The middleweight title is on the line in the main event of UFC 312 tonight, as Dricus Du Plessis defends the belt against Sean Strickland, a year after dethroning the controversial American.
With his narrow victory over Strickland, Du Plessis became South Africa’s first UFC champion, and he consolidated his reign with a submission of former title holder Israel Adesanya in August.
Meanwhile, Strickland bounced back with a points win over Paulo Costa in June, setting up this rematch with Du Plessis in Sydney, Australia – a country whose gun laws and ‘lack of freedom’ were the subject of a tirade by Strickland this week.
The challenger, who has denied he is battling a staph infection, faces Du Plessis after Tatiana Suarez fights Zhang Weili in tonight’s co-main event. Suarez, a teammate of Strickland, will try to end Zhang’s second reign with the strawweight belt.
Follow live updates and results from the UFC 312 main card and prelims:
UFC 312 LIVE: Du Plessis vs Strickland 2
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Dricus Du Plessis defends middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 312
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Strickland was dethroned by the South African in a close decision one year ago
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Strickland insults Australia’s gun laws and ‘lack of freedom’ ahead of Sydney event
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Divisive American denies suffering from staph infection before title rematch
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Co-main event pits strawweight champ Zhang Weili against Tatiana Suarez
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Early prelims: 11pm GMT; regular prelims: 1am GMT; main card: 3am GMT
