UFC 312 is set to make waves this weekend as it features not just explosive fights, but also the eagerly awaited debut of Aleksandre Topuria against Colby Thicknesse. The event, taking place at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, will also spotlight two high-stakes title matches, promising excitement for fans worldwide.
The main event will showcase Dricus Du Plessis defending his Middleweight title against Sean Strickland. This highly anticipated rematch is steeped in intrigue, following their previous encounter at UFC 297, where Du Plessis snatched the title from Strickland via a split decision. Now, both fighters return to the octagon to prove who truly deserves to wear the championship belt.
Meanwhile, the co-main event is equally riveting, as Zhang Weili will defend her Women’s Strawweight title against undefeated contender Tatiana Suárez. This match marks Suárez's first title shot and she has been preparing intensely after having only competed twice over the last five years.
For fans of the sport, UFC 312 also signifies the moment when the younger Topuria brother, Aleksandre, steps up for his first fight under the UFC banner. Scheduled for early Sunday morning, February 9th at 2 AM CET (which translates to 18:00 ET the previous day for U.S. viewers), Topuria will be vying against the Australian prospect Thicknesse, who himself is making his UFC debut after racking up seven wins without losses.
Topuria has described his preparation for this bout with expressing sincere readiness, saying, “I’m prepared to die and to kill.” The two fighters will come with support from their respective corners, with Aleksandre having his brother Ilia and renowned champion Alexander Volkanovski by his side.
Originally scheduled to face Cody Hodson, Topuria found himself adjusting when Hodson withdrew due to injury. Thicknesse stepped up but faces the tall challenge of drifting from his home turf, having to take on the pressure and excitement of performing at UFC 312.
Both fighters weighed in at 135.5 pounds, ensuring their readiness for this bout. The presence of their corner men, Volkanovski for Thicknesse and Ilia Topuria for Aleksandre, adds another layer of excitement, especially for fans remembering Ilia’s sensational knockout of Volkanovski for the Featherweight championship.
The preliminary card will include several exciting bouts, leading the way for the main event. With the preliminary fights starting at midnight CET (or 18:00 ET), spectators can look forward to watching fighters like Jack Jenkins and Gabriel Santos, as well as Tom Nolan’s bout against Viacheslav Borshchev, among others.
Fans will be able to tune in for UFC 312 through various platforms. The main card broadcasts on channels like ESPN+ for U.S. viewers and MAX for Spanish audiences, with Eurosport also offering extensive coverage across Europe. This accessibility is sure to please those eager to catch every moment of the action live.
Given the stakes at UFC 312, the atmosphere promises to be electric, not just for the title fights but especially for the sensational debut of Aleksandre Topuria, who hopes to carve his own path to success following the legacy of his brother. Onlookers will undoubtedly be watching closely to see if he can deliver on the hype.
With two championship titles on the line and fresh talent stepping onto the UFC stage, UFC 312 stands to be both significant and entertaining, promising thrilling matchups and drama as the fighters strive for victory.