UFC 297 Weigh-In Drama: Strickland and du Plessis Ready for Showdown, Pennington vs. Silva Set for Bantamweight Battle

The stage is set for an explosive start to the UFC's 2024 pay-per-view calendar as Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis successfully weighed in for their highly anticipated middleweight title bout at UFC 297. The Scotiabank Arena in Toronto is buzzing with excitement as the fighters hit the scales on Friday morning.

Strickland, defending his middleweight crown for the first time, came in at 184.75 pounds, while du Plessis, hungry for glory, matched him at 184 pounds. The atmosphere was charged with intensity as these two warriors locked eyes, setting the tone for what promises to be a spectacular main event.

The co-main event features a clash for the vacant bantamweight title between Raquel Pennington (134.8) and Mayra Bueno Silva (135), both successfully making weight and adding another layer of anticipation to an already stacked card.

However, not all fighters had a smooth journey to the scale. Bantamweight Ramon Taveras missed the mark at 139.75 pounds, turning his debut fight against Serhiy Sidey into a catchweight bout with Taveras forfeiting 30 percent of his purse. Meanwhile, Malcolm Gordon, who missed weight for the second consecutive time, came in at 127.5 pounds for his flyweight bout against Jimmy Flick. The catchweight bout proceeds with Gordon surrendering 20 percent of his purse.

Even before the official weigh-ins began, the UFC announced a last-minute change to the Priscila Cachoeira vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius bout, shifting it to bantamweight due to Cachoeira's struggle to make the flyweight limit. Both fighters successfully weighed in for the adjusted matchup, showcasing their resilience.

As the fighters prepare for battle, the UFC 297 weigh-in drama has only added fuel to the fire, leaving fans eager for a night of thrilling fights and unforgettable moments inside the octagon.

Main Card:

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)