UFC 312 doesn’t simply have implications on the prime of two weight courses, it additionally has the potential to shake up the pound-for-pound rankings.
Heading into Saturday, middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and Zhang Weili have loads to show, with du Plessis presently at No. 7 on MMA Combating’s Males’s P4P listing and Zhang at No. 2 on the Ladies’s P4P listing, only a few factors behind Valentina Shevchenko. They each have the chance to bolster their already spectacular résumés with tonight’s title defenses.
Du Plessis sees a well-known face in the primary occasion as he squares off with Sean Strickland 13 months after their first encounter, which noticed du Plessis take the 185-pound strap from Strickland by way of a detailed break up determination. It’s been an unimaginable run for du Plessis, presently 8-0 within the UFC along with his previous three victories coming towards Strickland, Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker. It’s a stretch of success that ought to arguably have du Plessis within the P4P prime 5 and a second—and ideally, extra definitive—win over Strickland solely strengthens that case.
For Zhang, handing Tatiana Suarez her first loss can be an unimaginable feat, including to an inventory of accolades that already consists of two reigns as UFC strawweight champion and three profitable title defenses. With one other Zhang victory, now we have to ask the place Zhang stands not solely on the present P4P listing, however the all-time P4P listing among the many likes of Amanda Nunes, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, and others.
Then once more, it’s completely doable Strickland and Suarez knock off the champs, upending the present P4P dialogue altogether.
What: UFC 312
The place: Qudos Financial institution Area in Sydney
When: Saturday, Feb. 8. The three-fight early preliminary card begins at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Disney+, adopted by a four-fight preliminary card airing on those self same platforms and ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET. The five-fight important card begins at 10 p.m. ET solely on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland
The rematch between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland is a query of extra.
I used to be cageside at UFC 297 for his or her first combat and regardless of a spirited effort from each males within the latter phases of the combat, neither did sufficient in my eyes to drag away on the playing cards. The shut scores mirrored that (I had it 48-47 Strickland), which is why simply over a 12 months later we discover ourselves right here once more. Now it’s time to see who can do extra to really stake their declare because the superior fighter.
Can du Plessis land with extra quantity along with touchdown the tougher pictures, as he did within the first combat? Can he do extra along with his grappling moreover maintain Strickland down for just a few innocent seconds? Can he put much more strain on Strickland and depart the challenger no room to breathe?
Strickland additionally has to make changes. Can he do extra harm than common? Can he implement extra of his personal grappling to throw du Plessis off his recreation? Can he push the tempo extra within the championship rounds to seal the deal?
Simply primarily based on having the stronger offense, du Plessis ought to have the benefit right here, however nobody must be shocked if this goes the space and Strickland manages to scrape out the choice this time. It’s on the champ to make it possible for doesn’t occur.
In his first title protection, du Plessis grew to become the primary fighter ever to submit Israel Adesanya, and I feel he does the identical to Strickland, forcing him to faucet out for the primary time in his 17-year profession.
Decide: Du Plessis
Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez
If there’s one factor I don’t love about Zhang Weili’s probabilities of defending it’s all of her speak about going as much as 125 to combat Valentina Shevchenko. Positive, that is most likely one thing that’s been on her thoughts for some time, even forward of her previous two title defenses and people went simply high quality, however counting your chickens earlier than they hatch hardly ever goes effectively in fight sports activities.
Wanting previous Tatiana Suarez can be loopy, provided that Suarez has the identical form of wrestling and grappling experience that has raised many a fighter to champion standing. It’s not as if Zhang is a rock relating to takedown protection both. She’s a terrific athlete, so she will be able to work her manner out of dangerous conditions on the bottom with a mix of approach and uncooked energy, however you don’t need Suarez on prime of you in the event you can keep away from it.
Each spherical that Suarez can financial institution together with her wrestling will repay later, the place she’s unproven within the championship rounds. We all know Zhang can go a tough 25 minutes, however can Suarez preserve her recreation plan in rounds 4 and 5? We all know she excels because the hammer, however how will she react to being the nail if Zhang will get her putting going?
