The initial UFC pay-per-view event for 2024 unfolded on Saturday night in Toronto, featuring two headline title fights. In the main event of UFC 297, Sean Strickland aimed to defend his middleweight title against Dricus Du Plessis, while the co-main event showcased Raquel Pennington against Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant women’s bantamweight title.
Ultimately, Du Plessis secured a split decision win over Strickland to claim the new middleweight championship. In the co-main event, Pennington became the new women’s bantamweight champion with a decisive decision victory over Bueno Silva.
Now, let’s discuss the potential next steps for the four fighters involved in the title bouts at UFC 297.
Dricus Du Plessis:
Du Plessis, now the middleweight champion with a 7-0 record in the UFC, emerged victorious in a competitive and entertaining split decision against Strickland.
While an immediate rematch seems unlikely, Du Plessis’s first title defense should be against Israel Adesanya. Their scheduled fight last year sets the stage for a significant title bout, likely taking place in the summer.
Sean Strickland:
Despite losing his middleweight title in a closely contested fight at UFC 297, Strickland showcased his star power for the promotion. A direct rematch is improbable, but Strickland is likely just one win away from earning another title shot.
Facing the winner of Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 298 in a title eliminator bout makes sense, with a potential fight occurring in the summer, perhaps on the same card as Du Plessis-Adesanya.
Raquel Pennington:
Having finally secured a UFC championship, Pennington, who previously fought for the title in 2018, displayed resilience. Her first title defense should be against Julianna Pena, the clear number-one contender, who was unable to compete on Saturday due to injury. This anticipated fight could take place in the early summer.
Mayra Bueno Silva:
Bueno Silva fell short in her first attempt at UFC gold, losing a decision to Pennington at UFC 297. Despite the setback, she remains a win or two away from another title shot in the relatively shallow women’s bantamweight division. A logical next opponent for Bueno Silva is fourth-ranked Ketlen Vieira, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup.
