At the UFC 297 official weigh-ins, all 24 fighters on Saturday’s fight card will step on the scale early Friday morning in Toronto. Watch a live stream of the official weigh-ins above.
In the main event, middleweight champion Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis can weigh no more than 185 pounds, the maximum allowed for their title fight.
In the co-main event, Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva are limited to 135 pounds for their bantamweight title bout.
The UFC 297 official weigh-ins will start at 9 a.m. ET.
Check out UFC 297 weigh-in results below.
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET)
Sean Strickland (184.75) vs. Dricus du Plessis (184)
Raquel Pennington (134.8) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (135)
Neil Magny (170.75) vs. Mike Malott (170.5)
Chris Curtis (185.25) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (184.5)
Arnold Allen (145.5) vs. Movsar Evloev (145.75)
Preliminary Card (ESPNN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield (135.25)
Charles Jourdain (145.5) vs. Sean Woodson (145.5)
Serhiy Sidey (135) vs. Ramon Taveras (139.75* missed weight)
Gillian Robertson (115.75) vs. Polyana Viana (115.75)
Early Prelims (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Yohan Lainesse (170.75) vs. Sam Patterson (169.5)
Jasmine Jasudavicius (133.0) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (133.5)
Malcolm Gordon (127.5* missed weight) vs. Jimmy Flick (126)
The UFC 297 Official Weigh-in took place on Friday morning in Toronto, Canada. The fight card is headlined by a middleweight title bout between champion Sean Strickland and second-ranked Dricus Du Plessis.
The vacant women’s bantamweight title is on the line in the co-main event. Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva clash for the vacant strap.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just one day away from the upcoming UFC 297 pay-per-view (PPV) event on ESPN+, scheduled for this Sat. night (Jan. 20, 2024) at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. UFC 297 will be headlined by the middleweight title fight pitting reigning 185-pound champion Sean Strickland opposite No. 2-ranked title contender Dricus Du Plessis, a five-round showdown that follows the 135-pound co-headlining contest between women’s bantamweight title challengers Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva.
But before they can fight, they must first weigh in.
The UFC 297 early (and official) weigh ins will stream LIVE from the promotion’s host hotel in the embedded video above beginning promptly at 9 a.m. ET. The festivities are expected to last roughly two hours but could end much earlier depending on how quickly all 26 fighters get to the scale. The promotion will also stage the UFC 297 ceremonial weigh ins complete with fighter staredowns RIGHT HERE live from Scotiabank Arena at 5 p.m. ET. Note: Ontario Athletic Commission (NSAC) affords a one-pound allowance in non-title fights, but championship contests must return the exact weights, no exceptions.
Complete UFC 297 early weigh ins text results below:
UFC 297 Main Card On ESPN+ PPV:
185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland () vs. Dricus Du Plessis () 135 lbs.: Raquel Pennington () vs. Mayra Bueno Silva () for vacant bantamweight title 170 lbs.: Neil Magny () vs. Mike Malott () 185 lbs.: Chris Curtis () vs. Marc-Andre Barriault () 145 lbs.: Arnold Allen () vs. Movsar Evloev ()
UFC 297 ‘Prelims’ Card On ESPNN/ESPN+:
135 lbs.: Brad Katona () vs. Garrett Armfield () 145 lbs.: Charles Jourdain () vs. Sean Woodson () 135 lbs.: Serhiy Sidey () vs. Ramon Taveras () 115 lbs.: Gillian Robertson () vs. Polyana Viana ()
UFC 297 Early ‘Prelims’ Card On Fight Pass/ESPN+:
170 lbs.: Yohan Lainesse () vs. Sam Patterson () 125 lbs.: Jasmine Jasudavicius () vs. Priscila Cachoeira () 125 lbs.: Malcolm Gordon () vs. Jimmy Flick ()
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 297 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPNN/ESPN+at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 297: “Strickland vs. Du Plessis” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 297 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.
