UFC 297 takeaways — Dricus du Plessis’ victory might carry UFC to Africa

The UFC’s first pay-per-view of 2024 featured a brutal middleweight title struggle and put a highlight on a few of Canada’s high MMA stars. Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim and Carlos Contreras Legaspi supply their ideas on the most important moments of the night time.

Does Dricus Du Plessis’ win set the desk for UFC Africa?

Dana White, earlier than he grew to become the highest promoter within the historical past of blended martial arts, was a boxing fan. The UFC CEO has lengthy dreamed of placing collectively distinctive occasions for his firm paying homage to the traditional boxing spectacles. Fights just like the Rumble within the Jungle, a historic bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire.

For the previous couple of years, White has talked about bringing the UFC to Africa. At one level, the UFC had three African-born champions. None of them at present have titles. However after Saturday night time, White might need his ticket to the continent, full with a brand new champion born in Africa and a first-rate matchup for the area.

Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland to win the UFC middleweight title on Saturday night time in the principle occasion of UFC 297 in Toronto. Du Plessis hails from South Africa, clearly has an enormous following in his house nation and has a built-in beef with Nigerian-born former champion Israel Adesanya

“Perhaps we begin taking a look at South Africa and begin taking a look at arenas and probably do a struggle down there this 12 months,” White mentioned on the postfight information convention.

The historical past with Du Plessis and Adesanya is a delicate one. Du Plessis mentioned years in the past that he wished to win the UFC title and be the primary true African champion. He mentioned it with the context that he nonetheless lives and trains in Africa, whereas the others have moved away. Adesanya, in addition to former champions Francis Ngannou and Kamaru Usman, took offense to that, particularly contemplating the sophisticated historical past of South Africa and colonization.

Final July, Adesanya, when he was nonetheless champion, got here into the Octagon after Du Plessis beat Robert Whittaker. Adesanya, a Black man, acquired into Du Plessis’ face and shouted racial expletives into the microphone. After he received the title Saturday, Du Plessis referred to as out Adesanya, who is perhaps shortening his deliberate break from the Octagon following his title loss to Strickland final September.

“Israel Adesanya, get your ass again within the UFC, so we are able to settle the rating,” Du Plessis mentioned.

There may be one other potential subsequent title challenger looming for Du Plessis, as effectively, somebody who may very well be tabbed if Adesanya is not able to return simply but. Simply weeks after Strickland beat Adesanya to win the belt, the UFC provided Strickland a profitable, short-notice matchup towards Khamzat Chimaev, whose authentic opponent at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi fell injured. Strickland turned the bout down, as he ought to have given the timing. However it’s clear the UFC is closely invested within the fearsome Chimaev, who ended up beating former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman through majority choice at UFC 294. So, do not be stunned if a Du Plessis vs. Chimaev bout will get mentioned if Adesanya desires some extra time for a well-deserved relaxation.

In any case, the UFC’s middleweight division is evolving — and interesting. White mentioned within the postfight information convention that he absolutely expects Du Plessis and Strickland to struggle once more down the highway. However there’s little doubt White could be excited to lastly make UFC Africa occur in 2024 with a newly christened, African-born UFC champion.

Who’s subsequent for Du Plessis?

Okamoto: Khamzat Chimaev

I assume I’ll get plenty of flack for this one, however I do not care.

What are we doing with Chimaev? He is one of the vital thrilling prospects the game has ever seen, and it looks like he is gone nowhere the final two years. It isn’t solely his fault, nor the UFC’s. There was some unhealthy luck, unhealthy weight cuts, accidents, Covid, visa issues … you identify it.

However sufficient is sufficient. Put this man in a title struggle.

Du Plessis desires Adesanya and he deserves to have that say and that is a superb struggle to do subsequent. Nothing unsuitable with it. However personally, I might want to see Chimaev.

