"Dricus Du Plessis Upsets Sean Strickland in UFC 297 Main Event: Live Blog, Odds, and Press Conference"

Dricus Du Plessis becomes the first South African UFC champion by defeating Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297, claiming the middleweight title in a bloody and back-and-forth fight. Du Plessis, who called for a matchup against Israel Adesanya, showcased his resilience and cardio in the five-round battle, silencing critics. With a nine-fight win streak and a 7-0 UFC record, Du Plessis is now eyeing a showdown with Adesanya after dethroning Strickland, who had previously shocked Adesanya to win the title.