The UFC officially unveiled the main and co-main events for UFC 312 as the Octagon returns to Sydney, Australia on February 9.
During the live broadcast of UFC 310 in Las Vegas, lead commentator Jon Anik revealed the two matchups, with the main event featuring a world title rematch in the middleweight division.
South Africa’s reigning 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis will face America’s former champion Sean Strickland in a championship rematch after Du Plessis edged a split decision verdict to dethrone Strickland at UFC 297 back in January 2024.
Now the pair are booked to face off again, 13 months removed from that first meeting, as Strickland looks to bounce back to the belt following his split-decision victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June.
Du Plessis, meanwhile, faced off against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and submitted “The Last Stylebender” with a fourth-round face crank after a hugely impressive performance as he cemented himself at the top of the UFC’s 185-pound class.
We’re taking TWO title fights down under 🦘🏆@DricusDuPlessis vs @SStricklandMMA 2
Zhang WeilI vs @TatianaUFC #UFC312 | 🎟️ Tickets on sale next week! pic.twitter.com/OotLiAGBCq— UFC (@ufc) December 8, 2024
Their rematch will headline UFC 312, and will be preceded by a mouthwatering championship clash in the women’s strawweight division, as reigning champion Zhang Weili puts her 115-pound title on the line against top contender Tatiana Suarez.
Suarez has been earmarked for strawweight greatness for years, but injury and inactivity have hampered her progress. But now, after back-to-back submission wins in 2023, and a year off to get back to full fitness in 2024, Suarez is ready to return, and will make her comeback in a five-round title challenge against Zhang in Sydney.
The last time we saw Zhang inside the Octagon was back at UFC 300 in April, where she claimed a unanimous decision win over compatriot Yan Xiaonan in Las Vegas. Now she’ll face undefeated opposition in the form of Suarez in a bout that could offer an acid test of her wrestling and grappling abilities.