Wild card: Adesanya

Adesanya is a good alternative, even when he is not my private No. 1. And for the document, I do imagine he’ll find yourself preventing Du Plessis subsequent.

Who’s subsequent for Sean Strickland?

Okamoto: Israel Adesanya

As a result of I want to see Chimaev subsequent for the title, reserving a rematch between Adesanya and Strickland is the apparent one to make for every.

Strickland’s win over Adesanya in September was so unexpected. You may’t name it a fluke, however you may definitely query whether or not Adesanya was preventing an excessive amount of. Adesanya himself has admitted he was approach too lively, and the very fact he fought Strickland as an alternative of Du Plessis (the struggle he actually wished), you surprise what his mindset was going into that first one.

A rematch between these two would draw large curiosity and reply any questions anybody has about their first assembly.

Wild card: Khamzat Chimaev

If the UFC decides to go along with Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, then ebook this as a No. 1 contender struggle. Strickland is among the hottest commodities in MMA proper now. Chimaev has regarded like a possible star. Put them collectively and also you get a bonafide No. 1 contender at middleweight and admittedly, you construct each of their names.

Followers would go nuts for this struggle and the buildup of it. Simply fascinated by these matchups makes me suppose middleweight is abruptly one of the vital attention-grabbing within the sport proper now.

Pennington by no means gave up

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Raquel Pennington wins UFC girls’s bantamweight belt

Raquel Pennington defeats Mayra Bueno Silva within the co-main occasion of UFC 297 to win the ladies’s bantamweight title.

Wagenheim: Raquel Pennington had been right here earlier than. However the first time she competed for the UFC girls’s bantamweight championship, again in 2018, the lady nicknamed “Rocky” was on the unsuitable finish of a bloody beatdown by the queen of the division, Amanda Nunes.

Almost six years later, Pennington now’s the successor to the throne lengthy occupied by the GOAT of girls’s MMA.

Following Nunes’ retirement final June, the 135-pound title had been left vacant, and that emptiness was stuffed Saturday by Pennington — the sixth girls’s bantamweight champion UFC historical past — after a tough-it-out victory over Mayra Bueno Silva. Perseverance is what acquired Pennington again to a championship alternative, and perseverance is what earned her the victory and the shiny belt she had coveted for therefore lengthy.

Early on, Bueno Silva was the one who regarded like she’d been right here earlier than, attacking with poise and gaining sturdy positions in every of the primary two rounds. However Pennington saved preventing, and regularly she wore down her opponent and almost acquired the end earlier than settling for a decisive win (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).

Pennington got here in as an underdog, regardless of having a much more star-studded resume. She owns victories over Miesha Tate, Jessica Andrade and, most lately, Ketlen Vieira, and she or he’s additionally been within the cage with Holly Holm, Germaine de Randamie and Cat Zingano along with Nunes. Against this, Bueno Silva was coming in off a submission of her most notable opponent, Holm, however that consequence from July was modified to a no contest after she examined constructive for a banned substance.

Bueno Silva was simply 4 fights into her MMA profession and never but within the UFC on the time Pennington first fought for the belt.

The Brazilian’s lack of expertise confirmed itself in Rounds 4 and 5 — the aptly named championship rounds. In these two ultimate rounds, Bueno Silva landed simply 20 strikes to 140 by Pennington.

Though Pennington was a transparent victor, neither her efficiency nor the struggle itself goes to make MMA followers overlook in regards to the greatness of Nunes. However it’s a constructive growth for the UFC to fill considered one of its championship vacancies, and it was particularly constructive for Pennington, a 35-year-old new mom who was in her twenty fourth professional struggle and now’s using a six-fight successful streak. Like a champ.

What’s subsequent for the brand new champ?

Okamoto: Julianna Peña

It is the apparent name, and Peña has already mentioned she’ll be able to go for Pennington’s first title protection. With Nunes gone, this division was at all times going to interrupt extensive open. So lots of Nunes’ former opponents are actually eyeing that belt. It clearly appears to be like extra accessible than ever.

