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Tag: UFC 312

  • Sean Strickland: Dricus Du Plessis ‘Took The Coward’s Way Out’ By Submitting Israel Adesanya

    Sean Strickland: Dricus Du Plessis ‘Took The Coward’s Way Out’ By Submitting Israel Adesanya

    Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland evidently wasn’t too impressed by how rival Dricus Du Plessis had his hand raised at the expense of Israel Adesanya last year.

    Strickland and Du Plessis are renewing hostilities this week in Sydney, Australia, where they’ll run it back 13 months on from the South African’s title-winning victory over “Tarzan” in Canada.

    Since then, Du Plessis has successfully defended the gold on one occasion, submitting Adesanya with a face crank in round four of the UFC 305 main event in Perth last August. Strickland, meanwhile, earned his shot at redemption with a five-round performance against Paulo Costa that was widely branded lackluster.

    With that in mind, “Stillknocks” has been touting his evolution as a fighter across the past 12 months, claiming to have grown more as an athlete than Strickland since they last collided.

    During a recent interview with Fox Sports Australia, the polaziring American responded to those remarks. Suffice to say, he does not agree…

    “I don’t know about that,” Strickland said. “Dude, you fought Izzy, and Izzy was beating you in striking. I dog walked Izzy. Don’t get too excited, Izzy. I mean that in a striking sense. Maybe you (Du Plessis) might wrestle a little bit more.

    “It was good dude…he took the guy down again. He took the coward’s way out, real bad,” Strickland continued. “He’s supposed to be a strong South African, but wants to wrestle him. Real bad, dude. At the end of the day, he fought well, but you’re gonna let the Chinaman beat you in striking, which we all remember. … I don’t like to wrestle. I’m a grown ass man. I do the right things. I stand and strike.”

    Those comments are not surprising given the lead-up to Saturday’s UFC 312 pay-per-view, which has seen the challenger lay down a striking-only challenge to Du Plessis.

    Given how quick the South African was to shut that down, Strickland’s takedown defense could be tested come fight night at Qudos Bank Arena.

  • UFC 312 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2, Zhang vs. Suarez, & More

    UFC 312 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2, Zhang vs. Suarez, & More

    UFC 312 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, who is tasked with getting the better of a familiar foe in Sean Strickland if he’s to record a second successful title defense.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another champ in action as Zhang Weili returns to defend her strawweight gold for the third time since reclaiming the belt in 2022. To ensure her reign continues, “Magnum” must stall the title ambitions of undefeated challenger Tatiana Suarez.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of heavyweight Justin Tafa, featherweight Jack Jenkins, and bantamweight Aleksandre Topuria, brother of UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria.

    UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 312 (as of 2/3), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (-198) vs. Sean Strickland (+164)
    • Zhang Weili (+102) vs. Tatiana Suarez (-122)
    • Justin Tafa (+120) vs. Tallison Teixeira (-142)
    • Jimmy Crute (+136) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (-162)
    • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jack Jenkins (+185) vs. Gabriel Santos (-225)
    • Tom Nolan (+120) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (-142)
    • Wang Cong (-485) vs. Bruna Brasil (+370)
    • Colby Thicknesse (+330) vs. Aleksandre Topuria (-425)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Rongzhu (+200) vs. Kody Steele (-245)
    • Kevin Jousset (-245) vs. Jonathan Micallef (+200)
    • Quillan Salkilld (-550) vs. Anshul Jubli (+410)
    • HyunSung Park (-218) vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (+180)
  • Dricus Du Plessis On Why He’s UFC Champion: I Am ‘Willing To Kill A Man In Front Of His Family’

    Dricus Du Plessis On Why He’s UFC Champion: I Am ‘Willing To Kill A Man In Front Of His Family’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis recently shared a brutally intense perspective on fighting, taking the idea of giving it all for victory to another level.

    In an interview with Mark Bouris, Du Plessis revealed his ruthless in-cage mentality:

    “When I go in there, if the ref doesn’t stop it, I’m not stopping. I can be sitting on you for 10 minutes bashing your face, and if the ref doesn’t say stop, I’m not stopping.”

    He then posed a chilling question.

    “Am I still willing to die? Absolutely. That’s easy. It is, are you willing to kill a man in front of his family? Yes, I am, and that’s why I’m the world champion, because I say yes to that question every single time.”

    Despite his stark words, the South African emphasized the distinction between his fighting persona, Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis, and his everyday self.

    Up next, the champ faces Sean Strickland in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 312 on February 8. Their previous bout at UFC 297 ended in a razor-thin split decision victory for Du Plessis, leaving both fighters eager to settle the score.

    With both competitors vocal about their intentions, this showdown promises to be a must-watch for MMA fans.

  • Tatiana Suarez Says Title Fight Against Zhang Weili Is The ‘Real’ UFC 312 Main Event

    Tatiana Suarez is set to challenge Zhang Weili for the UFC women’s strawweight championship on February 8 at UFC 312. A middleweight title rematch between Dricus du Plessis and former champ Sean Strickland will headline the event.

