An upcoming welterweight matchup will be featured in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event of 2024. Slated to take place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on January 20, the event is eagerly anticipated by mixed martial arts enthusiasts worldwide. The match, adding a layer of excitement to the event, will see English professional fighter, Sam Patterson go toe-to-toe with Canada’s own Yohan Lainesse. Primarily known for his tenacity in the ring, Patterson carries a fight record of 10-2 into his first professional welterweight division fight at UFC 297. The official announcement of this matchup comes following its initial reporting by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff on November 3.
Previously, Patterson, an alum of the Brave Combat Federation, made quite the splash with his Octagon debut at UFC 286. Notably, leading up to this, Patterson showcased his fighting prowess with a six-fight win streak, capping off with a momentous Round 2 submission victory against Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci in the Dana White’s Contender Series. Unfortunately for the Englishman, his promotional debut following this streak didn’t proceed as envisioned. He suffered a brutal Round 1 knockout loss against Israeli fighter Yanal Ashmoz.
Lainesse, with a fight record of 9-2, has had a mixed track record in his last four fights, with two wins and two losses. The Canadian fighter’s most recent match saw him succumb to a Round 1 submission loss at the hands of Mike Malott in February. In addition to this welterweight showdown, the UFC 297 event will also feature a marquee middleweight title defense. Sean Strickland, the reigning champion, will attempt his first defense of the title against formidable challenger Dricus Du Plessis.