How to watch UFC 297: Strickland vs Du Plessis, undercard, results, more

With UFC 297 set for January 20, here’s a look at how to watch the event, plus undercard and main card information.

The first UFC pay-per-view of 2024 will take place on January 20 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and it’ll be highlighted by two title matches on the main card.

So, how can UFC fans view the pay-per-view in the United States and abroad?

Here’s an overview of how to watch UFC 297, plus information that fans should know about the event’s fight cards.

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Start time and how to watch UFC 297

The main card of UFC 297 is set to start at 10 PM ET on January 20, 2024, while the prelims will begin two hours earlier at 8 PM ET. The early preliminary matches will commence at 6:30 PM ET.

UFC fans in the United States will be able to order the pay-per-view and watch the main card on ESPN+. UFC 297 costs $79.99 to purchase.

The early preliminary matches will air on UFC Fight Pass and the prelims can be seen on ESPN.

In the UK, UFC 297 will be available on TNT Sports 1. Those in Canada will be able to purchase the event on Sportsnet.

Undercard and main card

Here’s a look at the three cards of the event:

Early preliminary matches

• Welterweight: Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson (Round 1 via submission) In a fast end to the early prelims, Patterson made short work of his Canadian opponent picking up the W at 2:03.
• Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Priscila Cachoeira (Round 3 via submission) Jasmine had a tremendous performance, including a 10-7 round. Ironically, the bloody Cachoeira had her best round in R3 before being forced to tap.
• Flyweight: Malcolm Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick (Round 2 via submission) Flick pulled out the triangle choke submission victory despite a dominating round one from Gordon where Jimmy spent most of the round on his back.

Preliminary matches

• Bantamweight: Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield (Round 3 via unanimous decision) Armfield takes the final prelim with a judges decision in another surprising W, this time a UD. All three judges scored the match 29-28.
• Featherweight: Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson (Round 3 via split decision) In yet another close bout, Woodson pulled off the victory in a match that Jourdain prematurely celebrated. In the closing moments of the final found, Woodsen secured the take down on Jourdain which may have been the decider judging by the controversial score cards.
• Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras (Round 3 via split decision) In what will undoubtedly be a fight to remember, Taveras did just enough through three rounds to squeeze out the judges decision. Sidey, who was suffered a broken nose, still controlled much of the fight, but being knocked down in rounds 1 and 2 certainly cost him.
• Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana (Round 2 via TKO) The Canadian picked up her the hard fought win in her own backyard. Viana struggled to land offense and was overwhelmed by the ground and pound.

Main card

• Featherweight: Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev (Round 3 via unanimous decision) Evloev’s grappling was on point in this one and gave him an edge. Allen nearly had it mid-way through round 3 with a series of knees that were deemed illegal.
• Middleweight: Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (Round 3 via split decision) Curtis won a back-and-forth stand up tilt that went the distance. While Barrtiault had a good round 2 and 3, Curtis was better throughout and definitively won a lackluster round 1. Two judges scored the contest 30-27 for the American.
• Welterweight: Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott (Round 3 via TKO) Mike Malott was seconds away from picking up the W after a strong performance in rounds 1 and 2, but Magny was able to stay in the fight for the comeback. In the final round, Magny finally broke through Malott’s defense with a take down followed by a ground and pound. Canadian men have lost every fight on this card while the women are undefeated.
• Women’s Bantamweight (Title): Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (Round 5 via unanimous decision) Pennington emerged victorious in a fight that the crowd absolutely hated. The 25 minute match, which Pennington admitted she thought would go a lot different, ended with Bueno on her back eating leg kicks, seemingly accepting her fate in this championship match.
• Middleweight (Title): Sean Strickland (C) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (round 5 via split decision) In an absolute war, DDP captured the Middleweight title, barely besting the bloodied Sean Strictland. The 25 minute war was filled with blood, takedowns, spins and absolute haymakers from both sides. A rematch between these two will certainly be one to watch in the future, though Dana White says he isn’t thinking about a rematch just yet.

What to watch for in UFC 297

There are two title fights set for UFC 297, one of which will crown a new Women’s Bantamweight title. Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva will face off for the title, which was vacated by former champion Amanda Nunes.

As for the main event, Sean Strickland will defend his Middleweight title for the first time since he defeated former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 293.

Strickland will face Dricus Du Plessis, who has a career record of 20-2-0 and is the #2 middleweight in the UFC. His last fight came at UFC 290 when he defeated Robert Whittaker.