    For Suarez, however, her fight feels like the true main event of the night. She believes the matchup will deliver non-stop action, making it one of the most exciting bouts on the card.

    “I think it’s going to be fireworks. I think we’re both go-getters. She doesn’t stand around. I don’t stand around. So it doesn’t make for a boring fight, I don’t think at all,” Suarez said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “I think we’re both going after it. We both want to win. We both work really, really hard. I think it makes for a good co-main event. I think it’s the real main event, but we’re not big dudes, so we didn’t get the main event slot.”

    Despite not being in the headlining position, Suarez remains focused on the task at hand.

    “I don’t care. We could be the first fight,” she continued. “Obviously, that would never happen because we’re a title fight, but you know what I mean. I think this makes for a great fight. It’s going to be amazing. I’m going to go out there and win the world title in a dominant fashion.”

  • VIDEO: UFC 312 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 & Zhang vs. Suarez

    VIDEO: UFC 312 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 & Zhang vs. Suarez

    Fight week for the UFC 312 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headline rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland and the co-main event between Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez.

    Saturday’s UFC 312 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with middleweight kingpin Du Plessis (22-2) looking to add a second successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a narrow victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024.

    If the South African is to continue his rule atop the 185-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a familiar foe in Strickland (29-6). Since having his championship reign quickly ended by “Stillknocks,” the polarizing American has recorded a sole win over Paulo Costa to earn a shot at redemption.

    Before those two run it back in the main event at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, another UFC title will be at stake.

    The strawweight gold will be contested by current champ Zhang (25-3) and undefeated contender Suarez (10-0). While “Magnum” will return 10 months on from the second defense of her sophomore title reign opposite Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300, the Californian challenger is set to make the walk for the first time since a statement-making victory over ex-champ Jéssica Andrade in August 2023.

    Ahead of those two contests in Australia, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 312 Countdown on the promotion’s official YouTube channel.

    UFC 312 Countdown: Full Episode

  • Israel Adesanya Weighs In On Sean Strickland’s ‘Silly’ Striking-Only Proposal For Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

    Israel Adesanya Weighs In On Sean Strickland’s ‘Silly’ Striking-Only Proposal For Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

    Israel Adesanya isn’t buying into Sean Strickland’s stand-and-bang ultimatum for reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis ahead of their rematch.

    Du Plessis and Strickland are set to reignite their rivalry in the main event of UFC 312 on Feb. 8 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. This highly anticipated rematch comes a year after their intense first encounter at UFC 297 in January 2024, where “Stillknocks” clinched a hard-fought split decision to claim the 185-pound crown.

    Their initial clash was a savage striking war, and Strickland is hell-bent on keeping it just as intense for their rematch.

    In a fiery social media video earlier this month, “Tarzan” urged Du Plessis to “be a f**king man” and stick to the battle on the feet, dismissing any grappling exchanges when they meet in the “Land Down Under.”

    The South African champion has already dismissed Strickland’s proposals as “ridiculous” and made it clear that he’s unafraid to bring a full spectrum of skills to the Octagon.

    “The Last Stylebender” shares a history with both men and will be keeping a close eye on the UFC 312 headliner, having faced them in his last two outings before shifting his focus to Nassourdine Imavov for his return at UFC Saudi Arabia this Saturday.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Adesanya shared his thoughts on Strickland’s striking-only proposal for Du Plessis. The seasoned former UFC middleweight champion trashed the outspoken American’s suggestion, pointing out that it reflects poorly on Strickland to try and remove an essential aspect of a MMA fight.

    “That’s kind of silly,” Adesanya said. “It’s silly to say. I don’t think he means it because Dricus is good at what he does. Trying to take that away from him would be you’re not really proving you’re the best then.”

    While the first encounter between Du Plessis and Strickland was a closely contested affair, Adesanya, drawing from his own experience, still backs Du Plessis to successfully defend his title at UFC 312.

    “Look, I think Dricus is probably going to win that fight. He’s great at what he does.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Scoffs At Alex Pereira Cornering Sean Strickland At UFC 312: ‘Doesn’t Really Make A Difference’

    Dricus Du Plessis Scoffs At Alex Pereira Cornering Sean Strickland At UFC 312: ‘Doesn’t Really Make A Difference’

    Dricus Du Plessis believes Alex Pereira’s presence in Sean Strickland’s corner at UFC 312 won’t make a difference.

    Du Plessis is set to put his middleweight title on the line in a highly anticipated rematch against longtime rival Strickland, headlining UFC 312 on Feb. 8 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

    Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, disclosed earlier this week that reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Pereira will lend his seasoned expertise to the outspoken fighter as he eyes a second shot at the 185-pound title.

    Pereira himself is preparing to put his belt on the line for the fourth time against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313, set for March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    After Pereira knocked out Strickland at UFC 276 in 2022, the two formed a camaraderie and regularly train alongside each other. UFC 312 will mark the second time “Poatan” corners Strickland, having previously been in his corner at UFC 297, where the American lost his title to Du Plessis in a gritty split decision.

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, “Stillknocks” laughed off Pereira cornering Strickland at UFC 312, dismissing it as a non-factor. He pointed to the Brazilian’s presence at UFC 297, where Strickland still lost.