Hopefully, the UFC could make this a really lively division and we’ll get to see all of those challengers get their shot. Let’s be actual, Nunes on the high of the division virtually felt unfair. Even the lengthy established names like Holm and Tate, former champions presumably on the finish of their careers, might work their methods into competition. There’s plenty of alternative on this division for some wild tales, now that Nunes is watching from the skin.

Wild card: Nothing

It is Peña subsequent. We have recognized that because the second this title struggle at UFC 297 was introduced.

On an evening that was imagined to highlight Canadian MMA stars, the perfect efficiency belonged to ___

Okamoto: Gillian Robertson.

I do know Jasmine Jasudavicius set every kind of information along with her 326 strikes landed, but when Canada is searching for somebody to get behind, it is Robertson. She’s had an up-and-down profession with the UFC, however that was to be anticipated. She’s nonetheless solely 28, and made her UFC debut seven years in the past. She’s solely now coming into her bodily and (extra importantly) psychological prime as knowledgeable fighter.

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Gillian Robertson places a end to the struggle vs. Polyana Viana

Gillian Robertson dazzles the Canadian crowd with a end vs. Polyana Viana at UFC 297.

She has fought an absolute wealth of opposition, together with the likes of Bueno Silva, Taila Santos and Maycee Barber. She’s grown up towards UFC-caliber expertise.

Sadly for the Canadian fanbase, the reply to this query wasn’t Mike Malott. Saturday was an enormous litmus check for Mallott towards a veteran in Neil Magny, and he got here up effectively quick. Now, it does not imply it is time to bail on Malott solely, however expectations have been definitely a lot increased for the 32-year-old than what he was capable of present in his yard.

Movsar Evloev retains progressing, however would possibly want another victory for a title shot

Contreras Legaspi: UFC 297 offered a major alternative for Movsar Evloev, who confronted robust competitors in Arnold Allen. He stays undefeated and provided a showcase to show himself as a well-rounded fighter. He had good standing mixtures, strong grappling and he managed to flee hazard that the Englishman utilized on a number of events.

He now has eight victories within the UFC, however he has but to safe a end, one thing that’s essential to advertise a championship struggle.

With Max Holloway busy with the BMF dispute at UFC 300, Evloev might’ve skipped the road with a highlight-reel victory, just like what the following featherweight challenger, Ilia Topuria, did. He’s additionally undefeated, however has gone the space in solely two of his 15 wins.

Evloev and Topuria have been scheduled to face one another in January 2022 at UFC 270, and since then, they’ve engaged in a social media rivalry. Relying on how the struggle goes at UFC 298, their bout might occur within the close to future — however with far more at stake. Worst-case situation for Movsar may very well be in a No. 1 contender struggle subsequent.

What’s subsequent for Evloev?

Okamoto: Winner of Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling at UFC 298

I struggled with this one, as a result of having to struggle Evloev proper now’s definitely not a reward, OK?

If I have been a UFC featherweight, I’d need nothing to do with Evloev. He isn’t an enormous identify, however he would possibly legitimately be the perfect within the division. And even should you do beat him, you are in all probability not gonna look unimaginable doing it. The man is so technical, with such efficient grappling.

So, I really feel unhealthy saying the winner of Kattar vs. Sterling ought to get “rewarded” with this struggle, however on the finish of the day, Evloev goes to be extremely ranked after Saturday’s win. And that is the motivation for Kattar or Sterling. The quantity subsequent to his identify.

Evloev must face some huge names — maybe in a fundamental occasion. Kattar and Sterling are these sorts of names.

Wild card: Josh Emmett

I feel the UFC ought to rebook Emmett towards Giga Chikadze, which we have been imagined to see final 12 months however Chikadze acquired injured. In the event that they select to go one other route, although, Emmett vs. Evloev is a good matchup.