This weekend the UFC is back with their first PPV event of 2024. Headlining UFC 297 will be a Middleweight title contest between newly crowned champion Sean Strickland and South African-born prospect Dricus Du Plessis. Strickland dethroned longtime champion Isreal Adesanya last September in what many experts are calling the upset of the year in 2023. Du Plessis is undefeated in his time with the UFC finishing five of six fights inside the distance. In the Co-Main Event, a new women’s Bantamweight Champion will be crowned after Amanda Nunes retired and vacated her title. Raquel Pennington is riding a five-fight winning streak into this matchup against Brazilian submission specialist Mayra Bueno Silva.

Also on the card, ranked Featherweight contenders Arnold Allen and Movsar Evloev get the PPV started with a highly competitive matchup at 145 pounds.

(C) Sean Strickland (28-5) vs. #2 Dricus Du Plessis (20-2)

In the Main Event, Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland takes on streaking Middleweight contender Dricus Du Plessis. Stickland has one of the best gas tanks in the entire promotion and his defensive boxing skills are elite. In his fight with former Champion Israel Adesanya, Stickland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history cruising to a unanimous decision. Du Plessis is an athletic powerhouse who has finished 19 of his 20 professional victories. In his time with the UFC Du Plessis is unbeaten with only one fight going the distance. Entering this contest Sean Strickland is a slight betting favorite at online sportsbooks (-125).

Du Plessis has never gone five rounds in his career, which raises some questions coming into this contest. If Strickland can survive early the fight will favor him the longer it goes. While Du Plessis is best known for knocking out former champion Robert Whittaker he also holds nine wins by submission on his record. These two have bad blood coming into this matchup as both were involved in an altercation at UFC 296 that saw Strickland being escorted from the arena.

Prediction: Strickland by Decision

#2 Raquel Pennington (15-9) vs. #3 Mayra Bueno Silva (10-2-1)

The Women’s Bantamweight title will be up for grabs this weekend as team Altitude product Raquel Pennington takes on Mayra Bueno Silva. Pennington is on a five-fight win streak with wins over Ketlen Vieira and Aspen Ladd. Silva is on a three-fight win streak finishing Lina Lansberg and Stephanie Egger by submission. Currently, Silva is a betting favorite at online sportsbooks (-170).

If the fight hits the ground it will significantly favor Silva, who has a very crafty grappling game. Pennington is extremely well-rounded and is one of the toughest fighters on the UFC roster. Pennington enters this championship matchup at 35 years old while Silva is 32. This is the biggest fight in the career of both competitors.

Prediction: Bueno Silva by Submission

#4 Arnold Allen (19-2) vs. #9 Movsar Evloev (17-0)

Ranked Featherweight contenders collide on the UFC 297 main card, when Arnold Allen takes on undefeated Russian prospect Mosvar Evloev. Allen faced former champion Max Holloway last time out, losing by decision in a highly competitive matchup. Evloev has yet to taste defeat but was tested by Diego Lopes in his last contest. Evloev has won seven fights in a row by decision and has a dominant ground game. Both fighters are 29 years old and looking to make a statement win this weekend. Allen is a tremendous talent whose physical strength and striking make him a problem for anyone at 145 pounds. Oddsmakers favor Evloev in this matchup with Allen entering as a (+160) betting underdog.

If Evloev can’t find a home for the takedown he’s going to have an uphill battle winning this one. Allen is a live underdog who holds knockout wins over ranked contenders Calvin Kattar and Dan Hooker.

Prediction: Allen by KO/TKO

UFC 297 Prelims:

The UFC 297 prelims will showcase many up-and-coming talents. Canadian standout Mike Mallot (10-1-1) faces UFC veteran Neil Magny (28-12) in front of his native fans in Toronto. Mangy is a 31-fight veteran of the promotion and will be a good test to see were Mallot is at. Mallot burst on the scene in the UFC with three straight finishes propelling him into this matchup against legit competition.

Also on the UFC 297 Prelims, talented Featherwieghts Sean Woodson (10-1-1) and Charles Jourdain (15-6-1) clash in a fight no one expects to go the distance. Woodson is extremely tall at 145 pounds (6’2) and will have a 9-inch reach advantage. Jourdain is a proven finisher who submitted Ricardo Ramos last time out.

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