The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to Australia on Saturday, February 8, 2025, hosting UFC 312 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The main event featured the highly anticipated rematch between middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and former champion Sean Strickland. This bout followed their contentious first encounter, which ended controversially with du Plessis earning a split decision victory. Both fighters came prepared, aware of the immense stakes riding on the outcome of this clash.
Following the opening preliminaries, which kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET, fans eagerly awaited the headliner. Du Plessis, known for his unorthodox yet effective fighting style, aimed to solidify his reign after capturing the middleweight title from Strickland. “We got lucky with the split decision. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here now. I am very happy they made this fight. I was asking for this fight,” du Plessis remarked during the final press conferences leading up to the event.
Strickland, on the other hand, entered the octagon desperate to reclaim his title and avenge his previous loss. His brash and outspoken nature often leads to polarized opinions among fans, especially after he made headlines with his controversial remarks about Australians during the media days. "I would like to know how Australians would feel if we started calling them English white trash," Strickland stated, receiving backlash but remaining unfazed. Regardless of opinions, he prepared to bring his best against du Plessis, underscoring his belief, saying, "I think Strickland is the best middleweight in the world right now behind me, and he deserves to be here." His determination to overturn the previous outcome was palpable on fight night.
The co-main event witnessed Zhang Weili defending her strawweight title against challenger Tatiana Suarez, who, at 11-0, was poised for her first title shot after remarkable performances leading up to this opportunity. Both women's styles contrasted sharply; Weili relied on her seasoned experience and power strikes, having recently finished two of her last three opponents decisively. Meanwhile, Suarez sought to implement her world-class grappling techniques, hoping to neutralize Weili's stand-up skills.
The structure of UFC 312 was carefully mapped out, with the early preliminaries starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, followed by additional fights on ESPN2 and the ESPN+ pay-per-view kicking off at 10 p.m. ET. The fight card was filled with competitive matchups, such as Jack Jenkins facing off against Gabriel Santos and Tom Nolan going up against Viacheslav Borshchev, promising plenty of entertainment leading to the marquee competition.
Monetary matters loomed large over the fighters, with Damus Du Plessis expected to earn over $1 million, factoring in base pay, bonuses, and pay-per-view shares, showcasing the financial ambitions associated with the championship bout. Strickland's projected earnings hovered around $1.5 million, closely tied to his performance and the event's overall success.
Fighter earnings have surfaced as another talking point within the mixed martial arts community. Reports indicated du Plessis' base salary was approximately $500,000 for this bout, mirroring his previous fight against Israel Adesanya. The win against Adesanya not only garnered him the attention but also put him on the path to substantial earnings through pay-per-view shares. Strickland, having also seen fluctuations in his earnings following the first loss to Du Plessis, was eager to reset his financial expectations with another title reign. He had previously commanded impressive earnings, including during his bout against Paulo Costa, where base salaries and performance bonuses contributed to his lucrative fighting career.
With both fighters at the peak of their talents, the anticipation built for the rematch at UFC 312. Fans and analysts speculated on whether du Plessis could replicate his previous victory or if Strickland had sufficiently developed to reclaim his title. This tension rendered the rematch one of the most thrilling encounters of the night, promising to be filled with drama and intense competition. With stakes high, fans were left eager to tune in and witness the culmination of this fierce rivalry.