The UFC 297 takes a trip to the Scotiabank Arena, as we get an exciting event in Ontario, Canada, where the UFC Middleweight Championship will be put on the line, along with the vacant UFC Female Bantamweight Title which will be fought for in the Co-Main Event.
The Middleweight title will be put on the line as Sean Strickland makes his first title defense against Dricus Du Plessis, which means that we are getting two fighters who not only want to take the belt with them but also want to hurt the other on the cage, which makes for a possible barnburner.
On the Co-main event, we get Raquel Pennington, who is trying to make it clear that she deserves to be the next title holder in the division, but she will be facing off against an up-and-coming talent in Mayra Bueno Silva.
Besides the title fights, we do have a lot of local talent, as we will have 8 Canadian fighters all over this 12-fight card; and with 7 bouts being prelims and 5 main card fights, things are going to get pretty exciting as the event pushes forth.
You can check all the UFC/MMA bets, the analysis of each fighter, and the final bet you can make in these fights.
UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis Fight Card Odds and Picks – Info
When:
Saturday, January 20th, at 6:30 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Sean Strickland 1.78 / Dricus Du Plessis 2.04
Raquel Pennington 2.3 / Mayra Bueno Silva 1.654
Neil Magny 3.825 / Mike Malott 1.285
Chris Curtis 1.533 / Marc-Andre Barriault 2.581
Arnold Allen 3.265 / Movsar Evloev 1.364
Brad Katona 1.47 / Garrett Armfield 2.696
Charles Jourdain 1.514 / Sean Woodson 2.533
Serhiy Sidey 1.623 / Ramon Taveras 2.305
Gillian Robertson 1.384 / Polyana Viana 3.01
Yohan Lainesse 1.686 / Sam Patterson 2.191
Jasmine Jasudavicius 1.279 / Priscila Cachoeira 3.73
Malcolm Gordon 1.56 / Jimmy Flick 2.474
Where can I watch it?
UFC 297: Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Why Bet on Sean Strickland?
Strickland has put together a 28-5 record since his professional MMA debut in 2008. He fought and won three times in 2023, but his unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September was the most memorable.
The impressive aspect is that Strickland didn’t win narrowly or catch Adesanya with a lucky shot, he dominated the former champ from the start, knocking him down in the opening round. The win was considered a major upset and it earned him his second straight Performance of the Night bonus.
Why Bet on Dricus Du Plessis?
Du Plessis is 20-2 since his professional MMA debut in 2013. The 30-year-old South African, who is seen as a rising star in the UFC, last fought in July. He defeated former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker via second-round knockout in a title eliminator fight. The win was arguably the biggest upset of the year after the Strickland-Adesanya fight.
Du Plessis is a former EFC middleweight and welterweight champion as well as a former KSW welterweight champion. He’s riding a seven-fight win streak overall while going a perfect 6-0 in the Octagon since his UFC debut in October 2020.
In addition to the Whittaker win, Du Plessis made a name for himself after a third-round submission victory over Darren Till and a second-round TKO win against Derek Brunson.
Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis Final Betting Analysis:
Sean Strickland is a tall-standing boxer who will not slow down and push the pace on opponents; his ground game is rarely discussed, but he is a black belt with real skills.
Dricus Du Plessis is a wild-style finisher with heavy power in his strikes and a ground game that can cause damage and result in submissions.
Strickland doesn’t have much power, and instead, just looks to jab his opponent to win a decision. However, on the feet, Du Plessis is super aggressive and will be able to land the better shots and even possibly put out Strickland, who we saw get knocked out against Alex Pereira.
Even if du Plessis doesn’t get the KO, he should be able to win the rounds with his damage and become the new middleweight champion.
UFC 297: Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
Why Bet on Raquel Pennington?
Raquel Pennington has earned her way back to another title opportunity behind a five-fight win streak that has seen her turn back many of the other contenders in the division using her solid boxing and grappling attack.
She is six years removed from her failed challenge against Nunes and has gone 6-2 since, and while she isn’t the most exciting fighter in the division, she gets the job done.
Why Bet on Mayra Bueno Silva?
Mayra Bueno Silva is a dangerous finisher, which is rarely seen in this division, with a nasty submission game and real power in every strike she throws.
Silva has emerged as the favorite in the fight because of her aggression and submission skills. She seems raw at times, but when she finds an opening, she makes it count big.
Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva Final Betting Analysis:
Even though Bueno Silva is a wrecking ball in the octagon, Pennington’s conservative style and her experience should play a big part in this fight.