    “He was in the corner in the first fight too,” Du Plessis said. “I mean, they don’t even speak the same language. It doesn’t really make it much of a difference whether he’s in the corner or not. Strickland could barely understand his own coach who’s also American. How is he going to understand Alex Pereira [laughs]?”

    After capturing the middleweight title in January last year, Du Plessis has defended it once, securing a submission victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August.

    Meanwhile, Strickland has stepped into the Octagon just once since losing the belt, edging out Paulo Costa via split decision at UFC 303 last June.

  • Sean Strickland To Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You’re A Wrecking Ball, I’m A F**king Scalpel’

    Sean Strickland To Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You’re A Wrecking Ball, I’m A F**king Scalpel’

    Sean Strickland is confident that he can improve upon his performance at UFC 297 in order to reclaim the middleweight title. After shocking the world by beating Israel Adesanya for the belt at UFC 293, Strickland’s first title defence came in January last year against Dricus Du Plessis.

    The fight came right down to the wire with the judges scoring the fight in favor of the challenger, seeing Du Plessis become the new champion via a split decision. Strickland has developed a trademark style in recent years which has led to many questioning what he can do differently in his rematch with the South African at UFC 312 on February 8.

    Whilst “Stillknocks” has a wide variety of attacks at his disposal, Strickland is very much the opposite with the former champ utilizing a fairly straight forward approach that relies heavily on defense and pressure. He recognizes that Du Plessis is a good opponent but he believes that the two men simply have different approaches, rather than one having the advantage over the other.

    In an interview with Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie, the challenger spoke about what he expects from his main event clash in Australia.

    “It comes down to what I said [before about] f***ing Dricus [du Plessis] on that short bus. I respect him for it. He goes f***ing full send… But you know, you’re a wrecking ball, I’m a f***ing scalpel. It just comes down to who’s better.”

    The big question heading into the title fight rematch is whether Strickland can make small adjustments to his game plan in order to make it more effective the second time around. Having had his moments in their first encounter, he’s clearly confident that he will get his hand raised at the second time of asking.

    ”Last time I think I was better. This time, I think I’m gonna f***ing piece you apart. Your face will look the exact same after (as last fight) if not worse.”

  • Sean Strickland Praises Opponent-Turned-Friend Alex Pereira’s Journey: ‘The American Dream’

    Sean Strickland Praises Opponent-Turned-Friend Alex Pereira’s Journey: ‘The American Dream’

    Sean Strickland is going to have one of his former opponents in his corner once again when he returns at UFC 312. The former middleweight champion has struck up a great relationship with Alex Pereira ever since the two men faced each other inside the Octagon at UFC 276 in 2022.

    Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, recently confirmed that “Poatan” will be a part of his coaching staff on February 8 in Australia when he takes on Dricus Du Plessis in a rematch for the 185-pound gold. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Strickland told Mike Bohn that having Pereira step in was his idea.

    “Alex was out there and I asked him like, ‘You’re out there, if you’re free, come on through’. I asked Eric as well and he said he’s down. He’s a good f****** dude. He has a tough fight coming up with Ankalaev and if he needs me for that to help, I’ll be out there helping him so it kind of goes mutual.”

    The most surprising element of this is that whilst Pereira has cornered Strickland in the past, he has his own huge fight coming up the following month at UFC 313 in Las Vegas. His opponent on that night, Magomed Ankalaev, has also spent some time training with Strickland at Xtreme Couture in the fight capital but this hasn’t been the case for his recent camps.

    Strickland said that with that in mind, there isn’t a conflict of interests when it comes to choosing which guy to help out.

    “Alex has gone out of his way to help me. Me and Ankalaev, we have this mutual respect in the same place and Ankalaev’s a great guy but if Alex needs me after this fight, I’ll be going to Connecticut to give him some work.”

    When asked about what Pereira brings to the table as a cornerman for his upcoming title fight, Strickland spoke more about the character of the light heavyweight champion than anything else. He values the Brazilian as someone that he would fight alongside in the street and having those kinds of people make the walk with him is an asset.

    Strickland stated that the friendship between him and Pereira doesn’t even run that deep but there is a lot of respect between them. He spoke about how it’s impossible to not be impressed and inspired by what “Poatan” has been able to accomplish after turning his life around to become a huge star in combat sports after finding himself in a rough spot.

    “Dude, we’re not even that close. We don’t even speak the same language, he doesn’t speak English. It’s more of like and you got to have respect for Alex. Like dude, where did that man come from? A tire shop, dude. He came from literally nothing and has made a life for himself. As an American, Alex is kind of the American dream. Likes guns. You know, as an American, you have to have respect for someone with that kind of drive and dedication.”

  • Alex Pereira To Corner Sean Strickland For UFC 312 Title Challenge In Sydney

    Alex Pereira To Corner Sean Strickland For UFC 312 Title Challenge In Sydney

    Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland will have a familiar face in his corner in Australia early next month.

    Strickland is set to headline the promotion’s second pay-per-view of the new year, UFC 312 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Feb. 8. There, he will look to exact revenge on Dricus Du Plessis and win back the 185-pound gold.

