The first pay-per-view of the year, UFC 297, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto this Saturday, is creating anticipation. It may not have the most prominent celebrity lineup, but it promises entertaining matchups with several ranked fighters fighting for victory and a rise in the Sherdog rankings.
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Strickland vs. Du Plessis: Middleweight Championship Battle
Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland fight for the middleweight title in the main event. Strickland, the 12th Sherdog pound-for-pound ranked fighter, fights unlisted Du Plessis in a tough fight. Strickland is No. 2 in the Sherdog middleweight division, while Du Plessis is 4th. From taunting to a violent brawl at UFC 296, the battle is a technical show and a fierce rivalry. The UFC 297 “Countdown” show did not mention this event, but the Strickland-Du Plessis story remained strong. Strickland’s stunning ascension to championship status, upsetting two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, sets up a battle of styles versus Du Plessis, who has a 6-0 record and a high strike differential. The confrontation will be exciting.
Pennington vs. Bueno Silva: Bantamweight Title Fight
The co-main event pits Raquel Pennington against Mayra Bueno Silva for the UFC bantamweight belt. Pennington, 14th in the Sherdog women’s pound-for-pound rankings, faces unranked but dangerous Bueno Silva. Pennington is third in Sherdog’s women’s bantamweight class, while Bueno Silva ranks fourth. Pennington’s five-fight winning run and record-breaking total strikes make her an enticing opponent for Bueno Silva, a submission master with high strike accuracy.
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Featherweight Fight to Start Main Card Allen vs. Evloev
Arnold Allen and undefeated Movsar Evloev start the main program at featherweight. The No. 6-ranked featherweight Allen hopes to win against the No. 10-ranked Russian wrestling phenom Evloev. Before Max Holloway, Allen had a 10-fight winning streak, while Evloev had a spectacular seven-fight streak. The octagon battle will be exciting.
As UFC 297 approaches, intense matches, and ranking changes are expected.
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