Staredowns! DDP Mean Mugs Jacked Strickland

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).

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

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez

Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira

Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria

LIVE! Watch UFC 312 PPV On ESPN+ Here!

MIDDLEWEIGHT REMATCH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., Feb. 8, with a rematch between 185-pound kingpin, Dricus du Plessis, running it back against the man he lifted the belt off little more than one year ago, Sean Strickland, in the five-round main event. In UFC 312’s championship co-headliner from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, women’s Strawweight roost-ruler, Zhang Weili, will defend her belt against undefeated (and oft-injured) 115-pound contender, Tatiana Suarez. UFC 312 will also feature a hard-hitting Heavyweight battle between Justin Tafa vs. Talisson Teixeira, alongside a Light Heavyweight showdown with Jimmy Crute facing Rodolfo Bellato, and so much more! UFC 312’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!

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.