    The polarizing American will be back at the venue inside of which he became champ in September 2023 by outpointing Israel Adesanya. He’ll hope to repeat that feat in a rematch with Du Plessis, who brought “Tarzan’s” reign to an end in its first defense 12 months ago.

    And in his bid to reclaim the throne, Strickland is employing the help of a prominent former opponent-turned-occasional training partner.

    “We will have Alex Pereira in the corner, so dropping the news right now,” coach Eric Nicksick said told The Schmo.. “He’s a good friend of Sean. He’s a great training partner. Obviously, these guys have fought, but after the fight, I think it takes a man to go and learn from the guy who caught you with something.”

    Pereira and Strickland shared the cage in the summer of 2022, with “Poatan” violently stopping the latter in the first round to secure his title shot opposite Israel Adesanya later in the year.

    The pair have since formed a friendship and have frequently been seen training together. The Brazilian has also cornered his ex-opponent in the past, assuming the role for Strickland’s narrow defeat to Du Plessis in Canada last January.

  • Report: No Backups Set For UFC 312 Title Fights Despite Late Scramble To Save UFC 311 Main Event

    Report: No Backups Set For UFC 312 Title Fights Despite Late Scramble To Save UFC 311 Main Event

    Dana White and co. will have their fingers crossed that there isn’t a repeat of the late withdrawal in Los Angeles earlier this month when the promotion heads Down Under for UFC 312.

    After opening its pay-per-view schedule for 2025 with UFC 311 from Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, the mixed martial arts leader is taking the Octagon abroad for a return to Australia in February.

    Two names familiar to the attending Aussie fanbase will compete inside Qudos Bank Arena, with last year’s Sydney headliner, Dricus Du Plessis, meeting 2023’s main event victor in the city, Sean Strickland.

    Their middleweight championship rematch won’t be the only title fight on the UFC 312 card, with strawweight queen Zhang Weili also set to defend her throne opposite undefeated challenger Tatiana Suarez.

    While anticipation is building for those contests, fans will be well aware that no matchup is certain to go down until the cage door closes behind the athletes.

    That much was evident a few weeks back when Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of the UFC 311 main event, forcing the promotion to find a new foe for Islam Makhachev on just 24 hours’ notice. The Dagestani ultimately faced Renato Moicano, whom he steamrolled in minutes.

    Disappointment was evident when the highly awaited second clash between Makhachev and Tsarukyan fell through, but that scenario hasn’t convinced the UFC to make additional arrangements for the second PPV of the year.

    Per MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, no fighters are currently expected to make the long-haul flight to Australia to serve as backup for the UFC 312 main or co-main events.

    The organization has often paid contenders to hit the scale as alternative options should injury or illness strike late in the day. But that hasn’t been the case since Tom Aspinall did so back at UFC 309 in November.

    Backups were neither present for Alexandre Pantoja’s title defense at UFC 310 against Kai Asakura nor the pair of championship clashes on Jan. 18. UFC 312 will now make it three PPVs on the bounce in that regard.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Rubbishes Sean Strickland’s Stand & Trade Challenge For UFC 312 Rematch

    Dricus Du Plessis Rubbishes Sean Strickland’s Stand & Trade Challenge For UFC 312 Rematch

    Dricus Du Plessis plans to stick to his own strategy when he steps into the Octagon for a rematch with Sean Strickland.

    Du Plessis is gearing up for his second middleweight title defense as he takes on former foe Strickland in the main event of UFC 312. The highly anticipated showdown is set to electrify the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 8.

    The upcoming bout marks a highly anticipated rematch between the two rivals, who first collided at UFC 297 in January 2024. On that night, “Stillknocks” edged out a grueling split decision to claim the 185-pound title, dethroning Strickland in the process.

    Their first encounter was a brutal, stand-and-bang affair, and “Tarzan” is determined to keep it that way for their rematch at UFC 312.

    In a promotional video released earlier this month, Strickland called on Du Plessis to “be a f**king man” and maintain the striking war for their second showdown.

    During a recent interview with FOX Sports Australia, Du Plessis fired back at Strickland’s challenge, emphasizing that he’s far from one-dimensional. He pointed out that he thrives on versatility, adapting his style to the situation at hand, and isn’t afraid to mix things up inside the Octagon.

    “Look, it’s a ridiculous thing to ask,” Du Plessis said.” If you want to make pacts about us just standing up, go do boxing. I don’t go into fights thinking I have to stand up or take the guy down. I do what the situation tells me to do. That’s what MMA fighters do. I’m comfortable everywhere.”

    However, the 31-year-old South African champion went on to say that he anticipates the rematch will be another striking battle, and he’s thoroughly ready to dominate the striking exchanges.

    “100 percent, I think we are most likely going to keep it standing. I know I have the cardio, I know I can push him back and I know I have the power to knock him out. So for me, that’s great. Then, if the opportunity comes to get a takedown, it’s a decision you have to make immediately. If you see the moment, you take it.”