Pennington is a patient operator who doesn’t overcommit, and Silva can look stuck in the mud when she isn’t successfully pressuring her opponents. She is also the better defender, has a great chin, and can quell Silva’s charges with her clinches and infighting. It could be a close fight, but we like Pennington to score an upset.
UFC 297: Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott
Why Bet on Neil Magny?
Neil Magny is a gritty veteran who has used his tricky grappling attack and length to win as much as any Welterweight ever and remain in the rankings for a long time.
Why Bet on Mike Malott?
Mike Malott is a red-hot prospect fighting in his home province, looking to get another finish here using either his powerful punching combinations or his nasty submission game.
This is a great spot for Malott to prove he belongs in top contention.
Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott Final Betting Analysis:
Malott is a great finisher, as he can finish anyone on the ground or the feet, and Magny looks to be on the decline here. On the feet, the former lands a bunch and can end any fight with one punch.
Malott should be able to hurt Magny on the feet, and either put him out with strikes or use his above-average grappling ability to hop on a choke and get a submission. Regardless, he will pick up the biggest win of his career and do so by stoppage Saturday.
UFC 297: Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
Why Bet on Chris Curtis?
Chris “The Action Man” Curtis, 36, is currently the #14 ranked middleweight in the UFC. He joined the promotion later in his career but climbed into the rankings quickly while accruing a 4-2 record, 3 of which have come via knockout.
Why Bet on Marc-Andre Barriault?
Unranked and 5-5 in the UFC, Marc-Andre “Powerbar” Barriault, 33, is on a two-fight winning streak as he enters the UFC cage in his home country on Saturday night.
He’s got an opportunity to break into the rankings here, and at 33 years of age, the time is now.
Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault Final Betting Analysis:
Curtis, despite his whinney antics in post-fight interviews and on social media, is a handicapper’s dream because he is incredibly consistent both in fight style and performance.
Barriault is a fighter with two identities, neither of which he’s been able to implement with consistent success, nor has he been able to meld them together successfully.
This fight is tailor-made for Curtis to find consistent success, even after bouts of inactivity. Barriault’s slow and linear movements should pun intended, walk right into Curtis’s preferred pocket boxing.
Once in the pocket, Curtis will have the edge in speed, power, and combinations. Barriault will need to be out, at range, or in, in the clinch, if he hopes to negate his rival.
But, Barriault has not shown an ability to do this reliably. As long as Curtis doesn’t drop too many minutes in each round to Barriault’s volume, he should win a decision, if not secure a late-round knockout.
UFC 297: Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev
Why Bet on Arnold Allen?
Allen enters this contest following the first defeat of his UFC career, a five-round battle with Max Holloway. Though he didn’t manage to secure a title shot, he did confirm his position amongst the Top 5, and there’s still time for the 29-year-old Brit to make his way back into immediate title contention.
Why Bet on Movsar Evloev?
Undefeated Evloev (17-0) finally gets the big jump in competition that he’s been chasing. He’s won seven straight inside the Octagon, and if he can produce similar results against “Almighty,” it’s time to take him seriously as a title threat.
Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev Final Betting Analysis:
Allen has to play the counter-wrestler here. He’s the superior striker by a fair measure, but if he’s put on his back, that advantage goes out the window. However, that doesn’t mean he can afford to solely be reactive, because Evloev is a pretty solid kickboxer himself.
In this bout, Evloev wants to find his way to the top position. It’s been some years since Allen was out-wrestled, but it has happened. Most notably, Mads Burnell gave Arnold hell with his combination of pressure boxing and takedowns, and perhaps Evloev can find his success with a similar game plan.
We don’t know if just range striking and well-timed shots — the default Evloev approach — will be enough to get Allen down. He’s likely going to have to force the issue a bit more, chain wrestle more relentlessly, and generally make it a bit of a dogfight if he’s to offset Allen’s timing and distance management enough to dominate, but we can see it happen.
UFC 297: Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield
Why Bet on Brad Katona?
Brad Katona (15-2) followed his Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 27-winning decision over Jay Cuccinello by beating Matthew Lopez, only to then drop two straight and receive his walking papers. Four straight wins in BRAVE CF earned him a spot on TUF 31, where he took out Carlos Vera and Timur Valiev in the house before gritting his way past Cody Gibson in his Octagon return.
Why Bet on Garrett Armfield?
Armfield’s short-notice UFC debut pitted him against his old amateur foe, David Onama, who snapped Armfield’s three-fight win streak with a second-round arm-triangle choke. Assorted issues kept him out of action for the next 13 months, after which he knocked out Toshiomi Kazama for his first Octagon win.
