Passes judgment on Derek Cleary and Eric Colon scored the session 48-47 for Du Plessis, while Sal D'Amato had it 48-47 for Strickland.
The aggression blending between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis at last hit its limit at UFC 297.
The two combat through five rounds, taking the session to the distance, yet in the end it was Du Plessis taking Strickland's middleweight belt in the wake of bloodying the previous champion over his left eye and winning a split choice.
Passes judgment on Derek Cleary and Eric Colon scored the session 48-47 for Du Plessis, while Sal D'Amato had it 48-47 for Strickland.
"This is history!" Du Plessis (21-2) shouted to pay tribute to his country. "South Africa ... we can presumably hear them from outside. That nation is astonishing."
It was December when Du Plessis referred to Strickland's harmful relationship with his dad. Strickland spread the word that
wouldn't go on without serious consequences, and fierce response would result.
At UFC 296 in December, Strickland got around a line of seats and tossed punches at Du Plessis — which both said was not even close to an exposure stunt.
Nothing about the battle was not even close to a trick, as the two exchanged blows, both conveying serious blows, particularly in the last option adjusts.
Regardless of the pressure paving the way to battle night, Du Plessis gave Strickland (28-6) his simply due subsequently.
"Each time he hits you with that punch it seems like somebody hit you with a stone. You are one amazing man, thank you for drawing out the best of me this evening," Du Plessis said. "The initial three rounds were a compromise, however the last two, I was frantic, adjusted four and five."
To which Strickland later answered: "I called it from the very first moment — a war was going."
Different outcomes
Raquel Pennington (16-9-0) beat Mayra Bueno Silva (10-3-1) by consistent choice to guarantee the vacant ladies' bantamweight title in the co-headliner. Pennington was recorded as the longshot in the match.
Neil Magny (29-12-0) halted Mike Malott (10-2-1) at the 4:45 characteristic of the third round of their welterweight match.
Chris Curtis (31-10-0) took a split choice over Marc-Andre Barriault (16-7-0) in their middleweight session. Curtis took two scores of 30-27 Curtis, while Barriault won 29-28 on a third scorecard.
In the main match on the undercard, Movsar Evloev stayed undefeated (17-0-0) with a consistent choice over Arnold Allen (19-3-0). Each of the three appointed authorities scored it 29-28. Evloev, who possesses the second-longest dynamic series of wins in the UFC featherweight division (7), ran his generally speaking UFC win streak to eight straight.
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