    “Stillknocks” is riding high after securing a fourth-round submission victory over former longtime champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 this past August, successfully retaining his title. With that impressive win, Du Plessis extended his perfect UFC record to an undefeated 8-0.

    Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Strickland has stepped into the Octagon just once since losing his title, securing a hard-fought split decision victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June 2024. He currently boasts a 16-6 record in the UFC.

  • Ilia Topuria’s Brother Gets Alexander Volkanovski’s Teammate As Replacement Opponent For UFC 312

    Ilia Topuria’s Brother Gets Alexander Volkanovski’s Teammate As Replacement Opponent For UFC 312

    UFC debutant Aleksandre Topuria has a new opponent to prepare for, and one that could re-spark the rivalry between his brother Ilia and Alexander Volkanovski.

    While plenty of attention has been on Ilia’s impressive rise to championship glory at 145 pounds in the UFC, his sibling has been working away himself, looking to parve his own path to mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    And after signing with the promotion, Aleksandre’s debut was announced for UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia early next month. Originally, the 5-1 bantamweight prospect was set to face Cody Haddon. But with an injury ruling him out, Topuria’s new first matchup brings with it a backstory.

    Per a report from Spanish journalist Álvaro Colmenero, “El Cazador” is now set to share the cage with the undefeated Colby Thicknesse on Feb. 8. Interestingly, as well as being a HEC champion, the Australian is a teammate of Volkanovski’s.

    Ilia knocked Volkanovski out in Anaheim almost 12 months ago to capture the featherweight gold. After repeating that violent feat at the expense of Max Holloway last October, many are expecting the Spaniard to run it back with “Alexander the Great” in 2025.

    Another occasional training partner of the ex-champ’s, City Kickboxing standout Dan Hooker, also recently claimed that Topuria turned down a defense against Volkanovski for UFC 313 in March due to a need for longer to make the weight.

    It remains to be seen whether Ilia and his Aussie rival will renew hostilities inside the cage. For now, though, they’ll be preparing for a different team Topuria vs. team Volkanovski battle at UFC 312.

  • Dan Hooker Claims Ilia Topuria Rejected Alexander Volkanovski Rematch For UFC 313 Due To Weight Cut Demand

    According to lightweight contender Dan Hooker, plans for Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski to run it back this March fell through due to the UFC featherweight champion’s inability to make the weight.

    Hooker recently had his return to action confirmed for UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8, where he’ll collide with former interim champion Justin Gaethje in a sure-fire banger.

    The event looks set to be a stacked one, with light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira defending his gold in the main event opposite top contender Magomed Ankalaev.

    As it turns out, though, another high-profile title clash could have found itself on the lineup.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Hooker asserted that occasional teammate and fellow Oceanian fighter Volkanovski agreed to run it back with Topuria in competition for the 145-pound strap he formerly owned. But according to “The Hangman,” the Spaniard allegedly requested half-a-year to drop the pounds.

    “They wanted to put Volk and Ilia on the (UFC 313) card as well but Ilia said he needs six months to make weight or something. I’m like, ‘Bro, what?’”

    Volkanovski was quick to outline his plans to secure redemption against Topuria after being knocked out by “El Matador” 11 months ago.

    While the reigning champ pointed toward that rematch being his next assignment after defending the belt versus Max Holloway in October, he’s since discussed a lightweight move.

    Topuria’s coach has also added context to those plans by outlining the increasing difficult his man is having making the featherweight limit, perhaps adding some supportive evidence behind Hooker’s claim.

  • What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

    What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

    UFC 311 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia.

    The promotion was in Los Angeles this past week, where the Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its opening numbered event of the new year. Of note were headline wins for Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili, as well as important victories for Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida, and Reinier de Ridder.

    While the aftermath of the Jan. 18 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the lightweight title picture to the middleweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 312, set for the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Feb. 8, reigning kingpin Dricus Du Plessis will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 185-pound gold. After following his crowning against Sean Strickland with a retention opposite Israel Adesanya, the South African will next run it back with Strickland.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as two-time strawweight champ Zhang Weili looks to defend her gold for the third time since winning it back at the expense of Carla Esparza in 2022. In her way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

    Tafa, Crute, Matthews Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 312

    Before Du Plessis and Weili defend their belts, a number of local names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 312 card.

    That includes heavyweight powerhouse Justin Tafa. Against undefeated newcomer Tallison Teixeira, the Australian-Samoan will look to bounce back from a decision loss to Karl Williams last March and return to the knockout ways that saw him sleep Austen Lane, Parker Porter, and Harry Hunsucker during a four-fight unbeaten streak between 2021 and 2023.

    Prior to that, another home favorite will be in action as light heavyweight Jimmy Crute returns almost two years on from a submission loss to Alonzo Menifield. “The Brute” hasn’t tasted victory since a 2020 KO of Modestas Bukauskas that left him 12-1 and among the most promising prospects at 205 pounds. To revive his career amid a four-fight winless run, the 28-year-old must stall the charge of former LFA champion Rodolfo Bellato.

