The pair engaged in a bitter war of words before the fight and even a brawl in the crowd of UFC 296 but Strickland was very controlled once the bout got underway.
South African Dricus Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland to win the UFC middleweight title with a split-decision victory in the main event of UFC 297 in Toronto.
The pair engaged in a bitter war of words before the fight and even a brawl in the crowd of UFC 296 but Strickland was very controlled once the bout got underway.
According to Euro Sport, he controlled the first with Du Plessis unable to penetrate his defence while being peppered by jabs in the opening round which left the challenger with a bruised left eye.
Du Plessis (now 21-2) adjusted to this and increasingly landed with power shots with either hand as the rounds went on. A straight right opened a nasty cut above Strickland's left eye.
The South African also had six takedowns in all helping him edge the middle rounds.
Going out for the final round, Strickland (who slips to 28-6) appeared circumspect while Du Plessis banged his chest embracing the contest.
However, the champion fought the better in the final round landing his jabs once more with regularity, showing good defence and avoiding two more attempted takedowns, but it proved too little, too late as the South African took the crown.
In the co-main event contesting the UFC bantamweight crown that had been vacated by Amanda Nunes, American Raquel Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva via a unanimous decision to become the new champion.
The American veteran, who previously failed in a challenge to Nunes, came into the bout as an underdog but after a difficult opening took control to take a comfortable 49-46 (twice) and 49-45 win.
Silva won the first round landing numerous calf kicks and having two takedowns, but Pennington's striking got her back into the contest in the second. And, in the next, as they pressed against the Octagon, the Brazilian was visibly tired and it ended with her being pounded on the floor.