Two new champions crowned at UFC 297

New middleweight and women’s bantamweight champions were crowned at UFC 297.

In the main event of Saturday’s card, Dricus du Plessis defeated champion Sean Strickland by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to become the new UFC middleweight champion in what ended up being a close contest. With the win, du Plessis became the first UFC champion from South Africa. The match was also awarded Fight of the Night.

After the fight, du Plessis called out former champion Israel Adesanya. Strickland, meanwhile, thanked Canada in his post-fight interview.

Strickland had been champion for 132 days, losing the title on his first defense. He defeated Adesanya at UFC 293 on September 10 of last year.

In the co-main event, Raquel Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) to win the UFC women’s bantamweight championship for the first time. In her post fight interview, Pennington said she had climbed up mountains to get here and for anyone that has people telling them they can’t chase their dreams, keep believing.

The women’s bantamweight title had become vacant when Amanda Nunes vacated both the women’s bantamweight and featherweight titles back in June of last year.