Tag: Tatiana Suarez

UFC 312 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Dricus Du Plessis, Zhang Weili lead with champ money

The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program has now paid out nearly $32 million to athletes since its deal began with Venum.

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 312 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $254,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 312 took place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2/Disney+ and ESPN+.

The full UFC 312 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Tallison Teixeira[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Fransisco Prado[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Gabriel Santos[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jack Jenkins[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Tom Nolan[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Wang Cong[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Aleksandre Topuria[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Colby Thicknesse[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rong Zhu[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Kody Steele[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jonathan Micallef[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Jousset[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Quillan Salkilld[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Anshul Jubli[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $871,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $31,889,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

UFC 312 live updates: Results, round-by-round coverage of every fight

Check out live round-by-round updates and official results from UFC 312 in Sydney.

UFC 312 (pay-per-view, ESPN2/Disney+, ESPN+) took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie provided live round-by-round coverage and official results. UFC 312 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Disney+, ESPN+) went down at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

The main event featured a rematch between middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and the man he beat to win the title, [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC). In the co-main event, women’s strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) defended her belt against [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC).

Below you can checkout the round-by-round coverage and official results for UFC 312.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

UFC 312 lineup, results

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) – to defend middleweight title
  • Zhang Weili def. Tatiana Suarez via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) – to defend strawweight title
  • Tallison Teixeira def. Justin Tafa via TKO (elbow) – Round 1, 0:35
  • Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute ends in a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
  • Jake Matthews def. Fransisco Prado via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/Disney+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Gabriel Santos def. Jack Jenkins via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:06
  • Tom Nolan def. Viacheslav Borshchev via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Wang Cong def. Bruna Brasil via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Aleksandre Topuria def. Colby Thicknesse via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)

  • Rong Zhu def. Kody Steele via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Jonathan Micallef def. Kevin Jousset via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Quillan Salkilld def. Anshul Jubli via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:19

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland

Round 1 – As expected, Strickland jabbing and slowly moving foward on Du Plessis. Oh! Head kick partially connects for Du Plessis. Leg kick by Du Plessis. Jabs by Strickland. Both guys doing very well defensively. We’re halfway through the round. Jabs connecting for Strickalnd. Du Plessis with a hard leg kick. Not much going on in terms of strikes landed. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Du Plessis.

Round 2 – A couple of hard leg kicks connect for Du Plessis. Strickland strongs together a few connecting punches. That was probably his best monet so far. Nice counter by Strickland. Du Plessis is landing some hard jabs. Strickalnd is bleeding from his mouth. Both guys landing harder shots here. Du Plessis really upping his attack, landing more often than Strickland. Several leg kicks keep landing for Du Plessis. Oh! Another head kick partly lands for Du Plessis. Strickland eats an over hand right. The round ends.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Du Plessis.

Round 3 – Strickland is backing up Du Plessis, but he’s not throwing or landing much. Big right hand by Du Plessis! Du Plessis’ striking far more explosive. Du Plessis is just firing off on a very passive Strickland. A couple of right hands land for Du Plessis. Oh, spinning back fist by Du Plessis!  Two minutes left. Jab by Strickland. Another one. Oh! Spining elbow lands for Du Plessis! Oh! Nice counter right by Strickland! Du Plessis shoots, gets the takedow, but Strickalnd gets right back up. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Du Plessis.

Round 4 – Du Plessis is pressing the action here, contrary to previous orunds. Bog right hand by Du Plessis! Du Plessis is looking sharp tonight. Oh! Big shot by Du Plessis and Strickland grabs his nose. He’s bleeding a lot. Strickland on the run! Du Plessis goingin for the kill here. Big shot again by Du Plessis and now leg kick. We’re halfway through the round. Nice connection by Strickland, but Du Plessis responds with a harder shot. Oh! Bg right lands for Du Plessis. Strickland lacks urgency. One, two by Du Plessis. Strickland keeps eating big shots. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Du Plessis.

Round 5 – Strickland needs a finish here, it’s pretty clear he’s down. Leg kicks by Du Plessis. Du Plessis keeps snapping Strickland’s head back. Strickland not doing much. Jab by Strickland. Body kick by Du Plessis. Du Plessis in full control here, seems very comfortable. Nice combo by Du Plessis. Du Plessis is battering Strickland. Clean jab by Strickland. The crowd is booing, they want more action. Leg kicks and right hands have been there all night for Du Plessis. Final minute. Strickland upping the pressure a little here, but just too late. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Du Plessis. Overall 50-45, Du Plessis.

Result: ricus Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) – to defend middleweight title
Recap: Dricus Du Plessis rearranges Sean Strickland’s face in bloody title defense
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC), Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Ben Cartlidge 49-46. Sal D’Amato, Clemens Werner 50-45.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez

Round 1 – Weili takes the center of the cage. Suarez gets a body lock and gets Weili to the ground with ease. Suarez working from half guard. Mainly just control here from Suarez, not much damage being done. We’re hafway through the round. Suarez is starting to open up a little with ground-and-pound. Suarez moves to side control. Weili scrambles out, Suarez gets a guillotine and drops to her back! Weili gets out fairly quickly! Now Weili working from top with a little less than a minute. Not much damage being done. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Suarez.

