UFC 312 Delivers Two Title Defenses as Featherweight Plans Take Another Route
Dricus du Plessis and Zhang Weili retained their championships at UFC 312 in Sydney on February 9, 2025, local time. The Qudos Bank Arena card was headed by du Plessis’s middleweight rematch with Sean Strickland, while Zhang faced Tatiana Suarez at strawweight.
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Du Plessis and Zhang keep their belts
Du Plessis won a unanimous decision after five rounds. Two judges scored the fight 50–45 and the third returned 49–46. His heavier striking and sustained pressure carried the rematch, adding a second victory over the man he had beaten for the title.
Zhang also completed five rounds, defeating Suarez by unanimous decision. After an early takedown from the challenger, Zhang took greater control of the wrestling exchanges and striking. The result kept both championship belts with their defending holders.
Volkanovski and Topuria pursue separate titles
Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria were not opponents on the Sydney card. Volkanovski’s next championship opportunity came at UFC 314, where he defeated Diego Lopes by unanimous decision for the vacant featherweight title. Topuria pursued a separate move to lightweight.
That move culminated at UFC 317 on June 28, when Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira in the first round to win the vacant lightweight championship. The completed events therefore produced distinct championship stories: du Plessis and Zhang defended in Sydney, Volkanovski regained featherweight gold in Miami, and Topuria secured a second divisional title in Las Vegas.
Sources
- ufc.com
- ufc.com: main card results highlights winner interviews ufc 317 topuria vs oliveira
- ufc.com: ufc 314
Article Tags
Dricus du Plessis, Zhang Weili, Sean Strickland, Tatiana Suarez, UFC, MMA
