UFC 297: Sean Strickland struggles on the scales, while Dricus du Plessis does it easy

Sean Strickland didn’t do the weight easy, but the middleweight champ did invite BRENDAN BRADFORD into the ring. Check out all the weigh-in news ahead of UFC 297.

If demeanour on the scales is anything to go by, Dricus du Plessis just took a huge advantage over Sean Strickland.

The South African title challenger was buzzing, and bounded up the stairs smiling before weighing in at 184-pounds on Friday morning in Toronto.

Strickland, meanwhile, struggled. He ambled slowly to the stage, barely cracked a smile, and shook his head slowly as he walked off after tipping the scales at 194.75-pounds.

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The first fighter to weigh-in, Strickland might not have done it easy, but it wasn’t as hard as his weight cut heading into his shock win over Israel Adesanya last year.

Back then, he needed to strip off his boxers behind the curtain to make weight, before saying: “That last pound sucks, you guys.”

This time around, he had more time to prepare.

“My weight’s a little bit lower, I had a great camp, but that last pound is brutal,” he told this masthead.

“That championship weight, that 185 even, that matters.

“We had a longer camp for this one, and the weight’s a little bit lower.”

Of course, that won’t matter on fight night, as he proved by scoring a unanimous decision win over Adesanya in one of the biggest shocks in UFC history.

Sean Strickland didn’t do the weight easily. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Izzy is easier?

Still on Strickland, and he reckons du Plessis is a tougher fight than Adesanya.

The reason is simple.

“Izzy’s a great fighter and a great striker, but he doesn’t necessarily want to fight. He’s not going to catch you, so that’s my advantage,” he explained. “With Dricus it’s going to be a war.

“Dricus likes to come forward, he likes to fight.

“Adesanya doesn’t want to fight, he wants to stick and move, so Izzy would’ve been a way easier fight.

“Dricus might not be as good, but he has more of a dog, more of a fight in him.”

Strickland says Adesanya is an easier fight than du Plessis. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Raquel Pennington’s long journey to the top

People laughed at Raquel Pennington when she said she wanted to sign with the UFC. That was well over a decade ago, and women’s divisions still didn’t exist in the UFC.

“They literally laughed in my face, but when it became a possibility, I was one of the first women to sign with the UFC,” Pennington told this masthead.

It hasn’t been an easy ride.

“It was hard to find opponents, and being in a male dominant sport, people were saying women weren’t supposed to fight and that we didn’t belong here,” she said. “It was just one thing after another, but we just continue to fight and proving we belong.

“I’ve been in the UFC for 10 years, and now, there’s multiple divisions and I feel like, although I’m 35, I’m just hitting my prime.”

Raquel Pennington (L) faces off with Mayra Bueno Silva (R) ahead of their bantamweight title fight. Picture: Getty Images

This weekend, Pennington gets a second shot at the bantamweight title after falling short in her first championship challenge against Amanda Nunes in 2018.

“I’m not the athlete or person I was five years ago, and that’s in the rearview mirror for a reason,” she said. “I was coming off an 18 month lay-off, major surgeries and I got into an accident. There was a lot.

“I was not aligned in any way, shape or form. Afterwards, I hit a really dark place emotionally because it was another setback. It was one beating after another after another.

“I switched a few things up in my career and personal life and truly believe my stars have aligned.”

Pennington (blue shorts) was stopped in the fifth round by Amanda Nunes in 2018. Picture: Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC

Pennington says her motivations have changed since her and her wife, fellow UFC fighter Tecia Torres, welcomed their first daughter seven months ago.

“It’s life-changing, and I’ve been able to mature even more and gain a new perspective on life,” she said. “I’ve been able to reset, I’ve been having fun in the gym again.

“The motivation that comes with being a mum is a different journey. I don’t have room for fear, and being scared or nerves. I’m her greatest teacher.”

“Unprofessional, eh”

There were a few close calls and a few weight misses, but nothing as bad as Priscila Cachoeira.

The Brazilian signed on for a flyweight fight with Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius, but, in the days leading up to the fight, she was so far off the 125-pound limit that the UFC changed the weight class the bout would be contested at.

By weigh-in day, Cachoeira hit the scales at 133.5 pounds, while Jasudavicius weighed 133 pounds for what is now a bantamweight bout.

Members of their respective teams argued while Cachoeira stepped onto the scales.

“You signed a contract at 125,” said one of Jasudavicius’ entourage. “It’s unprofessional, eh.

“You sign a contract, you fight at that weight.”

Priscila Cachoeira mean mugs on the scales despite missing weight by nearly 10 pounds. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Someone from Cachoeira’s camp hit back with: “You don’t understand what’s going on, so keep your mouth shut,” before they both walked out of the room.

Later, Ramon Taveras looked distraught as he missed the bantamweight limit of 135 pounds by 3.3 pounds for his scrap with Serhiy Sidey.

Strickland on fighting me

Sean Strickland has always said he doesn’t care who he fights next as long as the money’s right.

He already revealed to this masthead that he won’t fight in Australia again, but he’s open to a rematch with Israel Adesanya if the UFC pays him enough.

And after a few tricky questions during our interview earlier in the week – and just a few months after this masthead broke the news that Strickland had punched a fan in Bondi – he joked he’d even step into the cage with me.

“I don’t care, man, it just comes down to what they’re gonna pay me,” he told this masthead. “I’d fight anyone if they paid me enough.

“I’ll fight you if they paid me enough.

“They probably wouldn’t have to pay me much at all.”

He was laughing as he said it, but he’s also unhinged enough to pull through on a comment like that.

Originally published as UFC 297: Sean Strickland struggles on the scales, while Dricus du Plessis does it easy