UFC 297 went down in entrance of over 18,000 rabid MMA followers in Toronto, however it was a troublesome evening for Canadian MMA.
Whereas the house nation ladies went 2-0, each single male Canadian misplaced their combat. They went 0-7, and the oxygen was largely sucked out of the constructing by the point Mike Malott fumbled a seemingly locked up win within the final 30 seconds.
However the crowd at Scotiabank Enviornment persevered to the primary occasion, the place they nonetheless exploded with ardour when Sean Strickland made the stroll to defend his UFC middleweight title in opposition to Dricus Du Plessis. They booed Du Plessis via the introductions, leaving little doubt the place their loyalties lied. And so they popped for each robust “Tarzan” second throughout 5 rounds.
Sadly, it was one other bout that led to disappointment for the group. Strickland would lose to Du Plessis by way of break up determination, 48–47, 48–47, and 47–48 (watch the highlights right here). His makes an attempt to matador Du Plessis with nothing however a stiff jab and the occasional overhand proper saved him from getting blitzed early. Ultimately, although, “Stillknocks” managed to ramp up the strain and break via Sean’s defenses within the later rounds.
It’s the same type of combat that Strickland has waged up to now, usually to unimpressed reactions from followers. When he headlined two Combat Nights again to again on the UFC Apex to kick off 2023, there was no love for his model. All that modified after he beat Israel Adesanya in September. Immediately individuals began appreciating his underdog story and brash persona.
Not like that ‘fraud’ Colby Covington, Sean is an genuine asshole, and that’s resonated within the highlight.
At UFC 297, followers watched in rapt consideration as he did the identical factor he all the time does: keep at a distance and jab. It’s not boring when it’s your boy doing it to upset favorites. And Strickland is unquestionably America’s boy … Canada’s too, from the look of it.
The large query now’s whether or not these new followers proceed to care now that Sean Strickland not holds the UFC middleweight title. Simply because he’s not champ doesn’t imply he’s misplaced relevance as a needle mover. It might have taken his historic upset over Israel Adesanya to earn him the appreciation of followers, however we don’t suppose that may disappear after tonight’s shut break up determination loss in Toronto.
He’s survived scandals and cancel makes an attempt, he can survive this loss … if the UFC doesn’t resolve he’s extra bother than he’s value. Will he find yourself headlining UFC Apex playing cards once more, tucked away from huge occasions the place he has much less possibilities of inflicting worldwide incidents? Or will the promotion acknowledge the clear wave of fan curiosity and hold pushing him because the unlikely star he has turn out to be?
