Tag: Zhang Weili

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 […]

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 Ji?í 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

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 […]

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)

‘Can We Just get Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan 2?’ – Fans React As Xiaonan Dominates Tabatha Ricci In UFC Macau Co-Headliner

Competing in China for the first time in six years, Yan Xiaonan made the most of the experience by putting on one of her best performances in the Octagon, defeating Tabatha Ricci in the UFC Macau co-main event. Xiaonan was fully on the attack in the opening round, having complete control as Ricci continuously bit […]

Competing in China for the first time in six years, Yan Xiaonan made the most of the experience by putting on one of her best performances in the Octagon, defeating Tabatha Ricci in the UFC Macau co-main event.

Xiaonan was fully on the attack in the opening round, having complete control as Ricci continuously bit down on her strikes. The Brazilian seemed to find a range by the end of the first round and took it into the second, even getting a hold of her Chinese opponent’s back at one point. But that moment only came after Xiaonan managed to wobble her.

Ricci continued to stay on the outside in that second frame, as Xiaonan appeared to overwhelm her with the speed and crispness of her strikes. “Fury” did not deter from this strategy and went on to sweep the judges’ scorecards before calling out Zhang Weili for a strawweight title rematch.

Yan Xiaonan Cruises To Easy Decision Win Over Tabatha Ricci At UFC Macau

Xiaonan now returns to the win column in her first fight since unsuccessfully challenging Zhang for the UFC women’s strawweight title at UFC 300 earlier this year. She has won three of her last four.

Meanwhile, after a four-fight win streak between late 2021 and early 2023, Ricci is 2-2 across the four fights she’s had in the last year.

Tatiana Suarez Doesn’t Get Title Shot, Reportedly Faces Contender At UFC 310

Barring a surprise challenger for champion Zhang Weili, it appears that the UFC strawweight title won’t be on the line again in 2024. Having put in two bonus-worthy performances since making her long-awaited comeback in early 2023, Suarez was tipped by many to be next in line for Zhang, who last defended her belt opposite […]

Continue Reading Tatiana Suarez Doesn’t Get Title Shot, Reportedly Faces Contender At UFC 310 at MMA News.

Barring a surprise challenger for champion Zhang Weili, it appears that the UFC strawweight title won’t be on the line again in 2024.

Having put in two bonus-worthy performances since making her long-awaited comeback in early 2023, Suarez was tipped by many to be next in line for Zhang, who last defended her belt opposite Yan Xiaonan at the milestone UFC 300 event this past April.

The Californian appeared to be in a two-horse race with Virna Jandiroba, whose submission of Amanda Lemos in a UFC Fight Night main event in the summer marked her fifth straight triumph.

Should recent reports come to fruition, however, neither woman has been given the assignment. Instead, they’ll have to battle one another for it.

According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, a clash between the #1- and #3-ranked strawweight contenders is set to take place on the UFC 310 card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on December 7.

Suarez, Jandiroba Expected To Meet In Likely Title Eliminator At UFC 310

Should this bout be made official by the UFC, the final pay-per-view of 2024 will include high stakes at 115 pounds.

Suarez (10-0) has done what she can to make up for lost time after injuries kept her away from the cage for close to four years. After announcing her return with a submission win over Montana De La Rosa up at flyweight, the 33-year-old wrestling specialist forced a tap from Jéssica Andrade to put her immediately back into the strawweight title conversation.

Jandiroba (21-3), meanwhile, has found winning form following an inconsistent 3-3 start to life in the UFC. After defeats to Carla Esparza, Mackenzie Dern, and Amanda Ribas stalled her rise, the Brazilian has gone on her longest winning run on MMA’s biggest stage, outpointing Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez before a bonus-winning submission of former title challenger Lemos in what marked her main event debut.

Suarez vs. Jandiroba joins a light heavyweight matchup between Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes as the second fight reported for UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

Tatiana Suarez
Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC)

Continue Reading Tatiana Suarez Doesn’t Get Title Shot, Reportedly Faces Contender At UFC 310 at MMA News.

B/R Pound-for-pound UFC Rankings: August 2024

July was an action-packed month for the UFC, with a handful of exciting Fight Night cards across the U.S. and a stacked pay-per-view in Manchester, England.…

July was an action-packed month for the UFC, with a handful of exciting Fight Night cards across the U.S. and a stacked pay-per-view in Manchester, England.…

Virna Jandiroba calls out UFC Champ Zhang Weili “I create problems for most people.”

Virna JandirobaThe Brazilian athlete Virna Jandiroba was able to earn an impressive first-round submission victory in her most recent fight….

Virna Jandiroba

The Brazilian athlete Virna Jandiroba was able to earn an impressive first-round submission victory in her most recent fight. Facing Amanda Lemos in this past weekend’s UFC main event, “Carcará” was able to add another victory to her impressive win streak. The 36-year-old then called for a title shot against Zhang Weili.

Virna Jandiroba vs. Amanda Lemos

UFC on ESPN 60 got Virna Jandiroba vs. Amanda Lemos as the main event on July 20, 2024. This was a top-ranked matchup in the women’s strawweight division. Both of these athletes were ranked in the top five. Lemos was a former title contender while Jandiroba was riding a three-fight win streak. Brazil’s Jandiroba was able to earn a second-round submission win with a slick armbar. The black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has won a whopping two-thirds of her fights by way of submission.

By extending her win streak to four in a row, Virna Jandiroba wants a crack at the strawweight champion Zhang Weili. China’s Zhang is a two-time UFC champion who has defeated notable fighters such as Carla Esparza, Joanna J?drzejczyk, Jéssica Andrade, and, most recently, Yan Xiaonan, among others.

In the post-fight press conference, Jandiroba said, “You never know the plans with the UFC, but I believe that this win, the way it went, especially not just beating, but submitting a former title contender like Amanda who is extremely tough, I think it should get me a title shot.” She added, “Within the weirdness of everything that I do, I think that I create problems for most people, and that’s how I can beat her.”

Tatiana Suarez is the likely next pick to challenge for the title against Zhang Weili. She has earned dominant wins over Jéssica Andrade and Montana De La Rosa. However, in February she withdrew from an event due to an injury. Injuries have plagued the career of the wrestling talent, forcing her to only have two matches in the past five years. If Suarez is out due to injury, Jandiroba may be next in line for a title shot.