UFC 312 simply added two epic title bouts to the lineup, a middleweight rematch and an extended awaited strawweight showdown.
It seems no. 1 ranked UFC strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez (10-0) will lastly be getting a title shot, because it was simply introduced the primary of those two title fights will probably be her going through Weili Zhang (25-3) for the UFC strawweight championship at UFC 312 in a co-headline slot.
UFC 312 is to go down on February 9, 2025, dwell from the Qudos Financial institution Enviornment in Sydney, Australia.
Suarez has lengthy been thought to be one in every of, if not even one of the best feminine fighter on the planet at 115 lbs, the one factor holding her again being a large number of accidents and well being problems she’s had throughout her profession. Suarez was anticipated to make an Olympic run in 2012, although her aspirations to compete have been crushed courtesy of a neck harm she suffered in preparation.
Since then, her harm bug hasn’t left, she’s had a variety of lengthy layoffs all through her profession in addition to many cancelled bouts that helped lengthen a few of these layoffs. A type of was anticipated to be her going through no. 3 ranked Virna Jandiroba this weekend at UFC 310, a bout that was cancelled because of extra well being points suffered by the undefeated contender.
At 34 years of age, the UFC determined to grant Suarez a title shot subsequent as a substitute of rebooking the Jandiroba bout. Many people followers had predicted she would’ve fought for a belt way back, so it’s becoming to see her lastly get a crack at it. What’s unlucky about it’s she hasn’t fought since August of 2023.
Since becoming a member of the UFC’s roster following her declare of The Final Fighter 23 trophy Suarez’ finest wins come over former UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso (rear bare choke), former two-time UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza (TKO), and one other former UFC strawweight champion in Jessica Andrade (guillotine choke), enhancing her to 15-0 general in MMA competitors (2-0 newbie, 3-0 TUF).
Weili Zhang then again is at present probably the most dominant energetic feminine fighter within the sport, solely having misplaced to Rose Namajunas since becoming a member of the promotion in 2018 with spectacular wins over Jessica Andrade (TKO), Joanna Jedrzejczyk twice (SD, KO), Carla Esparza (rear bare choke), all of that are former strawweight champions, after which Amanda Lemos (UD) and Yan Xiaonan (UD) in her newest two appearances, this battle anticipated to be her third straight title protection.
Then we’ve got the UFC 312 predominant occasion
Dricus du Plessis (22-2) simply defeated former champion Sean Strickland (29-6) earlier this 12 months in January at UFC 297 to say the UFC middleweight championship in a razor skinny cut up resolution that some believed he received, and a few believed Strickland received.
Since then, every man has fought a single time, Strickland defeating former title challenger Paulo Costa (SD) in June at UFC 302, and du Plessis making the primary protection of his title towards former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (neck crank) in August at UFC 305.
A number of us followers have been speculating as to who would get the following title shot at 185 lbs, given many believed Strickland received the primary battle and will nonetheless be champion, to not point out having fought and received since.
On the opposite facet of the coin Khamzat Chimaev simply stormed proper by way of former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (neck crank) in October, enhancing to 14-0 in doing so.
But it surely seems the UFC determined to go along with the rematch first and both ebook Chimaev towards the winner or discover him one other battle within the meantime.
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