Round 2 – Leg kick by Weili. Weili takes the center of the octagon. Suarez closes the distance and presses Weili against the cage. Suarez gets the takedown, but Weili scrambles and ends on top! Weili landing some shots! Suarez gets back to her feet! She’s now pressing Weili against the cage once again. We’re halfway through the round. Weili breaks free. Big one, two for Weili! Suarez shoots and presses Weili against the cage. Weili gets a trip and gets top control of Suarez! Ground and pound by Weili. She maintains top control until the bell.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Weili.

Round 3 – Weili looking a lot faster than Suarez in this round. Big one, two by Weili. And again! Oh! Huge shot by Weili! Suarez is rocked! Suarez shoots and fails to get the takedown. Suarez looks very tired. She presses Weili against the cage. Three minutes left. Weili breaks free. Suarez with a faled takedown. Right hand connects for Weili. Weili looking sharp! Suarez eats a big combo after falling short of a takedown. Suarez with another failed takedown attempt and gets punished in the process. Suarez presses Weili against the cage. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Weili.

Round 4 – Big exchange between the two. Suarez initiates the takedown and gets taken down by Weili. Incredible. Suarez is able to recover guard. Weili with some shots here and there to the body. Weili sinks in an arm triangle! Suarez escapes, but still on bottom. We’re halfway through the round. Suarez is getting dominated here. There’s little damage from Weili, but she’s in full controll and stopping any sweep attempt from Suarez. Weili rides out the rest of the round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Weili.

Round 5 – Bog leg kick by Weili. Suarez shoots, they clinch, and she eats several elbows from Weili. Suarez doing everything she can to get the fight to the griund, but Weili’s defense has been on point. Suarez presses Weili against the cage. Knee from Weili. Three minutes left. They scramble and Weili ends on top. Good shots from top by Weili. Suarez’s face is battered. Complete domination by Weili. She rides out the rest of the fight.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Weili. Overall 49-46, Weili.

Result: Zhang Weili def. Tatiana Suarez via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) – to defend strawweight title
Recap: Zhang Weili shuts down Tatiana Suarez to retain title
Photos: Zhang Weili def. Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312: Best photos
Records: Weili (26-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), Suarez (11-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Mike Beltran
Judging: Mike Bell, David Lethaby 49-46, Mark Collett 49-45.

Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira

Round 1 – Big kick to the body by Teixeira! He presses Tafa against the cage. Oh! Nasty elbow to the nose! Tafa goes down and it’s over! What a debut by Teixeira!

Result: Tallison Teixeira def. Justin Tafa via TKO (elbow) – Round 1, 0:35
Recap: Tallison Teixeira blitzes Justin Tafa to score 35-second debut TKO
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Teixeira (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Tafa (7-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Ricj Mitchell

Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute

Round 1 – Leg kick by Crute. Big miss by Crute, Bellato tries to use that to take him down, but instead throws Crute on top of himself. Crute now working form half guard. Bellato recovers guard. Crute with some solid griund and pound. We’re halfway through the round. Oh! Nice elbows by Crute! Bellato unable to get up. Crute advances to half guard. Big shots from Crute! Bellato gets back up! Oh! And Crute drops Bellato! He’s on top landing shots. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Crute.

Round 2 – Crute with all the confidence in the world here. Slick combo by Crute! Bellato doesn’t look like he’s fully recovered. Big uppercuts by Crute! Bellato with some hard calf kicks. Bellato lands a nice left hook. Crute shoots for a takedown and comes up short. Crute looks to be slowing down. Jabs by Crute. Right hand lands for Crute, but Bellato answers back with a one, two. Nasty one, two by Crute! Insane chin on Bellato. Final minute. Cryte keep cracking Bellato, but he’s still standing! Crute looks tired. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Crute.

Round 3 -Leg kick by Bellato to get things started here in the final round. Another one. Nasty leg kicks by Bellato. Crute tries to get down Bellato and unable to. He looks spent. Big calf kick by Bellato. More leg kicks by Bellato. Big right hand lands Crute. We’re halfway through the round. Bellato shoots and gets it! He’s controlling Crute from the turtle position. Man, Bellato keeps punishing that leg of Crute. He’s in pain. Final minute here. Both guys look very tired. These two are just trading shots! The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Bellato. Overall 29-27 Crute.

Result: Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute ends in a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Bellato (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Crute (12-4-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Mike Bell, David Lethaby 28-28. Mark Collett 29-27. 

Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado

Round 1 – These two are swining heavy early on! Big left hook lands for Matthews. Matthews with a straight right hand. Body kick and then a leg kick by Prado.Big combo by Matthews! Body kick by Matthews. And Prado with a leg kick. Another one. Two minutes left. Oh! Matthews with a nasty left hook. Matthews clearly landing the better shots here. Prado closes the distance and gets the takedown! One minute left. Matthews gets up. Oh! Bog shots for both in a wild exchange. Prado is cut on his forehead. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Matthews.

Round 2 – Matthews is moving foward here. There seems to be a big power difference between the two. Nice combo by Matthews. Prado’s face is showing damage. Oh! Couple of big knees land for Prado in the clinch. Good uppercut by Prado. Prado shoots and presses Matthews against the cage. They trade knees to the legs and body. They break away with a minute remaining. Good combo by Matthews. Prado is bleeding a lot from his cut. They replay shows the cut came from an accidental head clash. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Matthews.

Round 3 – Matthews looking to land big bombs here. He’s pressing foward and looking for a finish. Leg kick by Prado. Matthews closes the distance, looks to takedown Prado, but comes up short. Body kick then leg kick by Prado. Oh! Matthews buckles Prado with a left hook. Prado seems to have recovered. He presses Matthews against the cage. They break away. What a chin on Prado, he’s taken so many big shots from Matthews. Matthews now closes the distance and presses Prado against the cage. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Matthews. Overall 30-27, Matthews.

Result: Jake Matthews def. Fransisco Prado via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Matthews (21-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC), Prado (12-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Mike Beltran
Judging: Sal D’Amato, Charlie Keech, Clemens Werner 30-27.

Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos

Round 1 – Both guys land leg kicks early on. Oh! Jenkins with a big body kick. More leg kicks from Santos. Oh! Jenkins drops Santos with a head kick! Jenkins jumps on him and begins raining ground-and-pound! Santos now sinks in a triangle choke! It looks very tight. So far, even though locked in, Jenkins is surviving. And he’s out! Two minutes left. Santos works his way back to his feet, but being pressed against the cage. He finds a break and  gets the fight down to the ground. Solid elbows from Santos. Thirty seconds left. Santos controlling well. Nice short shots by Santos. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Jenkins.

Round 2 – Santos comes out agressive. Several kicks to the body by Santos. One, two by Santos. Jenkins connects with a shot of his own. He now begins to press foward. Jenkins shoots on Santos and comes up short. They clinch and Santos gets the takedown. Three minutes left. Very solid control here by Santos, but not a ton of damage being done. Jenkins unable to get up. Some shots here and there by Santos. Santos controlls Jenkins until the bell.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Santos.

Round 3 – It looks like it’s tied up. Oh! Santos with a front kick to the chin! Jenkins is hurt. Santos shoots and gets Jenkins against the fence. He jumps on his back and sinks in the hooks. He’s trying to get a rear-naked choke. Jenkins so far defending well. Santos locks in the body triangle. He sinks in the rear-naked choke! It’s over! Santos wins.

Result: Gabriel Santos def. Jack Jenkins via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:06
Recap: Gabriel Santos silences Australian crowd with slick Jack Jenkins submission
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Santos (12-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Jenkins (13-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/Disney+
Referee: Rich Mitchell

Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Tom Nolan

Round 1 – Big leg kick by Nolan. Nolan shoots for a takedown and Borshchev stuffs it. They’re back to striking. Nolan clinches Borshchev and briefly gets him down. Borshchev gets back up and is now beign controlled against the cage.Nolan jumps on Borshchev’s back. Borshchev tries toget him off, but ends on bottom. Nolan with an anaconda attempt! Borshchev gets out! Nasty elbow to the head by Nolan. Borshchev scrambles back to his feet. Hard leg kick by Borshchev. One minute left. Solid kicks to the body and legs by Nolan. Nolan shoots and Borshchev stuffs the takedown. Push kick by Borshchev. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Nolan.

Round 2 – Oblique kicks by Borshchev. Nolan with a body kick. Staright right hand and then a leg kick by Borshchev. Solid kicks to the body by Nolan.Jab by Borshchev. Oh! Borshchev with a big right hand. Big leg kick by Nolan.Quick combo connets for Nolan. And Borshchev with an uppercut. Nolan shoots and takes down Borshchev by the cage! Nolan attemos another D’Arce choke, but Borshchev gets out! Borshchev find his way back to his feet and back to striking. Nice elbow by Nolan. Borshchev looking for something big here. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Nolan.

Round 3 – Oh! Nolan with some nasty body kicks! Nolan shoots, fails and goes to his back. Oh! Nice uppkick by Nolan. Another one! The referee stands them up.Nolan shoots again and comes up short. Clean combo by Nolan! Again, Nolan shoots, comes up short and rolls to his back. Borshchev dives into Nolan’s guard. Borshchev with some shots from top, but Nolan is macthing him from the bottom. The top of the head of Borshchev is all lumped up and bloody from shots and elbows. Borshchev goes for a leg lock in the final seconds, but too late, the bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Nolan. MMA Junkie scores the fight 30-27, Nolan.

