The Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) are roaring with great fights for every week. Every week is discovering many talents and creating more exciting events inside the octagon. Similarly, the last ween displayed a tremendous Middleweight clash between two classic UFC fighters Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov, which happened Saudi Arabia. This showdown ended with Nassourdine Imavov knocked out former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. This has made the former champion to take his third loss on a row, and fourth loss in his last five battles. The matchup last week has had many excitements, where it also throwed many disappointments among the Adesanya’s fans. However, the UFC is going to thrill out the audience with many other new events for the forthcoming days.
Israel Adesanya last fought in August 2024 and made a comeback against Nassourdine Imavov after a long hiatus. Adesanya seemed a bit rusty but still managed to secure a win over Imavov. On the other hand, Imavov had an impressive year in 2024, winning all three of his fights and staying in the spotlight. His consistent victories and active presence in the sport helped him tackle the fight with ease. This determination has led Imavov to suffer only one loss in his last eight matchups, prompting him to challenge the former middleweight champion Adesanya to a rematch. Last week’s UFC matchup highlighted that determination in the sport can be more important than experience. This week, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is gearing up for another major event: the highly anticipated clash between rivals Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland at UFC 312 for the Middleweight title.
Dricus du Plessis, also known as DDP, is a South African professional mixed martial artist. Born in Welkom, South Africa, du Plessis developed an interest in MMA at a very young age. He started judo training at the age of five and began developing an interest in wrestling at the age of twelve. This early foundation paved the way for his MMA career, in which he has established a dominant presence in the MMA world. In October 2020, du Plessis made his UFC promotional debut against Markus Perez, winning the battle by knockout. Since then, he has enjoyed a tremendous journey throughout his UFC career, remaining undefeated to date. His most recent UFC showdown was against Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 305, where du Plessis defeated Adesanya by submission. Du Plessis has been a dominant fighter through his impressive techniques and is likely to continue this trend in future showdowns. Hence, we can expect tremendous action from the veteran for this middleweight title.
Meanwhile, Sean Strickland is another prominent name in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Strickland made his UFC debut at UFC 171 in March 2014, battling against Bubba McDaniel. In his first fight, Strickland recorded a submission victory over his opponent. He quickly picked up techniques and skills, continuing to deliver tremendous performances. However, Strickland has experienced some losses in his UFC career. He has been a UFC Middleweight Champion once and has earned the “Performance of the Night” award three times. With these achievements, Strickland enters this clash with determination to add another victory to his career. The year 2024 featured a mix of results for Strickland. His first fight of 2024 against Dricus du Plessis ended in a loss, but Strickland bounced back in his following battle against Paulo Costa, winning the clash by decision. Many believe that Sean Strickland will put on another engaging performance in this rematch.
UFC 312 Event Details:
Main Event: Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2
Date: February 09, 2025 (Sunday)
Time: 08:30 AM GMT, 03:30 AM EST, 02:00 PM IST
Venue: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, Australia
Where to Watch Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2?
UFC 312 remains the first PPV card for February. The UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 will be available on ESPN+ pay-per-view for viewers in the United States. The prelims will be sir on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
The United Kingdom Fans can see the main card on TNT Sports Box Office with early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
DAZN has the rights to broadcast the du Plessis vs. Strickland Showdown worldwide. So, anybody willing to watch the show can tune in to DAZN.
Prepare for an electrifying clash as two formidable warriors, Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, step into the octagon for UFC 312. Don’t miss out on this heart-pounding showdown between these tenacious fighters!
Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland Fight Card
Main Card
Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis (Strickland’s UFC middleweight title)
Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez (Women’s Strawweight Title Bout)
Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira (Heavyweight Bout)
Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight Bout)
Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado (Welterweight Bout)
Prelims
Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos (Featherweight Bout)
Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (Lightweight Bout)
Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil (Women’s Flyweight Bout)
Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria (Bantamweight Bout)
Early Prelims
Jonathan Micallef vs. Kevin Jousset (Welterweight Bout)
Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (Lightweight Bout)
Hyunsung Park vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (Flyweight Bout)
Dricus du Plessis Stats and Bio
Nationality: South African
Age: 31
Height: 6’0″
Reach: 76″
Total Fights: 24
Record: 22-2-0 (9 knockouts)
Sean Strickland Stats and Bio
Nationality: American
Age: 33
Height: 6’1″
Reach: 76″
Total Fights: 35
Record: 29-6-0 (11 knockouts)
Predictions:
Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland
This clash between the two fierce rivals, Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, is likely to set the octagon on fire and keep fans on the edge of their seats until the very last minute. Dricus du Plessis is currently riding a wave of ten straight victories in his career. He has been dominant in each of those matchups, with most of the victories coming by knockout. In their last meeting, du Plessis won a closely contested battle over Strickland by split decision. Following that clash, du Plessis faced Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, where he secured a victory through a submission. In the upcoming showdown, du Plessis is highly anticipated to bring even more ferocious moves, and he is likely to dominate Sean Strickland, who has been looking quite unsteady in recent times.
Sean Strickland comes into this clash after a decision win over Paulo Costa, following his previous loss to Dricus du Plessis. The crowd remains uncertain about whether he is truly prepared to face du Plessis again. Their last matchup was a fiercely contested battle that went the full five rounds. Strickland’s unsteady defense during that loss to du Plessis has left many skeptical about his chances in this showdown. The previous encounter was intense, with both fighters landing significant strikes and showcasing their utmost skills. Midway through the fight, Strickland suffered a serious injury, which became the talk of the event. In this upcoming rematch, Strickland is expected to put up a tough battle, but his defense is still a concern and may not be enough to stop du Plessis from claiming victory. Although Strickland has a strong offense, he needs to prove his significance on the defensive side. As a result, du Plessis is highly anticipated to take the victory home by decision.
The Pick: Dricus du Plessis via Decision
Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez
Zhang Weili is gearing up for an electrifying showdown against Tatiana Suarez in the Co-Main Event of UFC 312 on February 9, 2025. This Women’s Strawweight Title Bout promises to deliver thrilling action in the octagon. Get ready for an epic co-main event in the UFC 312 showdown!
Zhang Weili Stats and Bio
Nationality: Chinese
Age: 35
Height: 5’4″
Reach: 63″
Total Fights: 28
Record: 25-3-0 (11 knockouts)
Tatiana Suarez Stats and Bio
Nationality: American
Age: 34
Height: 5’5″
Reach: 66″
Total Fights: 10
Record: 10-0-0 (2 knockouts)
Predictions:
This showdown for the Women’s Strawweight Title Bout at UFC 312 is shaping up to be another monumental clash. Zhang Weili, one of the most formidable female MMA fighters, enters this matchup riding a four-fight winning streak. In her last bout, she secured a victory over Yan Xiaonan through unanimous decision. As Zhang Weili prepares for this clash, she appears to have the upper hand against Tatiana Suarez. Despite having a slight disadvantage in height and reach, Zhang’s extensive experience in the octagon gives her an edge. Known for her diverse skill set in Muay Thai, Sanda, and kickboxing, Zhang is expected to display a superior level of skill and technique, making her a formidable opponent for Suarez. This matchup promises to be an intense battle, with Zhang Weili anticipated to come out on top.
Tatiana Suarez, the American professional mixed martial artist, is gearing up for a high-stakes clash, aiming to prove her mettle against the veteran Zhang Weili. A former wrestler, Suarez’s tactical prowess has been sharpened through years of grappling experience. With an undefeated record in her ten UFC matchups, Suarez enters this fight with a significant edge. Her most recent victory was a submission win over Jessica Andrade. However, concerns arise from Suarez’s absence from the octagon throughout 2023, which could give her opponent an opportunity. Suarez’s advantage in height and reach can be pivotal, allowing her to employ her varied techniques to control the fight. This showdown promises to be filled with thrilling moments, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Despite Suarez’s strengths, Zhang Weili’s well-rounded skills and strong striking are anticipated to lead her to victory by decision.
The Pick: Zhang Weili via Decision
