round TKO over Polyana Viana, maintaining her position as the most prolific finisher in UFC women’s history.
Ten years after her promotional debut, Raquel Pennington captured the vacant UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship, landing 134 significant strikes to defeat Mayra Bueno Silva.
Movsar Evloev defeated Arnold Allen by unanimous decision, improving his unblemished career record to 18-0 (8-0 in the UFC) and cementing his status as a top-tier featherweight contender.
During the live broadcast, former lightweight king Frankie Edgar was officially announced as the first inductee of the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame (Modern Wing) class.
The main event clash between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis became only the fourth championship fight in UFC middleweight history to be determined by a split decision.
Marking the UFC’s first visit to Toronto since December 2018 (UFC 231), the event drew a sold-out crowd of 18,559 fans at the Scotiabank Arena.
When and where did UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis take place?
UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis took place on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Who won the main event between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis?
Dricus Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland via split decision (48–47, 47–48, 48–47) to capture the UFC Middleweight Championship, becoming South Africa’s first UFC champion.
Who won the vacant women’s bantamweight championship at UFC 297?
Raquel Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, 49–45) over five rounds to claim the vacant UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship.
Who won the official bonuses at UFC 297?
Four fighters received $50,000 post-fight bonuses: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland won Fight of the Night, while Gillian Robertson and Jasmine Jasudavicius received Performance of the Night honors.
What historical records did Jasmine Jasudavicius break at UFC 297?
Jasudavicius set the record for the largest total strike differential in UFC women’s history (+300), out-landing Priscila Cachoeira 326 to 26, while landing 281 ground strikes before finishing the fight via anaconda choke.
How did Neil Magny defeat Mike Malott?
After being controlled on the canvas through two rounds, Neil Magny swept Canadian standout Mike Malott in the final round and secured a dramatic TKO victory via ground-and-pound at 4:45 of Round 3.
What live gate record was set at UFC 297?
UFC 297 established a new milestone as the highest-grossing indoor arena gate in Canadian combat sports history, generating $7,898,695 USD (CAD 10.6 million) with 18,559 fans in attendance.
Who called the fights at UFC 297?
The event broadcast was anchored by play-by-play lead Jon Anik alongside color analysts and former champions Daniel Cormier and Dominick Cruz.
What major promotional announcement was made during the broadcast?
Former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar was officially revealed as the first inductee of the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame (Modern Wing).
Were there any missed weights at UFC 297?
Yes. Ramon Taveras weighed in at 139.75 pounds (forfeiting 30% of his purse to Serhiy Sidey), and Malcolm Gordon weighed in at 127.5 pounds (forfeiting 20% of his purse to Jimmy Flick). Both bouts proceeded as catchweights.
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