Result: Tom Nolan def. Viacheslav Borshchev via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Nolan (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Borshchev (8-5-1 MMA, 3-4-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/Disney+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Ben Cartlidge, Charlie keech 29-28. David Lethaby 30-27.

Bruna Brasil vs. Wang Cong

Round 1 – Leg kick by Brasil. She takes the center of the cage, while Cong hovers on the outiside. Cong with a hard leg kicks. Jab and then leg kick by Cong. Nice right hand connects for Cong. Big, big leg kicks by Brasil. Cong with some of her own, too. They two keep trading leg kicks. Not a ton of action going on. Final minute. Cong’s lead leg is a mess. Cong with a hard leg kick. Brasil goes for a spinning attack, fails, Cong trips her and lands a few shots before the bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Cong.

Round 2 – Cong comes out a little more agressive here. Cong lands a nice right hand, as Brasil comes in to kick. Another left lands for Cong. Very, very low output fight. Leg kick by Cong. Brasil lands a right hand. Cong is the one pressing the action here. Big leg kicks by Cong. Brasil too gun shy here. She’s not really throwing anything.Cong upping the pressure and volume. Kick to the body then a one, two by Cong. Clean left hand connects for Cong. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Cong.

Round 3 – It seems Brasil is in need of a finish here. Cong looks like she’s growing in confidence and the opposite is happening with Brasil. Nice left by Cong. Jabs and then leg kick by Cong. Nice combo lands for Cong. Brasil is barely firing. Three minutes left. Kick to the body by Cong.Leg kick by Cong. The crowd boos. Final minute. Brasil tries a takedown and comes up short. Spinning wheel kick almost lands by Brasil. Wong with a takedown right before the bell.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Cong. Overall 30-27, Cong.

Result: Wang Cong def. Bruna Brasil via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Cong (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Brasil (10-5-1 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/Disney+
Referee: Mike Beltran
Judging: Mark Collett, Sal D’Amato, Clemens Werner 30-27.

Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria

Round 1 – Topuria immediately pressing the action here. Thicknesse looking to stay on the outside. Nice body shot by Topuria. Another one. Jab by Topuria. He’s staying patient and picking his shots. Three minutes left. Head kick partially connects for Thicknesse. Topuria closes the distance and presses Thicknesse against the cage. They break free. Oh! Big right-hand wobbles Thicknesse bad! Topuria chasing the finish here. Thicknesse looks to have recovered. Leg kick by Thicknesse. Final 30 seconds. Nice combo by Topuria. He presses Thicknesse against the cage and slams him on his head! The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Topuria.

Round 2 – Jabs by Thicknesse. A low blow from Thicknesse briefly halts the fight, but then resumes. Strong jab by Topuria. Leg kick by Topuria. Leg kick by Thicknesse. Big leg kick by Topuria. Topuria with fairly low output, but he’s connecting everything he lands. Big leg kick and then a counter right by Topuria. Two minutes left. Thicknesse lands a right hand. Oh! Nasty body shot by Topuria. Another right hands lands clean for Topuria. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Topuria.

Round 3 – Thicknesse shoots for an early takedown here. Topuria stuffs it and spins around to get his back. Thicknesse is on his knees, trying to get up. Thicknesse gets back up, but being pressed against the cage. Thicknesse escaped and they’re back to striking. Topuria stuffs another takedown from Thicknesse. He spins around and gets the back again. They scramble and Topuria ends on top. Thicknesse looking to set up submissions from his back, but so far unsuccessful. One minute left. Topuria is finally opening up with shots from top, not just control. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Topuria. Overall 30-27, Topuria.

Result: Aleksandre Topuria def. Colby Thicknesse via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Recap:
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Topuria (6-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Thicknesse (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/Disney+
Referee: Jim Perdios
Judging: Mike Bell, Ben Cartlidge, Charlie Keech 30-27.

Kody Steele vs. Rong Zhu

Round 1 – Zhu takes the center of the octagon. A lot of feints from both so far, little strikes landed. They both trade hard leg kicks. Big leg kick by Zhu. Steele shoots for a takedown and gets the fight to the ground. Zhu scrambles and ends on top. He gets up, as he wants to keep the fight striking. Nice, quick combos landed by Zhu. Oh! Big left by Zhu. Right hand lands for Steele. Oh! Nasty shot by Steele rocks Zhu! Oh! Now Zhu rocks Steele! Zhu all over Steele! Both these guys throwing bombs! Heavy combo by Steele. Oh! Steele eats some huge shots! The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Zhu.

