Tag: UFC 312

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 312 co-main event

Oddsmakers are favoring Zhang Weili to defend gold and hand Tatiana Suarez her first loss at UFC 312.

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] will look to hand [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] her first loss in the UFC 312 co-main event.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez preview

Since dominating Carla Esparza to recapture the strawweight title at UFC 281 in November 2022, Weili has defended her title two times with unanimous decision wins over Amanda Lemos and Yan Xiaonan.

Suarez will earn her first-career title shot after going unbeaten in the octagon – including wins over former champions Esparza, Alexa Grasso, and Jessica Andrade. She was scheduled to face Virna Jandiroba at UFC 310, but the bout was scrapped due to undisclosed reasons.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez odds

Despite Suarez’s dominance in the octagon, oddsmakers are favoring Weili to retain her title. According to FanDuel, Weili is a moderate -225 favorite over standout wrestler Suarez, who’s a +172 underdog.

How to watch Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312

  • When: Saturday, February 8, 2025
  • Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
  • Broadcast/streaming: ESPN+ pay-per-view

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

UFC 312’s Dricus Du Plessis: Sean Strickland has no problem being ‘boring’

UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis isn’t fond of Sean Strickland’s fight style ahead of their UFC 312 rematch.

UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] isn’t fond of [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]’s fight style.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will run things back with Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in a title-fight rematch which headlines UFC 312 on Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Although their first meeting at UFC 297 earned Fight of the Night, Du Plessis says that was no thanks to Strickland. The South African didn’t rate Strickland’s rebound win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 too highly, either.

“Nothing’s changed, he looked boring like every other fight, walking forward jabbing and teeping – it wasn’t an exciting fight,” Du Plessis told Fox Sports Australia. “It wasn’t a bad performance, it was the most normal performance from him ever.

“In our fight, I remember there was a stage in the fight where I was walking forward, but he just kept moving away and I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to stand here, maybe he gets the confidence to walk forward and we can punch it out.’ He just dropped his hands a little, and said, ‘Cool.’ He has no problem with the crowd booing his fighting style. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have that in me.”

Du Plessis initially wanted Khamzat Chimaev next, but prior to Chimaev running through Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, he was willing to run things back with Strickland after many called their first fight a robbery.

“I was 100 percent keen on the Strickland rematch the whole time,” Du Plessis said. “Everybody now says they wanted the Khamzat fight, but the same fans were the ones that called for the Strickland rematch as well up until Khamzat had the performance against Rob that he did.

“I honestly felt that the Strickland rematch was warranted, great let’s do it, and then after that Khamzat fight, that was the fight I wanted, and I think 90 percent of fans wanted. The UFC promised Strickland the fight so, this time they delivered on their promise.”

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

Dricus Du Plessis reveals how close Khamzat Chimaev came to getting UFC 312 title shot

Dricus Du Plessis discusses how Sean Strickland came to receive a title shot over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 312.

UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] claims [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] was in consideration for his next title defense.

Instead, Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will run things back with [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in the UFC 312 headliner Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) was touted as the potential No. 1 contender when he quickly submitted former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. Du Plessis was excited about the opportunity to hand Chimaev his first loss but acknowledges that fans were previously eager to see him fight Strickland again after their tightly contested affair at UFC 297.

“The Khamzat fight would have been a lot bigger in my opinion and more exciting,” Du Plessis told Fox Sports Australia. “I haven’t done it before. I haven’t seen it before. He’s unbeaten, but Strickland is an absolute beast in the octagon. This fight’s going to be a banger again, and I can’t wait.”

So, was Du Plessis ever offered Chimaev by the UFC?

“It was on the table, for sure,” Du Plessis said. “We talked about it, but it wasn’t from my side or from his side where the fight didn’t happen. I think there was some issues with the UFC and Khamzat, I’m not sure. And timing.

“I think timing also played a big role. But there were conversations, and I said that’s the fight that I want, so let’s do it, and they couldn’t make it happen. So, Strickland is the fight they did.”

If Du Plessis gets past Strickland again, he’ll have his sights set on Chimaev.

“Rumor has it that Khamzat will be in attendance for the fight against Strickland now on the 8th of February,” Du Plessis said. “I don’t know how true that is, but if that’s the case, I guess that’s going to be the next fight. I’m going to beat Sean Strickland, and then Khamzat will be next.”

