UFC 312 Sydney: Who is fighting, what time the bouts are on, how to watch and previews on Australian fighters taking to the octagon

• e-mail

UFC 312 marks the company's return to Sydney for the first time since 2023, with a stacked card featuring some of the best talent from Australia and around the world. 

The main event sees South African star Dricus du Plessis defend his middleweight championship belt against outspoken American Sean Strickland, in what promises to be a fiery rematch. 

In the co-main event, China's Zhang Weili takes on Tatiana Suarez of the USA for the Women’s Strawweight Championship in a battle of elite grapplers.

For Aussie fans, the night is extra special, with seven Australian fighters competing across the card. 

Jimmy Crute, Jake Matthews, Jack Jenkins, Tom Nolan, Colby Thicknesse, Jonathan Micallef, and Quillan Salkilld will all be representing Australia, aiming to make a statement on home soil. 

UFC 312: Full Preview & How to Watch

Dricus du Plessis will defend his title against outspoken American Sean Strickland in Sydney

Event Details

• Date: Sunday, February 9, 2025
• Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
• Start Time:
• Early Prelims: 9:00 AM AEDT
• Prelims: 11:00 AM AEDT
• Main Card: 1:00 PM AEDT

How to Watch in Australia

• Main Card (Pay-Per-View): Available on Main Event via Kayo Sports & Foxtel
• Prelims: Watch live on ESPN & Kayo Sports
• Early Prelims: Streaming on UFC Fight Pass

Australian Fighters Preview

Jimmy Crute (Australia) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (Brazil) – Light Heavyweight Bout

Jimmy Crute is one of many Aussies taking part in UFC 312 in Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena

Jimmy Crute is a powerful striker with strong grappling skills, looking to bounce back from recent setbacks. He'll need to avoid Bellato's dangerous stand-up game and use his wrestling to control the fight. A win in front of his home crowd could put him back on track in the light heavyweight division.

Jake Matthews (Australia) vs. Francisco Prado (Argentina) – Welterweight Bout

Jake Matthews is the most experienced of the raw batch of Australian talent that will be taking part in Sydney

Jake Matthews is one of Australia's most experienced UFC fighters, with a well-rounded skill set. He'll aim to use his experience to outwork Prado, a dangerous young striker with knockout power. A smart, patient approach could secure Matthews another big win.

Jack Jenkins (Australia) vs. Gabriel Santos (Brazil) – Featherweight Bout

Jack Jenkins will be hoping to take advantage of his kicking skills to take down his Brazillian opponent

Jack Jenkins is a rising Aussie talent known for his pressure and brutal leg kicks. He'll need to keep the fight standing against Santos, who has a strong submission game. If he controls the pace, Jenkins can continue his climb in the featherweight division.

Tom Nolan (Australia) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (Russia) – Lightweight Bout

Tom Nolan is one of the younger fighters on the card who brings lots of range to his attack

Tom Nolan is a young prospect with knockout power and a long reach. Facing an experienced kickboxer in Borshchev, he must use his range and mix in grappling to stay ahead. A win here could put him on the radar in the stacked lightweight division.

Colby Thicknesse (Australia) vs. Aleksandre Topuria (Georgia) – Bantamweight Bout

UFC 312 in Sydney will mark the debut of Australian fighter Colby Thicknesse, but he is hoping it won't be his last fight

Colby Thicknesse makes his UFC debut with a well-rounded game and solid striking. He'll need to keep the fight standing to avoid Topuria's dangerous grappling. A strong performance could mark the start of a promising UFC career.

Jonathan Micallef (Australia) vs. Kevin Jousset (France) – Welterweight Bout

Expect the fight between Jonathan Micallef (left) and Frenchman Kevin Jousset to be decided on the floor

Jonathan Micallef is a tough grappler who will look to control Jousset on the ground. His key to victory is avoiding Jousset's judo throws and staying dominant in top position. A win would be a great start to his UFC journey.

Quillan Salkilld (Australia) vs. Anshul Jubli (India) – Lightweight Bout

Aussie Quillan Salkilld is hoping that UFC 312 in Sydney ignites his young fighting career

Quillan Salkilld brings a balanced mix of striking and grappling into his UFC debut. He'll need to use movement and accuracy to counter Jubli's aggressive style. A strong showing could open doors for bigger fights ahead.