Round 2 – Zhu looking good so far. Oh! Steele gets rocked and he goes down! Zhu follows, but now he gets caught in a leg lock. Zhu seems safe. He breaks free! Back to striking. Solid combos by Zhu. A big left hook snaps Steele’s head back. Steele a little hesitant here after taking some big shots. We’re halfway through the round. Zhu’s face is showing some bruising. Jabs by Zhu connect clean. Oh! Another nasty combo by Zhu. Steele with a chin of steel. Despite absorbing a lot of shots, Steele’s face is not showing a ton of damage. Solid jabs by Zhu. Now a left hook! More jabs by Zhu. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Zhu.

Round 3 – Steele, likely down on the cards, is coming out a lot more aggressive. Man, Zhu is in full rythm here. More jabs by Zhu. Bog left hok connects for Zhu. Good body shots by Steele! The pace has slowed here. Jab by Zhu. We’re halfway through the round. Nasty jabs by Zhu, he’s looking sharp tonight. Steele keeps getting his head snapped back by Zhu’s constant jabs. Steele just doesn’t have an answer to Zhu’s attacks. More and more jabs by Zhu. Leg kick by Zhu. Zhu is styling on him now. Final minute. Steele is bleeding from his mouth, he’s wearing the damage now. Wow! They brawl it out at the end Holloway style! Great fight.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Zhu. Overall 30-27, Zhu.

Result: Rong Zhu def. Kody Steele via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Zhu (26-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC), Steele (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Steve Perceval
Judging: Sal D’Amato, Evan Field, Clemens Werner 30-27.

Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef

Round 1 – Nice left by Jousset. Micallef with some big kicks on the guard of Micallef. Micallef answers with some body kicks of his own. Jousset pressing the action here, walking down Micallef. We’re halfway through the round. Nice one, two by Micallef and then he engages in the thai clinch. Micallef eats a few uppercuts. They break free. Oh! Big head kick by Micallef rocks Jousset. Jousset gets back up. One minute left. Micallef is getting in his rhythm now, and he’s landing a lot more. Jousset’s legs and arms look battered and bruise from the kicks. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Micallef.

Round 2 – Jousset coming out here a bit more aggressive. He’s pressing the action here, but Micallef is clearly landing the better and cleaner shots. Nice left by Micallef! Micallef is on his back foot, countering Jousset. Jousset with some leg kicks. Man, Micallef is getting in a flow state here, picking apart Jousset. Micallef is now moving forward and pressing the action. Oh! Nice left by Micallef. His lefts keep connecting. And a head kick sneaks in for Micallef! Jousset is showing a ton of toughness, but he seems clearly outmatched in the striking. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Micallef.

Round 3 – Micallef seems a lot more confident with two rounds likely in the bag. He’s pressing the action here. Too soon, back on the back foot and countering. Big, nasty body kick by Micallef. Jousset is chasing here, but he keeps getting tagged. He’s not doing anything meaningful to change the fight. Oh! A solid right hand connects for Jousset, but Micallef eats it well. Three minutes left. Jousset needs a finish here. Solid jabs by Micallef, and Jousset responds with a nice body kick. One, two by Jousset. Jousset doing a better job at cutting the cage here than in previous rounds. Head kick partially lands for Micallef. Jousset chases here in the final seconds. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Jousset. Overall 29-28, Micallef.

Result: Jonathan Micallef def. Kevin Jousset via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Micallef (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Jousset (10-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Rich Mitchell
Judging: Mark Collett, Charlie Keech, David Lethaby 29-28.

Anshul Jubli vs. Quillan Salkilld

Round 1 – Oh! Huge right-hand drops Jubli! It’s over! What a way to start the night.

Result: Quillan Salkilld def. Anshul Jubli via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:19
Recap: Quillan Salkilld sparks Anshul Jubli with one-punch KO in 19 seconds
Photos: UFC 312: Best photos from Sydney
Records: Salkilld (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Jubli (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Division: Lghtweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jim Perdios

UFC 312 odds: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland

Oddsmakers have set Du Plessis as a moderate favorite to win the rematch against Strickland. Here’s a look at three of the biggest online sportsbooks.

  • BetMGM: Du Plessis -220, Strickland +180
  • FanDuel: Du Plessis -215, Strickland +180
  • DraftKings: Du Plessis -218, Strickland +180

UFC 312 odds: Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez

Oddsmakers are slightly favorite Suarez to dethrone Weili as strawweight champion. Here’s a look at three of the biggest online sportsbooks.

  • BetMGM: Suarez -165, Weili +135
  • FanDuel: Suarez -146, Weili +124
  • DraftKings: Suarez -155, Weili +130

UFC 312 predictions: Complete main card

Check out the MMA Junkie predictions for the UFC 312 main card with one staff member believing neither championship will change hands.

UFC 312 expert pick: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland

Check out MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom’s complete breakdown of the main event.

