Fight fans can now check out the final faceoffs ahead of UFC 312 tomorrow night (Sat., Feb. 8, 2025) LIVE on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, following early morning ceremonial weigh ins (replay HERE).
UFC 312’s main event will feature an anticipated rematch between reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and former titleholder Sean Strickland. Some fight fans were holding out hope that Khamzat Chimaev would get the next crack at the 185-pound title, but the first matchup between DDP and Strickland back at UFC 297 was so close that they needed to run it back at some point.
Luckily for fight fans, the fun won’t stop there. UFC 312 will also feature a collection of fan-friendly matchups and important divisional showdowns. This includes a co-main event title fight between UFC women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili and undefeated contender Tatiana Suarez. Adding to the mix will be official UFC debuts of bantamweight prospect Aleksandre Topuria and towering heavyweight Tallison Teixeira, as well as the return of kickboxing standout Wang Cong.
Assuming most fight fans didn’t set their early a.m. alarms to catch the ceremonial weigh ins in Sydney, Mania has compiled some of the final staredowns below. Check them out and let us know which fighters hold an advantage heading into Saturday night!
Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2
A rematch for the MW title…WE. CAN’T. WAIT @DricusDuPlessis vs @SStricklandMMA
[ #UFC312 | Saturday 10pmET | Live on ESPN+ PPV ] pic.twitter.com/GwikFI0NST
— UFC (@ufc) February 7, 2025
DU PLESSIS vs STRICKLAND! #UFC312 is LIVE SATURDAY on @ESPNPlus PPV! pic.twitter.com/1bTTGeJoWN
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 7, 2025
Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez
All strawweight eyes will be glued to this one
Zhang Weili vs @TatianaUFC
[ #UFC312 | Saturday 10pmET | Live on ESPN+ PPV ] pic.twitter.com/3UwzBPPIqW
— UFC (@ufc) February 7, 2025
ZHANG vs SUAREZ! #UFC312 is LIVE SATURDAY on @ESPNPlus PPV! pic.twitter.com/JLUW8r2iWo
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 7, 2025
Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira
Expecting action early and often in this one @Justin_Tafa vs Tallison Teixeira
[ #UFC312 | Saturday 10pmET | Live on ESPN+ PPV ] pic.twitter.com/lRfoPdktZV
— UFC (@ufc) February 7, 2025
TAFA vs TEIXEIRA! #UFC312 is LIVE SATURDAY on @ESPNPlus PPV! pic.twitter.com/UcM4U2rNno
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 7, 2025
Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria
Thicknesse vs. Topuria pic.twitter.com/MVltBRJYWW
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) February 7, 2025
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 312 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” bouts scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 312: “Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 312 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.