Overview

• Dricus Du Plessis won the UFC middleweight title in a split decision against Sean Strickland at UFC 297, sparking discussions about the possibility of UFC events in Africa due to Du Plessis' South African origin.
• Raquel Pennington claimed the vacant women’s bantamweight title with a unanimous decision win over Mayra Bueno Silva, marking her sixth straight UFC win.
• Du Plessis and Strickland's bout was marked by hostility, with Du Plessis referencing Strickland's abusive relationship with his father prior to the fight, leading to a physical altercation at UFC 296.
• Neil Magny achieved a late TKO finish against Mike Malott, while Chris Curtis won a split decision over Marc-Andre Barriault in their middleweight bout.
• Movsar Evloev remained undefeated with a unanimous decision over Arnold Allen, extending his UFC win streak to eight straight.