UFC 312 expert pick: Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez

Check out MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom’s complete breakdown of the co-main event.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

Zhang Weili def. Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Zhang Weili’s strawweight title win over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]’s strawweight title win over [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] at UFC 312 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. (Fight and venue photos by UFC, Getty, Reuters)

UFC 312 results: Zhang Weili shuts down Tatiana Suarez to retain title

Zhang Weili shut down Tatiana Suarez and reminded the world why she’s the UFC strawweight champion.

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] is still champion after UFC 312.

In the co-main event Saturday at Qudos Bank Center in Sydney, Weili (26-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) largely shut down first-time challenger [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] and retained her strawweight title via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).

Suarez (11-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) found success early, as she took down Zhang early in the first round. While Suarez controlled much of the round, Zhang reversed position late.

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In Round 2, Zhang brought Suarez’s momentum to a screeching halt. She took Suarez down and controlled her on the canvas. The success continued into Round 3 when Zhang rocked and wobbled Suarez badly with right hand.

The championship rounds were all Zhang, who utilized her grappling to become the first opponent to take Suarez down in the UFC. Suarez seemed rattled by a gigantic gash on her right knee, as she asked fiancee Patchy Mix in the corner how bad the cut was. Zhang held Suarez down in Round 5 and cruised to another victory as champion.

With the victory, Zhang, 35, has won five fights in a row and extends her current title defense streak to three. Her current reign is her second stint as champion.

Suarez, 34, loses for the first time in her pro MMA career. Despite a career riddled with injuries and other adversities, Suarez continued to march toward the top prior to Saturday’s setback.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 312 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

‘Greatest female in the world’: Fighters react to Zhang Weili’s title defense vs. Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312

The MMA community reacted to Zhang Weili’s one-sided title defense against Tatiana Suarez in the UFC 312 co-main event.

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] has dispelled who many thought to be the biggest threat to her strawweight title reign in the form of [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] at UFC 312.

Weili (26-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) continued her rule over the 115-pound weight class when she halted the run of the previously unbeaten and highly touted Suarez (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) by one-sided unanimous decision in Saturday’s co-headliner at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

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Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Weili’s title defense over Suarez at UFC 312.

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UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 preview show live stream with Farah Hannoun

Before the fights get underway, join MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun for a live-streamed preview of UFC 312 in Sydney.

UFC 312 goes down Saturday night with two championship fights atop the bill, and before the fights get underway, Farah Hannoun will host a live-streamed preview show right here at 5 p.m. ET.

The main event features a rematch between middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) roughly a year after Du Plessis claimed the 185-pound title with a split decision win over Strickland. And in the co-main event, strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) puts her title on the line against [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC).

UFC 312 (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+) takes place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Below is the full UFC 312 lineup:

UFC 312 main card (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland – for middleweight title
  • Champ Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez – for women’s strawweight title
  • Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira
  • Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute
  • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado

UFC 312 preliminary card (ESPNews/Disney+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos
  • Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Tom Nolan
  • Bruna Brasil vs. Wang Cong
  • Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria

UFC 312 preliminary card (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Kody Steele vs. Rong Zhu
  • Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef
  • Anshul Jubli vs. Quillan Salkilld

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

What time is Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez fight? Walkouts for UFC 312 co-main event

Here’s when to expect Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez to make their cage walks for their title fight at UFC 312.

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] and [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] are set to throw down in the octagon. This strawweight championship bout scheduled for five rounds is taking place Saturday, Feb. 8 (Sunday locally) at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Weili (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is going for the third consecutive defense of her second title reign. In her previous two fights, she’s defeated Amanda Lemos and Yan Xiaonan by unanimous decisions.

Suarez (10-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has been considered a future champion since early in her career, which has been marred by injuries, and she finally gets her chance to prove it. Suarez most recently submitted Jessica Andrade by second-round guillotine choke in August 2023.

Here are the walkout times for the UFC 312 co-main event between Weili and Suarez.

When does the UFC 312 fight card start?

The UFC 312 lineup consists of 12 fights. Early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET, prelims at 8 p.m. ET, and the pay-per-view main card at 10 p.m. ET.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez walkout time

  • As the co-main event, Weili and Suarez are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 12 a.m. ET.
  • The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

UFC 312: Zhang vs. Suarez odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 312 odds between Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 5-round women’s strawweight championship bout on the main card, Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez meet at UFC 312 Saturday at Qudos Banks Arena in Sydney, Australia. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 312: Zhang vs. Suarez odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET (Disney+/ESPN+), with the prelims starting at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / Disney+ / ESPN+). The main card is on pay-per-view starting at 10 p.m. ET.

Records: Zhang (25-3-0) | Suarez (11-0-0)

Zhang defended her title with a unanimous-decision win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300. She has a pair of victories via unanimous decision, with 4 straight wins since losing the belt to Rose Namajunas at UFC 268 via split decision. She has ended up going the distance in 3 of her past 5 fights, with a submission win over Carla Esparza to win the belt back at UFC 281.