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

Chael Sonnen expects Sean Strickland ‘to fight better’ in Dricus Du Plessis rematch at UFC 312

Chael Sonnen sees Sean Strickland coming out with an extra fire in the rematch against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] sees [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] coming out with an extra fire at UFC 312.

Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) runs things back with middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Feb. 8 headliner at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

Strickland lost his middleweight title to Du Plessis by split decision in a competitive back-and-forth contest at UFC 297. Strickland is adamant that he won the fight, but Sonnen disagrees.

“If there has ever been a guy that turns out to be one heck of a lot better than I knew he was, it’s Dricus Du Plessis,” Sonnen said on “Good Guy/Bad Guy” with Daniel Cormier. “The other side of that coin, Sean Strickland has talked himself up very much and has a high level of confidence because he believes he beat him the first time. He believes he dominated him. That’s not what I saw.

“As a matter of fact, I’m not sure Sean didn’t lose all five rounds on my scorecard. Very close, real tight, but at the end of it, if you got to go a 10-9, I’m not sure I didn’t give them all to Dricus. The only reason I’m saying this is I don’t want Sean to necessarily fall for what he’s believing. I want him to study this guy, I want him to have a different game plan for this guy, I want him to really take Dricus serious.”

With Strickland now the hunter not the hunted, Sonnen thinks that will bring out extra added motivation from him.

“I do believe, Sean Strickland, when he was the champion of the world, did not care, or at least that’s what he was saying,” Sonnen continued. “The moment he lost that belt, boy that care meter went through the roof. And I do believe Sean is going to fight better trying to re-gain something than to defend something. That’s my own belief, but that’s the fight to make. Winner draws in (Khamzat) Chimaev, I can drink to that.”

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

Robert Whittaker: Khamzat Chimaev beats UFC 312 headliners Dricus Du Plessis, Sean Strickland

Robert Whittaker doesn’t see how Dricus Du Plessis or Sean Strickland could stop Khamzat Chimaev’s grappling.

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] doesn’t see how [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] or [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] can stop [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]’s grappling.

Middleweight champion Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will rematch Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in the UFC 312 main event Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who ran through Whittaker for a first-round submission at UFC 308 in October, is expected to face the winner.

Whittaker had his teeth crushed by Chimaev’s face crank when they clashed, and the former champ doesn’t see Du Plessis or Strickland being able to stop Chimaev’s first explosive takedown.

“I think he just takes them down and does the same thing, like not necessarily to me but how he beat (Kamaru) Usman or how he beat Gilbert Burns,” Whittaker said on his “MMArcade Podcast.” “I can see those sort of fights.

“I think he’d have more success with Strickland than Du Plessis just because Du Plessis is like a big dude. Stopping that first takedown is so crazy. The way he shoots that first shot is crazy. How do you stop that dude? Jump over him?”

Du Plessis edged Strickland by split decision in their first meeting at UFC 297. Despite it being a close contest, Whittaker doesn’t think Strickland can make the adjustments to avenge his loss.

“In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different,” Whittaker said. “Du Plessis is such a dog in there. He’s going to come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome than last time?”

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

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 312 main event

Dricus Du Plessis is a slight favorite to beat Sean Strickland in their UFC 312 title rematch.

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] will look to leave no doubt when he runs things back with [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] in the UFC 312 main event.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland preview

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) dethroned Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) by split decision to claim the middleweight title at UFC 297 last January – a result Strickland has protested ever since.

Since then, Du Plessis retained his title with a fourth-round submission of former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August.

Strickland, meanwhile, rebounded from his title loss with a unanimous decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June. He opted to wait for his opportunity at a rematch and will get his wish.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland odds

Odds suggest we could be looking at another tightly contested matchup. According to DraftKings, Du Plessis is a slight -130 favorite over Strickland, who’s listed as a +110 underdog.

How to watch Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland at UFC 312

  • When: Saturday, February 8, 2025 (February 9 locally)
  • Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
  • Broadcast/streaming: ESPN+ pay-per-view

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

Overreaction Time: Alexandre Pantoja and Shavkat Rakhmonov elite? Colby Covington in danger, more!

Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” on what happened at UFC 310 and what’s to come at UFC 311, UFC 312 and UFC Tampa.

The time for overreacting is here!

Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” at noon ET/9 a.m. PT as host Simon Samano and MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn debate these “overreactions” on the following topics in mixed martial arts:

  • UFC 310: [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] will STILL be flyweight champion at the end of 2025.
  • UFC 310: [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag]’s title reign is up next.
  • Shavkat Rakhmonov and [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] WILL meet again for the UFC welterweight title.
  • UFC 311: [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] SHOULD BE the main event over [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag].
  • UFC 311: Umar being favored over Merab is NUTS!
  • UFC 312: [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] getting a title shot over [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] is BULLSH*T.
  • A [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] rematch is a GREAT idea.
  • UFC Tampa: [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] won’t just beat [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag], he’ll knock him out!

Watch the full episode in the video above.

Dricus Du Plessis preferred Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 312 over Sean Strickland rematch

If it was up to Dricus Du Plessis, he’d be defending his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 312.

If it was up to [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag], he’d be defending his UFC middleweight title against [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag].

Instead, Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will run things back with [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in the UFC 312 headliner Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

Du Plessis narrowly defeated Strickland by split decision to capture the middleweight title at UFC 297 last January. In the year since, Strickland has maintained he was robbed by the judges and should’ve kept the belt.

Strickland was declared No. 1 contender after rebounding with a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June, and Du Plessis obliged – even though he disagrees with the matchmaking.

“Just for clarification I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs. Whittaker,” Du Plessis wrote on X. I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision. Like I said, I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy. He was promised the fight so Strickland it is.”

Du Plessis saw Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) as a more intriguing challenge after the unbeaten contender ran through former champion Robert Whittaker by first-round submission in October.

When a fan on X suggested Chimaev would beat both UFC 312 headliners, Du Plessis was quick to snap back:

“He can’t even beat his own immune system.”

After dethroning Strickland to start the year, Du Plessis notched his first title defense with a fourth-round submission of former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August.

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

UFC 312 gets two title fights in Sydney – including a rematch

The UFC’s return to Australia in February will be top-heavy with a pair of title fights.

The UFC’s return to Australia in February will be top-heavy with a pair of title fights.

Middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) wanted a title defense against Khamzat Chimaev, but instead it will be a rematch against former champ [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC), whom he beat to win the title earlier this year.

In addition, women’s strawweight titleholder [autotag]Weili Zhang[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will take on challenger [autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) – who went from a fight against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 310 that was scrapped to a title shot.

UFC officials announced the bouts during Saturday’s UFC 310 pay-per-view broadcast. UFC 312 takes place Feb. 9 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Du Plessis, from South Africa, took a split decision from Strickland in a Fight of the Night winner at UFC 297 in January in Toronto. In Australia in August, he submitted former champ Israel Adesanya in the fourh round of a big grudge match.

Many thought he’d get Chimaev for his next defense, but Strickland retained the title shot he was promised after a split call win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June.

Zhang, a two-time champion, won the belt back a little more than two years ago against Carla Esparza. She defended it with a decision win over Amanda Lemos in August 2023, then one over fellow Chinese fighter Yan Xiaonan in April.

Suarez, the Season 23 winner of “The Ultimate Fighter,” has been perfect in her career so far. She has back-to-back submission wins over Montana De La Rosa (at flyweight) and former champ Jessica Andrade, both of which were good for $50,000 bonuses. Those wins came in 2023 after a layoff of nearly four years. She was set to fight Jandiroba at UFC 310 this week, but withdrew.

The latest UFC 312 lineup now includes:

  • Champ Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland – for middleweight title
  • Champ Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez – for women’s strawweight title
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio
  • Anshul Jubli vs. Quillan Salkilld
  • Stewart Nicoll vs. Rei Tsuruya

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

First three bouts announced for UFC 312 in Australia

The UFC has announced the first three bouts for its pay-per-view return to Sydney in February.

The UFC 312 fight card ball is officially rolling as the UFC on Monday announced the first three bouts for its pay-per-view return to Sydney, Australia on Feb. 8.

Australia’s [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag] returns to the octagon for the first time since July 2023 to take on [autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag] at light heavyweight. Additionally, undefeated flyweight prospect Rei Tsuruya meets Stewart Nicoll, and [autotag]Quillan Salkilld[/autotag] fights [autotag] Anshul Jubli[/autotag] at lightweight.

UFC 312 is scheduled to go down at Qudos Bank Arena. The event marks the second of three pay-per-views as part of a deal between the promotion and New South Wales Government in May 2023 to bring three premium events to Sydney between 2023 and 2027.

The first event of that deal was UFC 293 in September 2023. That card was headlined by Sean Strickland’s title fight upset over then-champion Israel Adesanya. The card was the first in Sydney since 2017.

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