Post-Mortem: UFC 297

For Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, it all started with a fight in the audience at UFC 296. The incident resulted in a viral moment that spread like wildfire across the MMA landscape. Then came the revelation of the threats from Strickland to Du Plessis for speaking publicly about Strickland’s turbulent upbringing.

The events that preceded UFC 297 had fans thinking they were in for a chaotic fight week between two heated rivals, an encounter that would warrant heightened security by the promotion. By the time the event got to Canada, however, both men were cordial with one another. To the surprise of many, the two greeted and embraced each other with respect as they passed each other in the fighter hotel all week.

That didn't mean there wasn’t a fair share of controversy and tension throughout the week. Comments by Strickland at media day that went beyond the fight itself set social media ablaze with fans reveling in the drama. The press conference appearance became a story in its own right.

By the time fight night arrived, though, the nonsense that had taken place in the lead-up to the contest had lost all significance. All that was left was two elite middleweights that got to the top by the merit of their performances and a rambunctious Canadian audience that was there for it. It was no longer about comments made or a physical confrontation that played out in the public eye. It was entirely about the conflict that was going to take place inside the cage. The way it should be.

When Du Plessis was making the walk to the Octagon, he came out with a body language of being undistracted and ready for the moment. The fans rained down boos as he made his way through the tunnel, to the fighter checkpoint, and up the Octagon stairs. The audience's reaction to Strickland when he hit the big screen as he was making his way through the bowels of the arena was that of a reaction to a hometown hero. It was an indication of the crass middleweight champion’s surge in popularity over the last year.

When the cage door shut and the referee got out of the way, the middleweight championship fight started at a pace that matched the enthusiasm of the crowd. The first thing to stand out was that Stricklands' jab was as effective as we'll ever see in MMA. Perfect range, perfectly placed, and fully absorbed by Du Plessis's face. A tool generally considered underutilized in MMA was being demonstrated better than we’ve seen in recent memory.

Strickland was dialed in and comfortable from the start, not just with the implementation of the potent lead hand but by his good head movement in response to the boxing of Du Plessis. Already in motion before the punches were launched, it seemed as though he saw the hands of Du Plessis coming from a mile away. The beginning stanza was going Strickland's way, except for a perfectly well-timed and executed takedown by Du Plessis. Strickland got taken down and got back up, but not without his rhythm being disrupted.

The opening round went Strickland's way, but after that, Du Plessis started becoming more assertive and evening up the striking count, and from that point, the gray area began. Diversifying his striking techniques with head kicks, spinning back fists, and many times whizzing massive overhand rights just inches from Strickland's chin, inching closer and closer to hitting the target each time as time went on. Du Plessis started to look much more comfortable as the fight progressed. By Round 3, Du Plessis came out with a higher level of aggression. Strickland was moving backward and, for the first time, seemingly exercising some caution as well.

Aside from the boost in confidence and diversification of striking, Du Plessis didn’t seem overly worried about Strickland hurting him. If he was worried about it, he certainly didn’t act like it. Perhaps something that played in the judge's mind when it came time to fill out the scorecards.

It was a back-and-forth affair. Du Plessis would score great takedowns, but Strickland always returned it to the standup realm. It was an evenly contested striking fight that had both competitors battered and bloodied.

By the last round, Du Plessis demonstrated very good fight IQ by deliberately upping his striking output, stringing together more combos and continuing without fear of absorbing damage. In the last minute of the fight, both men closed things off by giving fans what they came to see. They let it all hang out, made sure the fight ended with a bang, and attempted to put a stamp on their performance. Showing the world that they both wanted it.

This matchup didn’t excite the masses at its announcement, but the saga of this fight took fans on a journey with peaks, valleys and unexpected turns. It delivered through and through. The decision was split, and Du Plessis was crowned the new UFC Middleweight champion.

Strickland was humble in defeat and appreciative of Du Plessis and the Canadian fans. He left the Octagon without the belt around his waist, but a smile on his face.

Du Plessis shared a special moment with his father and family members as they filed into the Octagon, and by the time DC summoned him for the post-fight interview, and was announced as the new middleweight champion, the crowd responded in jubilation.

Saturday's headliner had its fair share of ugliness, but the essence of MMA shined through in the end. It's another good story for the history books, another pivot of the spotlight, and a brand-new focal point of the middleweight division.