    And opening the UFC 312 main card will be Jake Matthews, a longtime Australian prospect who has failed to live up to his promise thus far. “The Celtic Kid” has exchanged wins and losses across six fights since his most recent winning streak in 2020, and against Francisco Prado next month, he’ll be looking to build some momentum following a decision victory over Phil Rowe last time out.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over another Aussie in Jack Jenkins, who is slated to top the prelims against Gabriel Santos.

    See below for the full UFC 312 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
    • Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (strawweight championship)
    • Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira (heavyweight)
    • Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato (light heavyweight)
    • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado (welterweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos (featherweight)
    • Cody Haddon vs. Aleksandre Topuria (bantamweight)
    • Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (lightweight)
    • HyunSung Park vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (flyweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
    • Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef (welterweight)
    • Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil (flyweight)
    • Rongzhu vs. Kody Steele (lightweight)
    Justin Tafa
    Image: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting
  • Ilia Topuria’s 5-1 Brother Booked For Long-Awaited UFC Debut In 2025

    Ilia Topuria’s 5-1 Brother Booked For Long-Awaited UFC Debut In 2025

    A prominent name on the European regional MMA scene will now be making his UFC debut — and that means one UFC titleholder won’t be the only one in his family in the Octagon.

    Aleksandre Topuria, the brother of UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria, will be making his UFC debut at UFC 312 on Feb. 8 in Australia. He will be taking on Cody Haddon in a bantamweight clash Down Under.

    The news was first revealed by Spanish reporter Álvaro Colmenero on X.

    Ilia Topuria’s Brother To Make UFC Debut At UFC 312

    The younger Topuria brother is 5-1. He made his professional MMA debut in 2015 but took a layoff of over six years from the sport following a loss to Ivo Ivanov at the end of that year.

    “El Cazador” has won three straight, all by way of first-round finishes, to earn his path on to the sport’s biggest stage.

    Haddon, meanwhile, submitted Billy Brand earlier this year on Dana White’s Contender Series before making his UFC debut in October, taking a decision over Dan Argueta.

    Aleksandre’s brother, Ilia Topuria, has taken up plenty of the MMA headlines of late. He’s notably teased a move up to lightweight and squashed a rumored bout between him and Conor McGregor.

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach Explains Picking Dricus Du Plessis As ‘Toughest Challenge’ Over Khamzat Chimaev

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Explains Picking Dricus Du Plessis As ‘Toughest Challenge’ Over Khamzat Chimaev

    Sean Strickland is set to challenge for the UFC middleweight title for the second time in his upcoming rematch with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312. The former champion stuck to the idea that he would wait for his shot at “Stillknocks” following his win over Paulo Costa in June and it paid off for him with the fight being announced this past weekend at UFC 310.

    For his head coach at Xtreme Couture, Eric Nicksick, the next few months will be all about looking at what they need to do differently in order to defeat Du Plessis in Sydney, Australia. Their first meeting at UFC 297 came down to a close split decision that saw the South African become the 185-pound champion.

    For several weeks following his submission win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, it looked like the promotion might be heading towards Khamzat Chimaev as the next title challenger for Du Plessis. Though they aren’t thinking about it right now, both teams will know that if they come out on top in February, Chimaev will likely be their next opponent.

    Nicksick spoke in a recent interview with Submission Radio about which opponent is a bigger threat to Strickland out of the current champion and the other top contender in the division. He explained why in his opinion, as of right now, Du Plessis is their biggest challenge.

    “I mean, you would have to say [Dricus du Plessis] because he won, he beat us. Right now you have to say that [he’s the tougher matchup] because that’s the task at hand. I think Khamzat presents tons of different variables to his style that we’re gonna have to look at how to break down once that challenge presents itself. But right now, DDP is the toughest challenge for us.”

  • Robert Whittaker Gives Strickland ‘Props’ For Sticking To His Guns, Predicts Du Plessis Rematch

    Robert Whittaker Gives Strickland ‘Props’ For Sticking To His Guns, Predicts Du Plessis Rematch

    Just over a year on from their first meeting, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Sean Strickland are set to meet in a rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. Following his bounce back win over Paulo Costa in June, Strickland has remained confident that he deserved the opportunity to fight for the title again.

    His first encounter with “Stillknocks” at UFC 297 went the way of the South African via a split decision and though the fight was close, there weren’t a ton of people calling for the rematch to take place. This was especially true following Khamzat Chimaev’s recent win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 where Du Plessis said himself that a matchup with the undefeated contender would excite him more than running it back with Strickland.

    In a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his reaction to the fight announcement. The former champion took his hat off to Strickland for sticking to his guns and getting what he asked for even when it looked like it might slip away from him.

    “I’m surprised Sean just literally sat out. Like everyone was laughing at him when he said, ‘I’m going to sit out till I get my title shot.’ Dude straight up got a title shot, props for that. You got to give it him, guy like straight up stuck by what he said.”

    Despite this, Whittaker isn’t sure that Strickland will be able to make the adjustments needed to reclaim the middleweight title.

    “In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different. 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? Okay because if we look at it, it doesn’t happen often but the challenger beats a champion by decision, okay. Du Plessis did that and now he’s a champion and that was a close first fight, you know what I mean. You see where I’m angling with this. I just don’t know what Sean can do differently to change the outcome from happening again.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis insists he is not “unhappy” about the promotion’s decision regarding his next challenger.

    During this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast, it was announced that Du Plessis will return to Australia — the site of his successful first defense against Israel Adesanya in August — to headline UFC 312 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

    Against him will be former champ Sean Strickland, who staked his claim for a chance at redemption opposite the man who dethroned him this past January when he outpointed Paulo Costa in a lackluster affair four months later. But while his shot has ultimately come to fruition, there was some doubt prior to the recent reveal.

    The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev ran through Robert Whittaker in quick time at UFC 308 in October, garnering support for his claim to the next opportunity at Du Plessis’ belt. Even the champ himself made it clear that he favored a first-time clash with “Borz.”

    But although that evidently fell on deaf ears, the South African says he’s more than happy to beat whomever the UFC places in front of him.

    “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.”

    He did, however, reiterate his belief that Strickland is not truly deserving of the shot at UFC 312 in response to a commenter.

    “I have to agree with you on that one”

    After falling on the right side of a split decision to capture the crown at Strickland’s expense in Canada, “Stillknocks” continued to prove his doubters wrong by submitting former two-time champ Adesanya at UFC 305.

    Du Plessis will now look to secure a more definitive victory over Strickland to extend his lead in their rivalry to 2-0, before likely turning attention to Chimaev later in the year.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis is looking to put a stamp on his rivalry with Sean Strickland when they run it back early next year.

    As 2024 approaches its conclusion, Du Plessis already has his first assignment of the new year in the calendar. After being crowned 185-pound kingpin this past January and subsequently defending that status against Israel Adesanya in Australia seven months later, “Stillknocks” will return Down Under.

    The promotion confirmed during this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast that Du Plessis will headline February’s UFC 312 event in Sydney, running it back with the man at the expense of whom he won the middleweight belt, the #1-ranked Strickland.

    Reacting to that announcement on social media this week, the South African vowed to record a more definitive triumph over the polarizing American former champ.

    “This time they won’t call it a robbery, they’ll call it attempted murder. #UFC312 #preparetobeamazed”

    The pair first met in Strickland’s sole title defense in Canada, with the then-challenger falling on the right side of a split decision verdict following five rounds of close and competitive action.

    While “Tarzan’s” only bout since then saw him emerge victorious from a lackluster contest with Paulo Costa, he’s gotten the nod for a shot at redemption opposite Du Plessis over Khamzat Chimaev, whose own claim to an opportunity gained support after he ran through Robert Whittaker in October.

    Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 will top a lineup that features two title fights, the other being a highly anticipated strawweight championship contest between Zhang Weili and the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

  • Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2, Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney

    Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2, Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney

    MMA’s leading promotion is set for an electric start to the new year, with a blockbuster lineup for Los Angeles in January being followed by two more championship fights at UFC 312 in Australia.

    After opening its pay-per-view account for 2025 with Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at LA’s Intuit Dome, the UFC will be back in Sydney for its latest show at the Qudos Bank Arena.

    And returning to the site where he was shockingly crowned middleweight champion in 2023 will be Sean Strickland (29-6). Despite Khamzat Chimaev gaining support for his claim to a title shot, “Tarzan” will indeed get his chance for redemption at UFC 312 opposite the man who dethroned him this past January, Dricus Du Plessis (22-2).

    That news was announced by the broadcast team during Saturday’s UFC 310 PPV, alongside news of the Feb. 8 co-headliner between strawweight queen Zhang Weili (25-3) and undefeated contender Tatiana Suarez (10-0).

    Du Plessis has recorded one title defense since dethroning Strickland, submitting former two-time champ Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth this past August. The American challenger, meanwhile, successfully staked his claim for a rematch opposite the South African by outpointing Paulo Costa in a lackluster five-round affair in Newark.

    For Zhang, UFC 312 will mark her second challenge since returning to the throne at the expense of Carla Esparza in late 2023. She most recently defeated fellow Chinese standout Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 this past April. In Suarez, “Magnum” faces a highly regarded wrestler who has long been touted for success on MMA’s biggest stage. She’ll look to ensure her injuries are a thing of the past and open a new era at 115 pounds.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 312 in Sydney on Feb. 8 are as follows:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
    • Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (women’s strawweight championship)
    • Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight)
    • Rei Tsuruya vs. Stewart Nicoll (flyweight)
    • Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
  • Key Name Rules Himself Out Of UFC 312 In Sydney: ‘We’ll Pump The Brakes’

    Key Name Rules Himself Out Of UFC 312 In Sydney: ‘We’ll Pump The Brakes’

    The UFC is set to return to the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia in February and though we have several match-ups confirmed, it isn’t yet known or rumoured what will be topping the card in the night’s big attractions. You’d imagine that UFC 312 will feature several key names from Australia and New Zealand but the names at the forefront of that list is getting smaller.

    It doesn’t look like former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will make this turnaround following the injury he suffered against Khamzat Chimaev last month. Though Alexander Volkanovski was very keen to fight on home soil, if he wants his rematch with Ilia Topuria, he’ll likely have to take the fight on the featherweight champion’s terms.