Eight of his nine professional wins have come inside the distance, six of them via knockout.
Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield Final Betting Analysis:
Armfield is very much a live dog in this matchup. Katona’s fight with Gibson showed some serious defensive flaws that the former has yet to address. Armfield’s heavy hands shouldn’t have too difficult a time finding their target — and as we saw against Kazama — he doesn’t need that many openings to shut the lights off.
What that Gibson fight also showed, however, is Katona’s durability and grit. They carried him past a better fighter than Armfield in Valiev and should do the same here, especially since Armfield’s takedown defense isn’t impenetrable. In short, Katona walks through some heavy artillery to steadily wear down Armfield and walk away with the win.
UFC 297: Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson
Why Bet on Charles Jourdain?
Charles Jourdain (15-6) saw the first two-fight win streak of his UFC career give way to back-to-back losses against Shane Burgos and Nathaniel Wood. Undeterred, “Air” went on to beat Kron Gracie and Ricardo Ramos in 2023, the latter via bonus-winning guillotine.
Why Bet on Sean Woodson?
Sean Woodson (10-1-1) punched his UFC ticket with a highlight-reel flying knee of Terrance McKinney on Contender Series. “The Sniper” currently sits at 4-1-1 in the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA), most recently out-classing late replacement Dennis Buzukja in Aug. 2023.
He’ll enjoy five inches of height and nine inches of reach on Jourdain.
Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson Final Betting Analysis:
Woodson has a gargantuan reach advantage at his disposal and he knows how to use it. Sure, he’s had some rough fights and doesn’t have the strongest body of work, but Jourdain’s never been particularly consistent in the Octagon. We can see Woodson pot-shotting his way to victory.
Jourdain is unquestionably the more likely of the two to score a finish — he’s got the heavier hands and Woodson’s draw with Luis Saldana proved his chin can be cracked. His guillotine is also a potent counter to Woodson’s newfound willingness to wrestle.
Still, odds are he’s going to give Woodson the striking match “The Sniper” wants and that length looks like too big a hurdle for him. In the end, Woodson out-lands Jourdain and survives a rough patch or two to claim a narrow decision.
UFC 297: Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras
Why Bet on Serhiy Sidey?
A five-fight win streak saw Serhiy Sidey (10-1) win BFL’s Bantamweight belt, defend it three times, and win BTC’s belt along the way. Then came Contender Series, where he finished Ramon Taveras (9-2) via early stoppage, and walked away with a contract.
Why Bet on Ramon Taveras?
Three straight stoppages carried Taveras to the Contender Series, where he missed weight and subsequently controversially fell to Sidey. He picked himself up and returned to the program less than one month later, crushing the favored Cortavious Romious in a brisk 29 seconds.
He’s knocked out five professional foes and submitted three others.
Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras Final Betting Analysis:
Taveras was unquestionably giving Sidey the business in the opening minutes of their first fight. He’s the heavier-handed of the two by a clear margin and his counters are an excellent means to punish Sidey’s occasional defensive lapses. Unfortunately for “The Savage,” he was undone by the same factors that will undo him here: Sidey’s durability and experience.
Sidey was able to survive long enough to draw out and counter Taveras’ favored counter left — and even though the stoppage was most definitely bogus — the fact that Taveras went down at all suggests that Sidey has the better chin between them.
Add that to Sidey’s more battle-tested cardio and things look rough for Taveras if he can’t find the early finish. In short, Sidey weathers the storm long enough to once again find the opening he needs and put Taveras down for good.
UFC 297: Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana
Why Bet on Gillian Robertson?
Gillian Robertson (12-8) worked her way out of a 1-3 skid with back-to-back submissions of Mariya Agapova and Piera Rodriguez, earning her first UFC bonus in the process. The momentum wasn’t to last, as Tabatha Ricci halted her run via unanimous decision in Jacksonville.
The 10 professional finishes for “The Savaged” include nine submissions.
Why Bet on Polyana Viana?
Polyana Viana (13-6) went from losing three straight to winning three of her next four by first-round finish, two of which earned “Performance of the Night.”
Her next bout pitted her against top prospect Iasmin Lucindo, who handed Viana her second submission defeat via a second-round arm-triangle choke.
Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana Final Betting Analysis:
There is an obvious path to victory for Robertson, namely taking down Viana and dominating from the top like Lucindo did. She’s more than capable of it because, while Viana’s dangerous off of her back, I can’t imagine her catching a grappler of Robertson’s caliber unaware.