Main Fight: Du Plessis hungry to show he's the UFC's apex predator 

South African star Dricus du Plessis will be looking to defend his title in Australia

At the same time, du Plessis (22-2 MMA) secured a fourth-round rear-naked-choke against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth last August in his first title defence.

Two apex predators will rumble not in the jungle but in a cage as Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland shape up for a spicy rematch for the UFC middleweight belt in Sydney.

That's how du Plessis sees Sunday's showdown, with the South African hungry to retain his title in more convincing fashion than in his anxious 'coin toss' split-decision win over Strickland to claim the strap in Toronto 13 months ago.

Judges awarded him the fight 48-47, 48-47, 47-47 despite a fourth-round alleged headbutt by du Plessis being the contentious turning point.

Instead of the UFC granting an immediate rematch, Strickland (29-6 MMA) maintained his status as a divisional title contender by beating Paulo Costa five months later by decision at UFC 302.

Two apex predators will rumble not in the jungle but in a cage as Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland shape up for a spicy rematch for the UFC middleweight belt in Sydney.

Strickland will be a tough opponent for the South African and comes into the fight full of confidence

That's how du Plessis sees Sunday's showdown, with the South African hungry to retain his title in more convincing fashion than in his anxious 'coin toss' split-decision win over Strickland to claim the strap in Toronto 13 months ago.

Judges awarded him the fight 48-47, 48-47, 47-47 despite a fourth-round alleged headbutt by du Plessis being the contentious turning point.

Instead of the UFC granting an immediate rematch, Strickland (29-6 MMA) maintained his status as a divisional title contender by beating Paulo Costa five months later by decision at UFC 302.

'We got lucky with the split decision,' du Plessis said.

'Otherwise we wouldn't be here now. I am very happy that they made this fight. I was asking for this fight.

'I'm going in there looking for that finish from the first bell. And if it has to go to last bell (in round five), I'll be looking for that knockout until the end of the fight.'

Du Plessis will be the bookmakers' pick and most fans' sentimental favourite at Qudos Bank Arena after Strickland once again failed to endear himself to Australian fans ahead of UFC 312.

The foul-mouthed, controversial American was lucky to be granted a visa after revealing he'd punched a fan in the stomach in Bondi during his last visit to Sydney UFC 293 in 2023.

This week he's been stirring the pot, calling Australia 'communists' for the regulations and cameras governing the nation's roads and even questioning the country's gun laws after 'one mass shooting', as he called the infamous 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

'I would like to consider Australians as English white trash and even some Irish,' Strickland said this week.

'As an American white trash, I feel like I have a lot in common with you f***ers.' 

Strickland is the only man to take du Plessis to a fifth round and the champion is ready for another war, even if he'd much prefer to win easier this time around.

'I think Strickland is the best middleweight in the world right now behind me, and he deserves to be here,' du Plessis said.

'I know he's an incredible, incredible fighter. He's so good defensively. He's tough. He's hard to hit.

'And when you hit him, it doesn't have that effect as on a normal guy. This man is an apex predator.

'So this is the toughest fight of my life coming up, and I'm ready for that because I'm an apex predator and he's in my area right now.' 

Main Card

• Middleweight Championship: Dricus du Plessis (South Africa) vs. Sean Strickland (USA)
• Strawweight Championship: Zhang Weili (China) vs. Tatiana Suarez (USA)
• Heavyweight Bout: Justin Tafa (New Zealand) vs. Tallison Teixeira (Brazil)
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Jimmy Crute (Australia) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (Brazil)
• Welterweight Bout: Jake Matthews (Australia) vs. Francisco Prado (Argentina)
• Preliminary Card
• Featherweight Bout: Jack Jenkins (Australia) vs. Gabriel Santos (Brazil)
• Lightweight Bout: Tom Nolan (Australia) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (Russia)
• Flyweight Bout: Wang Cong (China) vs. Bruna Brasil (Brazil)
• Bantamweight Bout: Colby Thicknesse (Australia) vs. Aleksandre Topuria (Georgia)
• Early Preliminary Card
• Welterweight Bout: Jonathan Micallef (Australia) vs. Kevin Jousset (France)
• Lightweight Bout: Kody Steele (USA) vs. Rong Zhu (China)
• Lightweight Bout: Quillan Salkilld (Australia) vs. Anshul Jubli (India)

Canceled Fight:

Flyweight Bout: Hyun Sung Park (South Korea) vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (Mongolia) – Canceled due to weight management issues