Suarez is in her first title fight at the UFC level. She won a title fight against Amanda Cooper at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale via Round 1 submission, after taking down Kate Jackson via the same method in the opening round in the TUF 23 Semifinal.

In 6 fights at the UFC level, she has 3 wins via submission, a KO/TKO over Esparza, and a pair of unanimous-decision victories.

The 35-year-old Zhang is a switch-stance fighter, while the 34-year-old Brazilian is a southpaw with a 3-inch reach advantage. Zhang has a 5.66-to-4.27 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, although Suarez has a 71.92% significant strikes accuracy percentage, to just 62.21% for Zhang.

Suarez is outstanding in takedown average, posting a 6.20 mark, to just 2.51 for Zhang. Suarez is more accurate on takedowns, too, posting a 61.36% mark, to just 46.30% for the champ. In submission average, Suarez has a 0.92-to-0.50 advantage, as well.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 312: Zhang vs. Suarez odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Zhang +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Suarez -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 3.5 rounds (Over -150 | Under +115)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +120 | No -160)

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UFC 312: Zhang vs. Suarez picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Zhang (+105) has the experience, but it’s time for SUAREZ (-140) to shine Down Under.

The American has wins over the division’s best, including former division champs Jessica Andrade, Esparza and Alexa Grasso.

Early on in her UFC career, Suarez has proven to be very versatile, and she should use that 3-inch reach advantage to push and pull the champ in and out at her choosing. If Suarez can get this fight to the mat, we’re going to have a new champ.

With 3 submission wins in the past 5 fights, let’s go with that method. SUAREZ BY KO/TKO, DQ OR SUBMISSION (+175) is a strong play at plus-money on the 5-way line, and SUAREZ BY SUBMISSION (+225) is a good play on the 7-way line if you want to drop the KO part and get more specific for an even larger payoff.

Over/Under (O/U)

Let’s roll the dice on the UNDER 3.5 ROUNDS (+115) at plus-money. Suarez has ended up going the distance twice in 6 fights at the UFC level.

NO (-160): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is the much more conservative play, but it isn’t priced out of line, and it is a good bet if you’d like a lot more wiggle room.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.

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UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 watch-along live stream with MMA Junkie Radio

Join MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” for a live-streamed watch-along of UFC 312 in Sydney.

UFC 312 goes down Saturday night with two championship fights atop the bill, and MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” will host a live-streamed watch-along for the main card right here at 10 p.m. ET.

The main event features a rematch between middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) roughly a year after Du Plessis claimed the 185-pound title with a split decision win over Strickland. And in the co-main event, strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) puts her title on the line against [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC).

UFC 312 (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+) takes place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Below is the lineup of fights included in the watch-along:

UFC 312 main card (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland – for middleweight title
  • Champ Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez – for women’s strawweight title
  • Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira
  • Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute
  • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez prediction, pick: Will title change hands at UFC 312?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth on the UFC 312 co-main event women’s strawweight title fight in Sydney.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC 312 co-main event title fight between women’s strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] and [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag].

Zhang Weili UFC 312 preview

Zhang Weili

Staple info:

  • Record: 25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC
  • Height: 5’4″ Age: 35 Weight: 115 lbs. Reach: 63″
  • Last fight: Decision win over Yan Xiaonan (April 13, 2024)
  • Camp: Bang Tao Muay Thai (Thailand)
  • Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
  • Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:
+ UFC strawweight champion
+ Wushu sanda background
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 11 knockout victories
+ 8 submission wins
+ 11 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Explosive athlete
+ Wide variation of striking arsenal
^ From fundamentals to spinning attacks
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Elbows, knees, trips, tosses
+ Improved wrestling and scrambling
+ Good transitional grappling from topside
+/- 1-0 against UFC-level southpaws

Tatiana Suarez UFC 312 preview

Tatiana Suarez

Staple info:

  • 11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC
  • Height: 5’5″ Age: 34 Weight: 115 lbs. Reach: 66″
  • Last fight: Submission win over Jessica Andrade (Aug. 5, 2023)
  • Camp: Xtreme Couture MMA (Las Vegas)
  • Stance/striking style: Southpaw/kickboxing
  • Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:
+ “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 23 winner
+ Accoladed wrestling background
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 2 KO victories
+ 6 submission wins
+ 4 first-round finishes
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Steadily improving southpaw striking
+ Strong inside of the clinch
^ Knees, trips and tosses
+ Excellent wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Good transitional grappler
+ Solid submission acumen
^ Works well from front-headlock

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez point of interest: Looming threats

Zhang Weili

The co-main event in Australia features a strawweight title fight between two women who are looking to put a stamp on this division.

Annointned as the “Khabib of Women’s MMA,” [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] is a dominant force who has seemingly been destined to compete for gold in the UFC for quite some time now. And though Suariez’s striking has often been characterized as a means to an end on her come-up, the American standout has shown some measurable strides since her injury layoff of nearly four years.

