UFC, otherwise known as Ultimate Fighting Championship, is an extremely popular sport, thanks to several superstars like Conor McGregor, Khabib, and Brock Lesnar.
Apparently, UFC is producing another mixed martial arts event named UFC 297 for the fans of this bloody sport, and if you’re one of them, you might be interested in when and where UFC 297 will be taking place.
UFC 297, produced by the universal brand UFC, is reportedly taking place in Toronto, the capital city of the Canadian Province of Ontario, on January 20, 2024. It was confirmed by the popular UFC fighter, Cub Swanson, on October 4 via X (formerly known as Twitter), but where the competition will be hosted in Toronto is currently unknown.
Is UFC 297 Taking Place in Toronto?
It has been roughly five years since a UFC competition has taken place in Toronto, as the last time it happened was in December 2018.
That was because there were several issues regarding commercial interests as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, there hasn’t been an official UFC match held in Canada until July 2023.
So, it provides a sense of nostalgia for Canadian UFC fans since they can finally catch it live at the stadium rather than watching it on television.
On October 4, 2023, Cub Swanson, the 39-year-old featherweight champion, tweeted that he was offered to fight at UFC 297, but he declined since he was getting surgery soon and needed to rest for the entire year.
In the tweet, he mentioned that UFC 297 will be held in Toronto, but since he will be recuperating from the surgery, it looks like he won’t be able to train for the fight. So, it makes sense that he would be rejecting the offer.
However, no one from the UFC, including President Dana White, has confirmed Cub Swanson’s claims, so it is still skeptical whether the event will actually take place in Toronto. But when it comes from one of the legendary UFC fighters, at least some of the information should be credible, isn’t it?
Who Will Be Fighting at UFC 297 in Toronto?
An exciting matchup has been revealed for the upcoming UFC 297 event, which will be held on January 20. An X user named @judobetter995 has stated that there has been a rumor regarding the two fighters who will open the event.
According to the tweet, Arnold Allen will fight Movsar Evloev at the event. Allen is currently ranked fourth in the featherweight division, while Evloev is ranked ninth in the same division.
While Allen has only lost one fight since 2014 and twice in his entire career, Evloev hasn’t fought in the cage for more than twice a year, meaning there is definitely a great chance of Allen coming out on top.
However, it is too soon to make assumptions because there have been several instances in UFC history where an underdog has surprised both spectators and their opponent.
In any case, it will be interesting to see Allen and Evloev go against each other after a long time, especially given their respective advantages for the upcoming fight in the rumored Toronto.
So, do you think UFC 297 will take place in Toronto? What are your thoughts on these rumors? Let us know your stance in the comment section below.
