The UFC returns down under as plenty of Aussie fighters are aiming to shine, while two long-awaited title fights take place. The Main Event sees Dricus Du Plessis making his second 185-pound title defence in a rematch against the #1 Middleweight contender, Sean Strickland. The Co-Main Event showcases a Strawweight title bout between the defending champion, Zhang Weili, going up against the #1 contender, Tatiana Suarez. Here is everything you need to know before all the action at UFC 312 begins.
early prelims
Quillan Salkilld vs Anshul Jubli (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Salkilld makes his UFC debut in his home country after earning a contract in the organisation through Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) when he defeated Gauge Young by unanimous decision. The Australian has stopped five of his seven conquered opponents with two wins ending by KO/TKO and three by submission. Despite a loss on his MMA debut, Salkilld is on a seven-fight winning streak and plans to carry his momentum into the UFC.
Jubli last fought back in October 2023 where he suffered a third-round knockout loss to Mike Breeden at UFC 294. The King of Lions has taken most of his victories to the judges scorecards, but is still a danger whether it is on the feet or ground. The Indian fighter will be looking for redemption in Sydney as he tries to get back to winning ways in his third UFC bout.
Jonathan Micallef vs Kevin Jousset (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Micallef makes his first appearance in the UFC after he was awarded a contract from DWCS when he stopped Mohamed Ado by first-round submission. The Captain does not often take fights to the distance with three of his victories ending by submission and two by KO/TKO. The Australian is currently on a two-fight winning streak with two consecutive first-round submissions as he aims to impress in front of his home crowd.
Jousset suffered his first loss in the UFC after losing by second-round TKO against Bryan Battle at UFC Paris. The Frenchman has stopped six of his 10 vanquished opponents, defeating five of them by KO/TKO as he is not an easy fighter to deal with on the feet. Jousset was previously on a five-fight winning streak as he aims to redeem himself and get back in the win column.
Rongzhu vs Kody Steele (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Rongzhu made a return to the UFC in his last bout, but was unsuccessful as he was defeated by Doctor Stoppage in the second round against Chris Padilla at UFC Vegas 97. The Chinese mixed martial artists does not often go the distance in his battles with 15 wins ending by KO/TKO and six by submission. Rongzhu has only won one out of four UFC bouts so this fight in the Qudos Bank Arena could be vital for his MMA career.
Steele is undefeated in MMA and makes his debut at UFC 312 after earning a UFC contract through DWCS with a second-round TKO win over Chasen Blair. The Port Angeles-born fighter's last four victories have ended by KO/TKO, making him a difficult opponent to stand up with. Steele will be looking to make a good first impression in Sydney with another stoppage win to his MMA record.
preliminary card
Colby Thicknesse vs Aleksandre Topuria (UFC Bantamweight Bout) - Thicknesse makes his debut at UFC 312 with a perfect record of five wins and no losses after winning his last bout by first-round TKO against Marvin Malunes at Hex Fight Series 33. Slicknesse has earned the same amount of KO/TKO and submission wins in his four-year professional career, claiming two-a-piece. The Australian Bantamweight will be aiming to keep his undefeated record, while having former UFC Featherweight Champion, Alexander Volkanovski, in his corner.
Topuria last fought in May 2023 where he secured a first-round knockout win over Johan Segas at Way of Warriors FC, earning himself a position in the UFC. El Conquistador has finished every fighter he has faced with two submissions and three knockouts, all ending in the first round. The Georgian will be cornered by his brother and current UFC Featherweight Champion, Ilia Topuria, as he wants to continue shining and maintain his 100% finish rate.
Wang Cong vs Bruna Brasil (UFC Women's Flyweight Bout) - Cong suffered her first loss in MMA in her home country when she was stopped by a second-round submission against Gabriella Fernandes at UFC Macau. The Joker shares two KO/TKO wins and two submission victories as she never wants to take a fight to the judges scorecards. Cong has gradually become a favourite to UFC fans and there will be plenty of the Australian corwd rooting for her to redeem herself.
Brasil put herself back in the win column after defeating Molly McCann in enemy territory with an unanimous decision win at UFC 304 in Manchester. The Special One has 10 wins on her MMA record, with half of those victories ending with a finish, three by KO/TKO and two by submission. Brasil steps up to the UFC Flyweight division for the first time as she sets herself a challenge which will be hugely beneficial if she succeeds.
Tom Nolan vs Viacheslav Borshchev (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Nolan is on a two-fight winning streak with his last bout ending by unanimous decision against Alex Reyes at UFC 305. The Big Train is a knockout artist who likes to stop his opponents early on into the fight, claiming five KO/TKO victories with four of those ending in the first round. The Aussie is continuing to build his momentum and grab another victory in his second consecutive PPV event.
Borshchev did just enough to earn redemption at the UFC APEX when he defeated James Llontop by split decision at UFC Vegas 96. Slava Claus likes to keep the fight one the feet and make it a brawl as out of eight MMA wins, six of them have ended by KO/TKO. The Russian Lightweight has niot been on a winning streak since January 2022 so a win in Sydney would mean a lot to him.
