Tonight’s UFC 297 main-card consisted of a barnburner at middleweight between Chris Curtis and Marc-Andre Barriault.
UFC 297 takes place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada with a middleweight title fight topping the bill. Sean Strickland makes the first defense of his title against South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis.
Chris Curtis, known for his explosive fighting style, enters the octagon with a professional record of 30-10, showcasing his versatility with 17 wins by knockout. His journey to the UFC has been remarkable, and he’s gained attention for his ability to finish fights in spectacular fashion. Curtis’s most recent victory over Joquin Buckley displayed his striking prowess and shear power, earning him a well-deserved spot on the main card of UFC 297. In his most recent outing, he suffered a no-contest after an accidental clash of heads with Nassourdine Imavov.
On the opposite side of the cage stands Marc-Andre Barriault, a seasoned middleweight fighter with a record of 16-6. Barriault brings a powerful striking game, having secured 10 wins by knockout. His last performance against Eryk Anders showed despite having knockout power, he’s got the cardio to go the distance if needed. Barriault’s journey in the UFC has seen him steadily climb the ranks, and a win against Curtis could propel him further into middleweight contention.
As the anticipation builds for UFC 297, fight fans can expect a showdown between two hungry middleweights eager to make their mark. The octagon is set, the fighters are prepared, and only time will tell who will emerge victorious in this electrifying matchup.
Chris Curtis def. Marc-Andre Barriault
The first was a timid round from both who attempted to feel one another out, respecting each other’s power. Curtis dictated the pace and had Barriault on the backfoot for the majority of the five minutes, but nothing significant as exchanged to the fans annoyance. Difficult round to score.
Curtis opens the round targeting the calf of Barriault following his corners advice. However, the American quickly abandoned and stood in the middle with Barriault essentially having a boxing match. Both touched one another up, but like the first, nothing significant was landed. The bell goes and both competitors are greeted with a boo from the crowd. Curtis likely stole the round with mixing his shots to the head and body landing more.
Chris Curtis and Barriault saved the best for last and finally picked up the pace. Both men stood in a phone both and traded punches and elbows back-and-forth until the final bell.
Official result: Chris Curtis def. Marc-Andre Barriault by split decision.
The victory moved Chris Curtis to 31-10, meanwhile Marc-Andre Barriault dropped to 16-7. Who would you like to see both men face next time out? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
