Current:Home > FinanceDricus Du Plessis outpoints Sean Strickland at UFC 297 to win the undisputed middleweight belt -TradeWise
Dricus Du Plessis outpoints Sean Strickland at UFC 297 to win the undisputed middleweight belt
View
Date:2025-04-17 17:17:42
TORONTO (AP) — The hostility brewing between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis finally hit its boiling point at UFC 297 on Saturday night.
The two battled through five rounds, taking the bout to the distance, but in the end it was Du Plessis taking Strickland’s middleweight belt after bloodying the former champ over his left eye and winning a split decision.
Judges Derek Cleary and Eric Colon scored the bout 48-47 in favor of Du Plessis, while Sal D’Amato had it 48-47 for Strickland.
“This is history!” Du Plessis (21-2) screamed in honor of his homeland. “South Africa ... we can probably hear them from outside. That country is amazing.”
It was December when Du Plessis referenced Strickland’s abusive relationship with his father. Strickland let it be known that would not be tolerated, and violent recourse would result.
At UFC 296 in December, Strickland jumped over a row of seats and threw punches at Du Plessis — which both said was nowhere near a publicity stunt.
Nothing about the fight was nowhere near a stunt, as the two traded blows, both delivering severe blows, especially in the latter rounds.
Despite the tension leading up to fight night, Du Plessis gave Strickland (28-6) his just due afterward.
“Every time he hits you with that jab it feels like someone hit you with a rock. You are one heck of a man, thank you for bringing out the best of me tonight,” Du Plessis said. “The first three rounds were give and take, but the last two, I was desperate rounds four and five.”
To which Strickland later replied: “I called it from day one — it was going to be a war.”
At FanDuel, the fight closed a pick’em with both priced at -108, which means a bettor would have to lay $108 to win $100.
Raquel Pennington (16-9-0) beat Mayra Bueno Silva (10-3-1) by unanimous decision to claim the vacant women’s bantamweight championship in the co-main event. Pennington was listed as the underdog in the match.
Neil Magny (29-12-0) stopped Mike Malott (10-2-1) at the 4:45 mark of the third round of their welterweight match.
Chris Curtis (31-10-0) took a split decision over Marc-Andre Barriault (16-7-0) in their middleweight bout. Curtis took two scores of 30-27 Curtis, while Barriault won 29-28 on a third scorecard.
In the first match on the undercard, Movsar Evloev remained undefeated (17-0-0) with a unanimous decision over Arnold Allen (19-3-0). All three judges scored it 29-28. Evloev, who owns the second-longest active winning streak in the UFC featherweight division (7), ran his overall UFC win streak to eight straight.
veryGood! (9183)
Related
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Floridians evacuated for Hurricane Milton after wake-up call from devastating Helene
- Arkansas dad shoots, kills man found with his missing 14-year-old daughter, authorities say
- 'Pumpkins on steroids': California contest draws gourds the size of a Smart car
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Modern Family’s Ariel Winter Teases Future With Boyfriend Luke Benward
- Children and adults transported to a Pennsylvania hospital after ingesting ‘toxic mushrooms’
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Double Date With Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in Style
- Sam Taylor
- Amanda Overstreet Case: Teen Girl’s Remains Found in Freezer After 2005 Disappearance
Ranking
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- North Dakota’s abortion ban will remain on hold during court appeal
- Montana businessman gets 2 years in prison for role in Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol
- Notre Dame-Stanford weather updates: College football game delayed for inclement weather
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Hot-air balloon strikes and collapses radio tower in Albuquerque during festival
- Tammy Slaton's Doctor Calls Her Transformation Unbelievable As She Surpasses Goal Weight
- Why 'Terrifier 3' star David Howard Thornton was 'born to play' iconic Art the Clown
Recommendation
What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
Lawyer for news organizations presses Guantanamo judge to make public a plea deal for 9/11 accused
Kentucky woman is arrested after police find human remains in her mom’s oven and a body in the yard
San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini dealing with injury after scoring in debut
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Wisconsin regulators file complaint against judge who left court to arrest a hospitalized defendant
When is Tigers-Guardians Game 5 of American League Division Series?
Why Hurricanes Are Much—Much—Deadlier Than Official Death Counts Suggest