As the Ultimate Fighting Championship gears up for its inaugural pay-per-view of 2024, fight fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the showdowns set to unfold at UFC 297. The main attraction features an intense middleweight title fight between champion Sean Strickland and challenger Dricus Du Plessis, while the co-main event sees Raquel Pennington face off against Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant women’s bantamweight title.
Date, Time, Location for UFC 297
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Early prelims are scheduled to commence at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 pm PT, with the regular prelims to follow at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The main card is set to kick off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
How to View UFC 297 Online
Fans will need to purchase an ESPN+ membership to catch the UFC 297 pay-per-view spectacle. The ESPN-affiliated streaming service has the exclusive rights to broadcast live UFC streams, making ESPN+ the only way to view UFC 297 “Strickland vs. Du Plessis” online in the United States. The prelims can be viewed on UFC Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and ESPN at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Meanwhile, TNT Sports holds exclusive broadcasting rights for UFC 297 in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Coverage begins at 1 a.m. BST. Finally, Foxtel TV customers in Australia can stream UFC 297 online by using the Foxtel Go app and may also sign up for Kayo to watch ESPN online.
UFC 297 ‘Strickland vs. Du Plessis’ Card, Odds
BetUS.com lists Strickland as a -140 favorite for the main event, with Du Plessis as the +110 underdog. In the co-main event, Bueno Silva is favored at -150, with Pennington listed as the underdog at +120.
At the heart of the main event lies a battle for supremacy in the middleweight division. Strickland, with an impressive 28-5 record, is set to defend his title against the relentless Du Plessis, who boasts a stellar record of 20-2. Strickland’s journey to the middleweight throne is nothing short of remarkable. His dominant decision win over Israel Adesanya to capture the middleweight throne highlighted his strategic brilliance. “Stillknocks,” on the other hand, has been on a tear through the middleweight division. With a perfect 6-0 record in the UFC, including victories over Derek Brunson and Robert Whittaker, he has proven his mettle as a rightful challenger.
Meanwhile, the co-main event features a compelling clash for the vacant women’s bantamweight title. Pennington, on a five-fight winning streak, looks to etch her name in the history books against a submission specialist in Bueno Silva. It sets the stage for a clash of styles. Pennington’s striking prowess, highlighted by her record for most strikes landed in bantamweight history, will be tested against Bueno Silva’s relentless submission game.
UFC 297 “Strickland vs. Du Plessis” also features a welterweight clash between Octagon veteran Neil Magny (+265) and Mike Malott (-365). Chris Curtis (-190) and Marc-Andre Barriault (+160) will lock horns in the middleweight division. A featherweight clash between Arnold Allen (+165) and Movsar Evloev (-200) will kick off things for the main card.
The rest of the lineup: Brad Katona (-180) vs. Garrett Armfield (+150) at bantamweight, Charles Jourdain (-175) vs. Sean Woodson (+145) at featherweight, Serhiy Sidey (-185) vs. Ramon Taveras (+155) at a 140-pound catchweight, Gillian Robertson (-250) vs. Polyana Viana (+200) at women’s strawweight, Yohan Lainesse (-145) vs. Sam Patterson (+115) at welterweight, Jasmine Jasudavicius (-365) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (+265) at women’s bantamweight and Malcolm Gordon (-150) vs. Jimmy Flick (+120) at a 128-pound catchweight.