As always, though, the question is whether Robertson will follow that obvious path. She can be bizarrely reluctant to use her wrestling even when it’s the obvious solution, and considering that Viana does pack a punch, hesitation could easily mean defeat here. Still, there’s too much going her way for me to pick an upset. When the dust settles, she exploits Viana’s poor takedown defense to grind her down and ultimately find her neck.
UFC 297: Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson
Why Bet on Yohan Lainesse?
Four months after knocking out Evan Cutts to claim CFFC gold, Yohan Lainesse (9-2) dispatched Justin Burlinson 97 seconds into their Contender Series bout to earn a UFC berth.
He now finds himself 1-2 in the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, a split decision over Gabe Green sandwiched between stoppage losses to Gabe Green and Mike Malott.
Why Bet on Sam Patterson?
Patterson — riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak — survived a disastrous start to choke out Vinicius Cenci on Contender Series and claim a UFC contract. His debut pitted him against Yanal Ashmouz, who slept “The Future” with punches just 75 seconds into the first round.
He’s scored five knockouts and four submissions as a professional.
Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson Final Betting Analysis:
There are two potential outcomes here. The first is that Lainesse just bulldozes Patterson inside in three minutes. Forgoing the cut to 155 pounds should help shore up Patterson’s durability, but he’s there to be hit and Lainesse does pack some genuine pop.
The second — and the one we are going with — is that Patterson survives long enough for Lainesse’s gas tank to fail him again. “White Lion” just cannot maintain his striking output for more than a round; for example, he landed a total of 10 significant strikes in the last 10 minutes of the Week fight. We know it’s been a rough time of late for lanky Brits, but expect Patterson to avoid the kill shot and take over down the stretch.
UFC 297: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Priscila Cachoeira
Why Bet on Jasmine Jasudavicius?
Undeterred by a loss to then-unknown Natalia Silva, Jasmine Jasudavicius (9-3) scored back-to-back upsets of Gabriella Fernandes and Miranda Maverick. Her third effort of 2023 resulted in a bloody battle against Tracy Cortez, who ultimately walked away with a competitive decision victory.
Why Bet on Priscila Cachoeira?
Priscila Cachoeira (12-5) battled her way to a 4-1 run after dropping her first three UFC fights, earning two post-fight bonuses along the way. Then came an 11-month stay on the sidelines, which led to a submission loss to Miranda Maverick at UFC 291.
All seven of the “Zombie Girl” stoppage wins have come via knockout.
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Priscila Cachoeira Final Betting Analysis:
The good news for Cachoeira is that Jasudavicius will be an easy target. Indeed, the latter gets hit with alarming frequency, eating around 200 combined significant strikes from Silva and Cortez.
The bad news is that Jasudavicius takes a great shot and isn’t shy about abusing a wrestling advantage. She racked up more than 10 minutes of top control against Fernandes, whom we’d tab as a more dangerous striker than Cachoeira… and has the means to do the same to “Zombie Girl.” In the end, Jasudavicius shrugs off a haymaker or two to repeatedly drag Cachoeira to the mat and ruin her day.
UFC 297: Malcolm Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick
Why Bet on Malcolm Gordon?
Following two straight defeats in his first two UFC appearances, Malcolm Gordon (14-7) evened up his Octagon record by beating Francisco Figueiredo and Denys Bondar.
Muhammad Mokaev dragged him back below .500, though, finishing him with a third-round armbar, after which Jake Hadley punished Gordon’s weight miss by stopping him in 61 seconds.
Why Bet on Jimmy Flick?
Jimmy Flick (16-7) capped off a four-fight win streak by hitting a flying triangle in his UFC debut, only to announce his retirement soon after. His momentum failed to follow him in his comeback, which has seen him suffer back-to-back (technical) knockout losses to Charles Johnson and Alessandro Costa.
He’s scored 14 submissions as a professional.
Malcolm Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick Final Betting Analysis:
Athletic sprawl-and-brawlers seem like a Kryptonite that Flick can’t overcome. That said, his ground game remains among the best in the division and Gordon strikes us as a much more willing dance partner than Johnson or Costa. All signs point to a high-octane Brazilian jiu-jitsu battle that Flick is extremely well-equipped to win.
The key factor here is Flick’s wrestling. Though it wasn’t sufficient to ground his last two opponents, it should be more than enough to punch through Gordon’s single-digit takedown defense. With the ability to dictate when and how the fight hits the ground and the scrambling skills to stay one step ahead of Gordon once there, we like Flick to re-enter the win column with his 15th submission.
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