Following his win over Israel Adesanya by submission at UFC 305 back in August 2024, South African fighter Dricus du Plessis is all set to defend his Middleweight title when he faces Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia on Saturday night (Sunday morning Nigerian Time).
Ahead of the clash between the former training partners, Du Plessis and Strickland came face-to-face for the first time on fight week at the pre-fight press conference as the latter aims to win back the title lost to the South African at UFC 297 in January 2024.
Du Plessis won that fight by split decision although Strickland continues to contest the result, claiming he was robbed, while the title holder is heading into UFC 312 aiming to prove that first fight was no fluke.
Meanwhile, in the co-main event at the Qudos Bank Arena, Zhang Weili and challenger, Tatiana Suarez sized each other up ahead of their Strawweight title bout.