Video: UFC 297 Pre-Fight Press Conference

The upcoming UFC 297 pay-per-view spectacle promises not just a clash of brawn and ferocity, but an atmosphere charged with the weight of impending conflict. The stakes are now at an unprecedented high with not just the pursuit of championship gold but the unsettling addition of death threats looming over the event. The event is set to unfold at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Jan. 20.

The main event is a tantalizing middleweight showdown, built around a fiery feud that materialized unexpectedly out of thin air. In the main event, reigning champion Sean Strickland squares off against the No. 2 ranked contender, Dricus Du Plessis, in a battle that has all the makings of a barnburner. But that's not all – the women's bantamweight division will witness its own coronation as Raquel Pennington clashes with the formidable Mayra Bueno Silva to claim the vacant throne.

The tension between Strickland and Du Plessis has peaked, with Strickland issuing a direct threat on his podcast, warning Du Plessis about the consequences of crossing a dangerous line. The verbal fireworks erupted after an ugly lead-up involving personal attacks, mentions about childhood trauma and a chaotic scene at UFC 296. This press conference isn't just a formality; it's a collision of personalities you can’t afford to miss.

Before the warriors enter the cage, witness the verbal sparring and intense face-offs at the UFC 297 press conference on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 5 p.m. ET. The stage for this spectacle is The Elgin And Winter Garden Theatre Centre, a fitting backdrop for the forthcoming verbal fencing.