Jack Jenkins vs Gabriel Santos (UFC Featherweight Bout) - Jenkins came back with a bang to redeem himself in front of his home fans when he secured a third-round TKO win against Herbert Burns at UFC 305. Fighting out of Victoria, Phar does not often go the distance with his opponents as he has claimed nine stoppage wins in his MMA career with six by KO/TKO and three by submission. Before his loss at UFC 293, Jenkins was on a nine-fight winning streak, so another Australian UFC PPV win will certainly help him start another successful run of form.
Santos claimed his first UFC victory at UFC Vegas 97 when he went the distance with Yizha to earn an unanimous decision win. Out of 11 wins in his professional career, Mosquitinho has four submission triumphs and three KO/TKO wins as he makes the most of his stoppages. Like his opponent, the Brazilian will be aiming to start a winning streak after he originally lost his first one on his UFC debut, earning 10 wins-in-a-row.
main card
Jake Matthews vs Francisco Prado (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Matthews went back in the win column after defeating Phil Rowe by unanimous decision at UFC 302. The UFC Veteran has had 20 wins in his 27-fight career, eight of those triumphs have ended by submission while five have been stopped by KO/TKO. The Celtic Kid has been struggling to earn a winning streak since 2020 as he hopes to shine in his home country.
Prado suffered his second loss in his third fight with the MMA organisation, losing to Daniel Zellhuber by unanimous decision at UFC Mexico City. The Argentinian does not fail to impress when he wins as all of his victories have ended with a stoppage, six by KO/TKO and submission. Prado is making his UFC Welterweight debut shock the division with an astonishing stoppage win in enemy territroy.
Jimmy Crute vs Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight Bout) - Crute has been on an unfortunate run in his last four fights, three losses and one draw, with his last bout ending with a second-round submission defeat to Alonzo Menifield at UFC 290. The Australian Light Heavyweight has not gone the distance when he has been victorious in the UFC, earning nine stoppage wins in his MMA career with eight of those finishing in the first round. Crute is in desperate need of redemption as he will try to find a way to please his home crowd.
Bellato made his UFC debut in his last fight and certainly made it a good one when he defeated Ihor Potieria by second-round TKO at UFC Austin. Trator has finished 11 of his 12 conquered opponents with seven ending by KO/TKO and four by submission, proving to be a threat in all areas. The Brazilian is currently on a four-fight winning streak as he does not seem to be slowing down in his career, despite having his last fight back in December 2023.
Justin Tafa vs Tallison Teixeira (UFC Heavyweight Bout) - Tafa had his four-fight unbeaten streak snapped when he suffered an unanimous decision defeat to Karl Williams at UFC Vegas 89. Bad Man only had one way of winning, and that is by knockout as all of his seven victories have ended by KO/TKO. In Tafa's last two appearances in an Australian UFC PPV event, both fights ended with a first-round knockout win as he is hoping for the same luck in Sydney.
Teixeira is an undefeated Heavyweight who will be making his debut at UFC 312 after earning a contract from DWCS when he stopped Arthur Lopes by first-round TKO. Just like his opponent, Xicao has finished every opponent he has defeated, earning six KO/TKO wins and one submission victory which have all ended in the first round. With such an impressive record, Teixeira will be aiming to increase his perfect MMA record and ruin his opponent's homecoming.
Zhang Weili vs Tatiana Suarez (UFC Women's Strawweight Title Bout) - Weili last defended her Strawweight title at UFC 300 when she went in a wild five-round war with Yan Xiaonan to win by unanimous decision. Magnum has looked unstoppable throughout her career as out of 25 wins, she has stopped eighteen of her opponents and has only been stopped once herself with the three losses on her MMA record. The Queen of the 115-pound division is looking to make her fourth successful title defence in the UFC and become the first fighter to defeat her opponent.
Suarez has been struggling to be an active fighter due to injuries, but has come back with impressive performances as her last bout ended with a second-round submission win over former Strawweight Champion, Jessica Andrade, at UFC Nashville. TSP has 11 wins in her MMA career, two of those have ended by KO/TKO and six by submission as she proves to be dangerous on the ground. The #1 contender has an incredible opportunity to become UFC Champion and maintain her undefeated record.
Dricus Du Plessis vs Sean Strickland (UFC Middleweight Title Bout) - Du Plessis proved that he was a true champion in the Middleweight division when he submitted Israel Adesanya in the fourth round at UFC 305. Out of 22 victories, Stillknocks has only gone the distance twice in his career as he has collected nine KO/TKO wins and 11 submission victories. The UFC Middleweight Champion took the throne away from his opponent back at UFC 297 and will aim to repeat the same result, just with a different outcome.
Strickland redeemed his title loss at UFC 302 when he defeated Paulo Costa by split decision at UFC 302, despite many believing it should have been an unanimous decision. The Californian can often have positive results when he goes to the judges scorecards, but in terms of stoppage wins, he has secured 11 KO/TKO wins and four submissions. The #1 contender is looking for revenge in Sydney as he aims to overcome the odds and avenge his title loss so he can become just the second two-time Middleweight Champion in UFC history.
Will it be Repeat or Revenge in the Main Event of UFC 312? Which fight are you looking forward to the most?
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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