Dricus Du Plessis vs Sean Strickland LIVE: Date, UK start time, fight card and how to follow rematch at UFC 312
Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland will come head-to-head for a second time at UFC 312 this weekend. The duo met at the start of 2024, and Du Plessis walked away victorious, claiming the middleweight title in the process. Du Plessis has since defended his belt against Israel AdesanyaGetty Their first bout was an epic contest that went to the South African through a split decision. So, the rematch in Australia promises to be quite the occasion. Elsewhere, women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili will defend her title against Tatiana Suarez – the official number one-ranked in her weight division. Du Plessis vs Strickland: Date and how to follow This middleweight title showdown will take place on Saturday, February 8. It is being held at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The preliminary action is set to get going at 10pm, with the main event expected at 3am on Sunday morning. The action will be shown on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK, with the early preliminary rounds available on the UFC Fight Pass. More info here. talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will keep you up to date with all the action, while you can also follow all the build-up on talkSPORT’s MMA YouTube channel. To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM. Strickland will be determined to reclaim his titleGetty Du Plessis vs Strickland: UFC 312 fight card Subject to change Main card MAIN EVENT: Dricus Du Plessis vs Sean Strickland – for UFC middleweight title Zhang Weili vs Tatiana Suarez – for UFC strawweight title Justin Tafa vs Tallison Texeira Jimmy Crute vs Rodolfo Bellato Jake Matthews vs Francisco Pardo Preliminary card Jack Jenkins vs Gabriel Santos Tom Nolan vs Viacheslav Borshchev Wang Cong vs Bruna Brasil Colby Haddon vs Aleksandre Topuria Early preliminary card Jonathan Micallef vs Kevin Jousset Rong Zhu vs Kody Steele Quillan Salkilld vs Anshul Jubli Park Hyun-sung vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel Weili is a tough competitor and will defend her title once againGetty Du Plessis vs Strickland 2: What has been said? Strickland has hit back at Du Plessis for claiming that he has a staph infection ahead of their rematch. A staph infection is caused by the Staphylococcus bacteria, which commonly inhabit the skin and nose and may enter the body through cuts and abrasions. Du Plessis posted on social media with the caption: “What? He gre taller and added a staph infection to his arsenal, O ****”.” Strickland responded to that claim at the pre-fight press conference, shouting: “Listen you mother*******, I’m immune to staph. “You see this ******* mustache? I give staph, I don’t ******* get staph. Calm the **** down. I don’t get sick. “I don’t get ******* injured and I don’t get ******* staph. So relax.”
Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland will come head-to-head for a second time at UFC 312 this weekend.
The duo met at the start of 2024, and Du Plessis walked away victorious, claiming the middleweight title in the process.
Their first bout was an epic contest that went to the South African through a split decision.
So, the rematch in Australia promises to be quite the occasion.
Elsewhere, women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili will defend her title against Tatiana Suarez – the official number one-ranked in her weight division.
Du Plessis vs Strickland: Date and how to follow
This middleweight title showdown will take place on Saturday, February 8.
It is being held at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
The preliminary action is set to get going at 10pm, with the main event expected at 3am on Sunday morning.
The action will be shown on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK, with the early preliminary rounds available on the UFC Fight Pass. More info here.
talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will keep you up to date with all the action, while you can also follow all the build-up on talkSPORT’s MMA YouTube channel.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Du Plessis vs Strickland: UFC 312 fight card
Subject to change
Main card
- MAIN EVENT: Dricus Du Plessis vs Sean Strickland – for UFC middleweight title
- Zhang Weili vs Tatiana Suarez – for UFC strawweight title
- Justin Tafa vs Tallison Texeira
- Jimmy Crute vs Rodolfo Bellato
- Jake Matthews vs Francisco Pardo
Preliminary card
- Jack Jenkins vs Gabriel Santos
- Tom Nolan vs Viacheslav Borshchev
- Wang Cong vs Bruna Brasil
- Colby Haddon vs Aleksandre Topuria
Early preliminary card
- Jonathan Micallef vs Kevin Jousset
- Rong Zhu vs Kody Steele
- Quillan Salkilld vs Anshul Jubli
- Park Hyun-sung vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
Du Plessis vs Strickland 2: What has been said?
Strickland has hit back at Du Plessis for claiming that he has a staph infection ahead of their rematch.
A staph infection is caused by the Staphylococcus bacteria, which commonly inhabit the skin and nose and may enter the body through cuts and abrasions.
Du Plessis posted on social media with the caption: “What? He gre taller and added a staph infection to his arsenal, O ****”.”
Strickland responded to that claim at the pre-fight press conference, shouting: “Listen you mother*******, I’m immune to staph.
“You see this ******* mustache? I give staph, I don’t ******* get staph. Calm the **** down. I don’t get sick.
“I don’t get ******* injured and I don’t get ******* staph. So relax.”