UFC Saudi Arabia has been delayed, but not for the originally reported reason, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
2024 is set to be a year of big-time fights and fight cards if the UFC has its way. From the first four PPV events of the year to breaking into new territories, anything appears possible.
Earlier this week, however, MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani reported on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour that the UFC’s debut in Saudi Arabia set for March 2 had been pushed back to June. The reasoning provided was that the Saudi Arabian government was unsatisfied with the still-forming eight-fight lineup, demanding an improved card. Since the report, a follow-up from Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronster detailed that the event would stay on that date, and instead relocate to the UFC APEX Facility in Las Vegas. White confirmed the change-up around Saudi Arabia, but clarified why things moved.
“We moved the card and I know there’s been a lot of talk about the card wasn’t good enough,” White told Bronsteter yesterday. “We never even proposed a card to them. We didn’t tell Saudi Arabia about one fight, so that’s all bulls***. It was all bulls***. We never even proposed a card to them. What we wanted to do is — every time UFC puts on an event, we wanna blow the doors off the place. We want people to be excited.”
Immediate speculation began to swirl after the report, pondering what kind of card would be built for the debut show. After publicly stating he’d like to defend his title in June, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev became the seemingly perfect choice to fit the bill. Then his top option amongst contenders, Justin Gaethje, was booked for UFC 300 against Max Holloway in April — the same night Charles Oliveira faces Arman Tsarukyan. The latter of which White claims is still for the next title shot.
Apparently, none of this matters at all regarding UFC Saudi Arabia, as White reiterated that the card won’t be changed to a PPV.
“It was our first fight ever in Saudi Arabia and a couple of the fights that we wanted to line up, they weren’t ready to go, so we pushed the card back because we’re gonna deliver,” White said. “But never once was one fight proposed to Saudi Arabia and they were like, ‘Yeah, no, this isn’t good enough.’
“It’s a ‘Fight Night’ card and there will not be a championship fight on it.”
TOP STORIES
Nope. Dana White scoffs at Ronda Rousey, Georges St-Pierre or Brock Lesnar returning for UFC 300
Frenemies. Sean Strickland buries hatchet with Dricus du Plessis, but tells Israel Adesanya ‘shut your f****** mouth’
Banter. Julianna Peña: ‘I live rent-free’ in Mayra Bueno Silva’s head, UFC 297 challenger should ‘up that dosage’
Art. Paulo Costa says trash talk between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis went too far: ‘They need to be more creative’
Goal. Brandon Moreno expects title shot with UFC Mexico City win, ‘but I have to make a statement’
Vacancy. Raquel Pennington scoffs at Mayra Bueno Silva’s comments: ‘I don’t know who she thinks she is’
Control. Jon Anik confident Sean Strickland can channel emotions from Dricus du Plessis feud in ‘the right way’
VIDEO STEW
Between the Links.
Heck of a Morning.
UFC 297 Pre-Fight Presser Staredowns.
Full Pre-Fight Presser.
Embedded 3.
Top Finishes from UFC 297 fighters.
UFC Connected: Du Plessis.
Bueno subs.
Rodtang-Superlek.
A Day In the Life of Volk.
Zombie Trip.
MORNING MUSIC
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Still can’t believe it.
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Interesting.
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A post shared by Kelvin Gastelum (@kgastelum)
Jones things.
10 years ago, I was an asshole, young, and immature. Looking for more money. Fast forward, the current heavyweight champion of the world. Probably the highest paid athlete on the roster. Have a great relationship with UFC. God is good. Don’t give up youngsters
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
With that being said, I hope you all have a blessed day today, spending mine in California, enjoying these palm trees.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
Yeah, that’s true, my point is I’m a happy man. I’m glad to have had bosses who stuck with me through the highs and the lows. Literally grew up in the company https://t.co/GEwyGZU8YM
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
Never let a “bad employee” beat you up and take everything from you twice. It’ll leave you bitter for a really long time evidently
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
No, that was to DC https://t.co/LtYXF7XOWK
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
I feel amazing, about to get my stitches removed from my elbow surgery. https://t.co/9R63FKTvHl
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
No the doctor said that I had a bunch of bone chips and bone spurs that have grown only in my left arm. He blames it on elbowing skulls for so long. https://t.co/5r8zZ2qSCf
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
It’s progressing in an amazing way. I have great mobility, not that’s a full strength yet. Honestly, the elbow has been more painful, lots of nerves in there. I’m healing quickly. https://t.co/SwokDaU5Ol
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
I was actually called and offered to fight on the event. The guys said they just wanted to give me the option. We both knew I wouldn’t be ready. My relationship with UFC is better now than it’s ever been. https://t.co/iLHvJ0f6vg
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
Poatan in town.
