Ahead of UFC 297, the main card fighters came face-to-face and spoke with the media to promote the first pay-per-view of 2024.
UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland will make his first title defense against Dricus du Plessis in the main event. Strickland earned the title by defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 last year.
Du Plessis earned the title shot after recent wins over Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson, and Darren Till. He has won eight consecutive fights overall and is unbeaten in the UFC.
The co-main event will reign in a new era to the women’s bantamweight division as top contenders Mayra Bueno Silva and Raquel Pennington fight for the vacant belt. Amanda Nunes vacated the belt and announced her retirement after a win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289.
This is the first UFC event in Toronto since UFC 231 in 2018. Max Holloway and Brian Ortega headlined the card.
Canadian UFC fighters like Mike Malott, Jasmine Jasudavicius, and Marc-Andre Barriault will look to garner immense praise in front of their home nation.
To hype up the UFC fanbase for the first pay-per-view of the year, the main card fighters met on Thursday at the UFC 297 pre-fight press conference.
UFC 297: Highlights
UFC 297: Faceoffs
Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis
Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Chris Curtis
Mike Malott vs. Neil Magny
Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev