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A middleweight title rematch headlines UFC 312 this weekend, as Dricus Du Plessis defends the gold against the man he dethroned: Sean Strickland.
In January 2024, Du Plessis took the title from Strickland via split decision, winning a brutal encounter in Canada. Now the pair prepare to meet in Australia, as Strickland looks to end Du Plessis’s historic reign.
Du Plessis’s victory over the controversial American made him South Africa’s first UFC champion, and that result gave way to a submission of former title holder Israel Adesanya in August. Meanwhile, Strickland bounced back in June, outpointing Paulo Costa to earn a rematch with Du Plessis.
That rematch follows Saturday’s co-main event, a strawweight title fight between Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez. Zhang is two years into her second reign as champion, but Suarez is seen by many as the Chinese star’s toughest opponent yet.
Here’s all you need to know.
When is UFC 312 and what time does it start?
UFC 312 takes place at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday 8 February.
The early prelims will start at 11pm GMT (3pm PT / 5pm CT / 6pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am GMT on Sunday 9 February (5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card then takes place at 3am GMT on Sunday (7pm PT / 9pm CT / 10pm ET on Saturday).
How can I watch UFC 312?
The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
Odds
Du Plessis – 4/9; Strickland – 7/4
Zhang – 10/11; Suarez – 10/11
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Full card (subject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion)
Main card
Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs Sean Strickland 2 (middleweight title)
Zhang Weili (C) vs Tatiana Suarez (women’s strawweight title)
Justin Tafa vs Tallison Teixeira (heavyweight)
Jimmy Crute vs Rodolfo Bellato (light-heavyweight)
Jake Matthews vs Francisco Prado (welterweight)
Prelims
Jack Jenkins vs Gabriel Santos (featherweight)
Tom Nolan vs Viacheslav Borshchev (lightweight)
Wang Cong vs Bruna Brasil (women’s flyweight)
Colby Thicknesse vs Aleksandre Topuria (bantamweight)
Early prelims
Jonathan Micallef vs Kevin Jousset (welterweight)
Quillan Salkilld vs Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
Hyunsung Park vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (flyweight)
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