Now working with coach Nate Pettit at Xtreme Couture MMA, Suarez is showing a lot of the standard tools that no southpaw should leave home without.

From teep to Thai kick change-ups from the rear to an underrated southpaw jab as her lead, Suarez possesses the basic building materials when it comes to managing distance and putting some proverbial money in the bank.

I wouldn’t mind seeing more check hooks and committed crosses from Suarez, but I’m not sure how much she’ll want to strike with an explosive force like [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag].

Though listed as a fighter who hails from a wushu sanda background, Zhang continues to add to her striking arsenal as her MMA career continues.

The current strawweight champion can come forward aggressively but ultimately prefers staying light on her feet, all while using feints to open up kicks and hooking combinations.

Like many sanda practitioners, Zhang is not shy in using spinning attacks when the positions call for it. Whether she’s corralling her opponents into turning sidekicks or countering outside-foot approaches with spinning backfists, the 35-year-old seems confident striking from multiple roles and ranges.

However, outside of a natural feel for distance and the occasional slip off the center, Zhang has shown that she is not beyond being stung by hard counters during her aggressive engagements – particularly when throwing kicks.

For that reason, I’ll be curious to see if the current champion shelves any of her kicks considering the looming takedown threats from the challenger.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez breakdown: Winning the wrestling

Tatiana Suarez

Since grappling is an undeniable crux to the challenger’s game, winning the wrestling will be paramount for both parties this Saturday.

An accoladed wrestler from her days in high school to the worldwide stage, Suarez is no stranger when it comes to closed-quarter combat. Although Suarez is more than capable of timing and taking shots in the open, she arguably does her best takedown work when chaining to and from clinching positions.

Once in clinch space, Suarez has excellent wrestling chains she goes to like second nature. Whether she’s snapping down opponents into front-headlock positions or snatching up single-legs on the fly, Suarez seldom seems at a loss for ideas in transition.

Still, Suarez will need to be careful to not hang out too long should she fail on any takedown attempts.

As we saw in her first title-winning effort in Shenzhen, China, Zhang possesses the power to demolish durable opposition with hard knees and elbows within close quarters.

The champion’s sanda background also comes in handy when hanging out in this space, showing the ability to hit slick trips and takedowns at the drop of a dime.

Since then, Zhang has upgraded her wrestling chops by working with talents like Henry Cejudo to the Hickman brothers (who operate out of Bang Tao Muay Thai). Now, it is not uncommon for Zhang to hit competent wrestling chains in open space, almost as if it were second nature.

Zhang has also shown some strides when it comes to her defensive instincts, demonstrating everything form strong sprawls to a more urgent scrambling game from bottom. Since shifting her training camp few years back, Zhang has also been working on her jiu-jitsu with Josh Hinger, who I’m sure has the champ well prepared for this weekend.

However, despite Zhang being an athletic back-taker to boot, “Magnum” will need to be mindful when it comes to the openings that her aggressive nature presents.

Not only is Suarez an accoladed wrestler, but the current title challenger is also a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has clearly fallen in love with the submission game.

From lights-out front chokes to crushing RNCs, Suarez can make major hay off of opponents who use high underhook getups or turtle positions in an attempt to scramble back to their feet.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez odds

Despite the oddsmakers opening the champion as the favorite, public money has pushed this betting line to pick’em odds, listing Suarez -113 and Zhang -113 via FanDuel.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez prediction, pick

Tatiana Suarez

Regardless of how we got here, I can’t say that I disagree with the spread above considering how compelling this matchup is.

Saurez has been preordained to rule over this division according to some, while Zhang, on the other hand, has the athleticism and talent to make a case for pound-for-pound greatness should her trajectory stay the course.

I’m not sure if Round 1 will decide the fight, but it will certainly clock in as the most white-knuckle frame given each fighter’s history to come out hot. I give Zhang a slight edge in the early going, but believe that the Chinese champ could find herself in precarious positions the longer this fight goes.

Even though Zhang is the more proven party when it comes to five-round affairs, she has shown a propensity – in both victory and defeat – to slow down and drop rounds due to her inherent aggression.

Whereas Suarez, when healthy, appears to be one of those grapplers with an endless gas tank who gets better as the fight wears on. And whether I’m right about that assumption or not, Suarez has shown the hardwiring to counter everything from kicks to inside trips.

Not only are those crucial tools in the current champion’s repertoire, but Zhang has traditionally struggled with fighters who could counter her in these specific spots.

For that reason (along with Zhang’s inherent aggression), I will be picking the challenger this weekend. Unless Zhang can seriously hurt or finish her American counterpart early, then I suspect that Suarez will be able to force her win conditions by the middle rounds to become to new strawweight champion via submission.

Prediction: Suarez inside the distance

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez start time, where to watch

As the co-main event, Weili and Suarez are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:45 p.m. ET. The fight airs via ESPN+ pay-per-view.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.