TORONTO – New middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis didn’t mince words when he heard his boss thought he lost the UFC 297 main event.
Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) took a split decision from Sean Strickland (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) in the headliner in Toronto to win the belt. It was Strickland’s first attempted title defense after he upset Israel Adesanya to win the belt in 2023. Du Plessis became the first South African champ in UFC history.
But UFC CEO Dana White said he had the fight even going into the fifth round, then scored that last frame for Strickland. The three cageside judges had two 48-47 cards for Du Plessis; a dissenting judge had it 48-47 for Strickland.