UFC 297 LIVE: Strickland vs Du Plessis fight updates and results tonight

Re-live updates from the middleweight title fight, as well as a clash for the vacant women’s bantamweight belt

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou face off before Saudi Arabia bout

Dricus Du Plessis took the middleweight title from Sean Strickland at UFC 297 on Saturday, beating the controversial American via split decision.

Strickland won the belt from Israel Adesanya in September, in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, but his first defence was an unsuccessful one.

Du Plessis entered the main event on the back of a surprise TKO of former champion Robert Whittaker last July, and although the South African failed to replicate that explosive performance, he just did enough to emerge victorious.

After five rounds, the judges’ scorecards read 48-47, 47-48, 48-47 in favour of Du Plessis, though the result could easily have gone the other way.

In the co-main event, Raquel Pennington beat Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision to win the vacant women’s bantamweight title. Re-live updates and see all the results from UFC 297 below.

UFC 297 LIVE

• Dricus Du Plessis wins split decision to take middleweight title from Sean Strickland
• Raquel Pennington beats Mayra Bueno Silva for vacant women’s bantamweight title
• Neil Magny produces stunning comeback with 15 seconds left
• Chris Curtis heaps more misery on Canadian fans in Toronto
• Britain’s Arnold Allen comes up short against Movsar Evloev
• Plus full prelim results from UFC 297 at the Scotiabank Arena

[21 January 2024 04:19 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault

Round three

Barriault has increased the tempo in this final round. He’s sporting a cut to the face but seems unperturbed.

Brutal fighting at close range now! Knees in close!

The final buzzer sounds.

[21 January 2024 04:17 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault

Round three

Sharp jab by Barriault, then a cross, but he steps onto a body hook by Curtis.

Body kick and a jab upstairs by Barriault. Hard body shots by both men.

Curtis tries a combination of punches but sees most of the shots blocked.

Good counter overhand by Curtis, uppercut from Barriault, elbow by Curtis. The crowd is briefly buoyed.

Sharp elbows from both men at close range! Good uppercuts from Barriault in close, too.

[21 January 2024 04:13 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault

Round two

Curtis is largely trying to box over the top of Barriault’s kicks.

Barriault partially lands a knee. Good jab from the Canadian now, too, and a couple of body kicks.

Nice cross by Curtis, but he’s getting backed up and eats another body kick.

Curtis with a few hook attempts, as he tries to deter Barriault, who is building some momentum here.

[21 January 2024 04:10 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault

Round two

Decent cross for Curtis. Body kick by Barriault. The middleweights trade low kicks.

Barriault with a decent uppercut, and Curtis responds in kind. The action is ticking along, but the crowd is still restless.

[21 January 2024 04:06 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault

Round one

Barriault kicks high again, landing to the lat of Curtis, who fires back with a counter hook.

The crowd is growing a bit restless. Curtis taunts Barriault, before unloading a right and left hand to the body.

Decent front kick by Barriault. Curtis just about lands a right hook. Barriault with a teasing uppercut.

[21 January 2024 04:04 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault

Round one

Curtis stands southpaw, Barriault is orthodox. Curtis presses forward, feinting jabs. Barriault misses with a lazy front kick.

Hard outside low kick by Curtis. And again. One more. Barriault kicks high, landing to the elbow of Curtis, who raises his guard.

Now Barriault kicks low, to the inside of Curtis’s lead leg. A jab is just wide of the mark for Barriault.

[21 January 2024 03:54 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault

We head to the middleweight division, in a nice appetiser for tonight’s main event, as Chris Curtis takes on Canada’s own Marc-Andre Barriault.

American Curtis emerges to the walkout music of WWE legend Edge!

Here we go, three five-minute rounds scheduled.

[21 January 2024 03:49 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Frankie Edgar inducted into Hall of Fame

Former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is announced as the first entrant in this year’s UFC Hall of Fame class!

Frankie Edgar (right) fought in multiple divisions (Josh Hedges/ Zuffa LLC)

[21 January 2024 03:44 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Arnold Allen vs Movsar Evloev

Movsar Evloev def. Arnold Allen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Probably the right call, although the fight was much closer than the commentary team suggested; they were very pro-Evloev, but Allen arguably even knicked that one.

Lots of respect between the fighters, which is nice to see.

[21 January 2024 03:41 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 297 LIVE: Arnold Allen vs Movsar Evloev

Round three

Allen with a rangey jab and a cross to the body. Evloev tries for a single-leg again, but once more Allen defends well.

Hard knee by Evloev! Allen is stalking him. Lots of blood around Evloev’s left eye, but it could be from Allen’s prior cut.

Body kick by Evloev. Allen with a straight to the body. And again.

Evloev with a single-leg attempt, and Allen defends with a D’Arce attempt! Evloev spins out of it!

A scramble ensues. Allen stands, but Evloev is hanging onto him from behind.

Good back elbows from Allen, while Evloev knees him in the leg.

We’ll go to the scorecards.