Sun Feb 09 11:29:06 UTC 2025: ## Aussie Fighters Shine at UFC 312: Du Plessis, Weili Retain Titles in Dominant Fashion

**Sydney, Australia** – UFC 312 delivered a night of thrilling victories and controversial finishes at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. While the undercard featured a mix of exciting wins and losses for fighters from various countries, the main event delivered on expectations.

Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title against Sean Strickland in a dominant rematch, winning by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46). Du Plessis outstruck Strickland, landing 129 significant strikes compared to Strickland’s 92, and secured the fight’s only takedown. A particularly brutal right hand in the fourth round appeared to break Strickland’s nose. This victory marks Du Plessis’ ninth consecutive win at middleweight.

In the co-main event, strawweight champion Zhang Weili showcased her dominance, defeating Tatiana Suarez by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45). Weili controlled the fight both on the feet and on the ground, landing a remarkable 251 of 300 strike attempts and defending 14 of 15 takedown attempts. The victory solidified Weili’s position as a top contender in the strawweight division.

The card also saw several notable performances: Tallison Teixeira secured a swift knockout victory over Justin Tafa in just 35 seconds; Jake Matthews earned a unanimous decision win over Francisco Prado; and Tom Nolan triumphed over Viacheslav Borshchev in a hard-fought unanimous decision.

However, the event wasn’t without controversy. Referee Jim Perdios’s quick stoppage of Quillan Salkilld’s fight against Anshul Jubli sparked debate, as Jubli appeared to be attempting to recover before the stoppage. Additionally, Justin Tafa’s corner protested the referee’s decision to stop his fight with Tallison Teixeira early.

The event showcased a diverse range of fighters, with wins and losses spread across various nationalities. While Australian fighters secured several victories, some notable upsets saw American Kody Steele lose to Rongzhu and Frenchman Kevin Jousset fall to Jonathan Micallef. The presence of championship rivals Ilia Topuria and Alex Volkanovski in opposite corners, coaching their respective bantamweight fighters, further heightened the competitive atmosphere. UFC 312 ultimately proved a resounding success for the promotion, leaving fans with both exhilarating moments and talking points for weeks to come.

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