That is such a compelling matchup and though Virna Jandiroba is simply as deserving of a shot, it looks like we might have misplaced one thing if Suarez by no means acquired her shot at Zhang. That mentioned, I’m going with the extra well-rounded champ to win a call.
Decide: Zhang
Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira
Please let this be enjoyable. Please let this be enjoyable. Please let this be enjoyable.
The potential for heavyweight weirdness is actually right here as now we have the stout Justin Tafa welcoming the towering Tallison Teixeira to the UFC. There’s about seven inches of top distinction between these two, so not fairly Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve, however Tafa should channel “The Tremendous Samoan” if he’s to search out Teixeira’s chin and take him down a notch.
Tafa likes to swing for the fences, so his greatest technique may be to simply come out along with his fists prepared fly, nearly like somebody attempting to make themselves look greater to scare off a wild animal. That strategy actually comes with threat, as Teixeira likes to throw looping punches and kicks with the intention of eradicating heads from shoulders.
There’s additionally the chance the taller Teixeira takes a cue from Sergei Pavlovich’s efficiency towards Jairzinho Rozenstruik and simply tackles Tafa if the motion begins to get too sizzling. Let’s hope it doesn’t go that route.
I’ll go along with the newcomer scoring a first-round knockout after a spirited couple of minutes of back-and-forth clubbering.
Decide: Teixeira
Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato
It’s straightforward to overlook that Jimmy Crute is simply shy of 29 years outdated and at one level had a quantity subsequent to his identify within the UFC’s gentle heavyweight rankings. He’s in dire want of a win right here, having gone 0-3 with a no-contest since beating Modestas Bukauskas all the way in which again in October 2020. His prospects are additionally muddled by his retirement pump pretend after we noticed final noticed him at UFC 290, so it’s anybody’s guess the place his head is at now.
Crute higher be in control as a result of Rodolfo Bellato just isn’t an opponent that’s going to provide you time to search out your sea legs. The Brazilian finisher loves to return ahead and rise up shut and private, punishing his foes with punches in shut and nasty clinch work. He’ll have little sympathy for Crute’s prolonged layoff as soon as that cage door closes.
Alternatively, being thrown proper into the fireplace (I do know, I’m mixing my metaphors) may be precisely what Crute wants if he’s to search out that spark once more. Bellato’s protection is suspect, so the alternatives might be there for Crute to do some harm of his personal.
With the Australian crowd behind him, search for Crute to be spurred on to a career-saving efficiency and perhaps the beginning of one other run up the 205 ladder.
Decide: Crute
Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado
Jake Matthews hasn’t received consecutive fights since 2020, however I feel he breaks that pattern Saturday.
“The Celtic Child” is a hardened veteran at this stage of his profession and, for higher or worse, what you’re getting with him. He’s a stable athlete, springy on his ft, and able to some thrilling bursts of offense. He’s additionally liable to make errors and could be irritating to observe when he has an off evening. Nonetheless, I noticed a grittiness in his win over Philip Rowe that makes me really feel assured choosing him.
At 22, Francisco Prado is the place Matthews as soon as was, bright-eyed and bushy tailed and making the transfer as much as 170 kilos. His compact construct packs some severe punch and I’m intrigued to see how his pace advantages him in a heavier weight class. At his greatest, you possibly can image Prado making Matthews miss and battering him with counters.
Prado confirmed severe grit in a Combat of the Evening loss to Daniel Zellhuber, so I doubt Matthews can put him away inside the space. However I do favor Matthews to capitalize on his measurement and attain benefit, profitable the exchanges from vary and mixing in takedowns to maintain Prado guessing.
Matthews by determination.
Decide: Matthews
Preliminaries
Jack Jenkins def. Gabriel Santos
Tom Nolan def. Viacheslav Borshchev
Wang Cong def. Bruna Brasil
Colby Thicknesse def. Aleksandre Topuria
Kevin Jousset def. Jonathan Micallef
Kody Steele def. Rongzhu
Quillan Salkilld def. Anshul Jubli