    It seems likely that we could see a big middleweight presence on this card via the likes of the champion Dricus Du Plessis or his last opponent, the former two-time 185-pound king, Israel Adesanya. One name that has definitively ruled himself out is Adesanya’s long-time training partner at City Kickboxing in New Zealand, Dan Hooker.

    Following his win over Mateusz Gamrot at the Octagon’s last stop off down under, Hooker is set for a huge fight next time out and has expressed interest in facing Justin Gaethje for the first time. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, “The Hangman” said that he isn’t even sure what the plans are for February 8 right now.

    “Yeah, probably a bit after that. I think, I’m not sure, I don’t even know who’s fighting in February.”

    Hooker went on to say that though Gaethje is still his preferred opponent, it won’t be happening in Sydney. He explained that with a new addition to his family arriving right around the same time as the Octagon, it’s not a risk that he’s willing to take.

    “Yeah it seems like we usually tend to get like the middleweight title on the Australian cards. There was like what, Yoel and Rockhold, and like it always seems to be the middleweight title up for grabs down under in Australia but yeah, it’s gonna be a funny one. I’m not sure who’s headlining that but yeah, I’d say it’s not me my friend. February is not the best for me. I’ve got a baby dropping, it’s due just after the first week of February so I’ll be playing with fire there and I’m more scared of the missus than I am of the UFC. We’ll pump the brakes on that and yeah, probably after Feb.”      

  • First Three Fights Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney On February 8

    First Three Fights Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney On February 8

    The lineup for UFC 312 next February is beginning to take shape.

    While a location and venue is yet to be announced for the mixed martial arts leader’s very first pay-per-view of 2025, its second will see the Octagon back on Australian soil in February.

    For the first time since UFC 293 in September 2023, the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney will play host as the promotion returns Down Under. And with the Feb. 8 event less than three months away, the matchups are beginning to roll out.

    The official UFC account for Australia and New Zealand announced the first three additions to the UFC 312 lineup on social media this week, with three Aussies set for action on home turf.

    Perhaps most notable is the return of formerly ranked light heavyweight Jimmy Crute (12-4-1) at UFC 312. The 28-year-old hasn’t competed since a submission loss to Alonzo Menifield in mid-2023 and is without a win since 2020. He’ll look to change that statistic at the expense of Poland’s Marcin Prachnio (17-8) next year.

    Elsewhere, there’s a chance for flyweight prospect Stewart Nicoll (8-1) to get redemption in front of his compatriots. “Kakamora” debuted at UFC 305 in Perth this past August as a highly touted, undefeated newcomer but was quickly caught in a guillotine choke by Jesus Aguilar. If he’s to immediately bounce back, Nicoll must blemish the perfect record of Road to UFC standout Rei Tsuruya (10-0).

    And there will be heavy intrigue surrounding the debut of Australia’s Quillan Salkilld (7-1). After a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series this past September, the former Eternal MMA champion will arrive in the Octagon opposite India’s Anshul Jubli (7-1).

    The headliners are yet to be announced for UFC 312, but recent rumors have placed a possible clash between Israel Adesanya and either Caio Borralho or Nassourdine Imavov on the card. Australia’s own Alexander Volkanovski has also been campaigning for a title fight on home soil.

  • Caio Borralho Calls For Whittaker In Sydney Or Backup Role For Next Title Fight   

    Caio Borralho Calls For Whittaker In Sydney Or Backup Role For Next Title Fight   

    As the #6-ranked contender in the middleweight division, there aren’t many fights that make sense for the surging Caio Borralho right now. The Brazilian called out a former champion following his win over Jared Cannonier but doesn’t look to have gotten anywhere with it just yet.

    With UFC 312 being announced for Sydney, Australia in February, his proposed fight against Israel Adesanya would make a lot of sense. It now looks like Alexander Volkanovski won’t be on the card so getting some big names from this region in meaningful fights is sure to be high on the UFC’s list of priorities.

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Borralho said that fighting Robert Whittaker on this card could be an option if the former champion has healed in time from his injuries that he suffered this past weekend at UFC 308.

    “I definitely think it’s a great fight, I’m a big fan of Rob, a big fan of what he has done in this sport. I think he’s a great guy, a nice guy, but definitely it’s a fight that I want if Adesanya doesn’t want to face me in the next fight, I think Robert Whittaker is the one that I want.”

    In the mean time, Borralho is happy to wait for the right fight and revealed that he’s already put his name into the mix to be the backup fighter for the next middleweight title fight. He believes that Sean Strickland will be next to challenge the champion, Dricus Du Plessis.

    That leaves Khamzat Chimaev who he’s trained with in the past so isn’t actively pursuing a fight with unless it means securing UFC gold. As a result, Borralho is open to the idea of staying ready in case the UFC needs someone to step in.

    “In fact, I told that to the UFC, I told that to Hunter, to Mick Maynard, that I can be the backup fighter. If they want me to be, I can be the backup fighter. I’m going to make weight and gonna wait. If something happens, I’ll be ready, I’ll be more than ready.”