The Toronto crowd was hyped to see Alex Pereira at the #UFC297 press conference pic.twitter.com/lNeLu25zag
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 18, 2024
Agree?
Tim Sylvia should be in the UFC HOF https://t.co/cDSgzhYjZ9
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 19, 2024
Woof.
Earlier, Dana White told @tim_micallef that Conor McGregor will fight again this year, but his opponent, return date and weight class have not been confirmed at this time.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 18, 2024
FINAL THOUGHTS
Considering the lineup of fights that have been booked for, and were booked for, that March 2 date, I’m going to have to go ahead and not believe Dana here.
Happy Friday, everyone. Nearly time for some good old Canadian chaos for UFC 297. Party on. Thanks for reading!
EXIT POLL
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.
Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh hopes to see Conor McGregor competing at the promotion’s debut in Riyadh this summer.
Alalshikh, the main architect behind Saudi Arabia’s move into boxing, reportedly cut a check for $ 20 million expecting the UFC to deliver a premium fight card in the Middle Eastern country. However, recent reports suggested that “the powers-that-be” in Saudi Arabia were less than thrilled with the card that Dana White and Co. planned to deliver on March 2. As a result, the event has been pushed to June, giving the UFC more time to deliver something substantial.
But just how high are the Saudis aiming for their first UFC event?
During a recent interview with DAZN, Alalshikh revealed that they are pushing to have none other than Irish megastar Conor McGregor on the card.
“We are ready to have a fight with him,” Alalshikh said. “We try maybe, and we will announce it. We will do something big and I asked the UFC if there is a chance to have McGregor on this card or in the future.”
JUST IN
Turki Alalshikh – Saudi’s Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment – has talked to the UFC about a fight with Conor McGregor.
“We will do something big & I’ve asked the UFC is there is a chance to have McGregor in this card or in the future.”
@DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/h1Qz0nklG6
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) January 18, 2024
Dana White Speaks on the Postponement of UFC Saudi Card
Dana White recently called bullsh*t on the reports that the UFC was looking to deliver an APEX-worthy card inside the Kingdom’s capital.
“We moved the card, and I know there’s been a lot of talk about the card wasn’t good enough,” White told Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter. “We never even proposed a card to them. We didn’t tell Saudi Arabia about one fight. So, that’s all bullsh*t.
“We never even proposed a card to them,” White explained. “What we wanted to do is, every time the UFC puts on an event, we want to blow the doors off the place. We want people to be excited. So it was our first fight ever in Saudi Arabia, and a couple of fights that we wanted to line up, they weren’t ready to go.
“So, we pushed the card back because we’re going to deliver. But never once was one fight proposed to Saudi Arabia, and they were like, ‘Yeah, no. This isn’t good enough” (h/t MMA Junkie).
Some of the highest profile fights slated for the previously scheduled March 2 date included a heavyweight clash between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Gaziev and the return of undefeated prospect Muhammad Mokaev against Alex Perez. Hardly a fight card fans would willingly pay $ 80 to watch, let alone $ 20 million to host.
Dana White on building UFC 300, UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia and more.
Full interview coming soon to https://t.co/KUls4CFwuU pic.twitter.com/eXrGlf9d6V
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 18, 2024
JUST IN
@DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/h1Qz0nklG6
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