Excitement Down Under Tonight (Feb. 8)

UFC 312 is here! Tonight, 24 hours before the NFL season ends with Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans at Caesars Superdome, MMA’s top promotion holds its second pay-per-view show of 2025. Live coverage of UFC 312 begins this evening at 6:30 pm ET/ 3:30 pm PT for the early prelims.

As usual, the early prelims of this PPV will be simulcast on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+. Late prelims follow at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on ESPN+ and ESPN2. Main card action closes out the night at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

All told, tonight’s schedule of bouts features a 12-fight slate from Sydney, Australia and Qudos Bank Arena.

UFC 312 Main Event

At the top of the bill tonight are a pair of anticipated championship bouts. The title fight twin-bill is capped off with the battle for the UFC Middleweight Championship between incumbent titleholder Dricus du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and No. 1 contender Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC).

UFC 312 Co-Main Event

Immediately beforehand, the first half of the championship doubleheader takes place at 115 lbs. Current UFC Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) meets No. 1 contender Tatiana Suarez (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC). Both title fights are an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round.

Rest of the Card

Also on the main card tonight, you’ll see a heavyweight affair pitting Tallison Teixeira (7-0 MMA, UFC promotional debut) against Justin Tafa (7-4, 1 NC MMA, 4-4, 1 NC UFC), a light heavyweight contest between Jimmy Crute (12-4-1, 1 NC MMA, 4-4-1, 1 NC UFC) and Rodolfo Bellato (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), and a welterweight bout pairing Jake Matthews (20-7 MMA, 13-7 UFC) with Francisco Prado (12-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC.)

UFC 312 Results:

UFC 312 Main Card (10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT, ESPN+)

Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46, defends UFC Middleweight Championship.

Co-Main Event: Zhang Weili def. Tatiana Suarez by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45), defends UFC Strawweight Championship.

Xicao bringing the POWER 💥

Tallison Teixeira gets the TKO just 35 seconds into his UFC debut! #UFC312 pic.twitter.com/x6F0kJsPha

— UFC (@ufc) February 9, 2025

Tallison Teixeira def. Justin Tafa by TKO (Elbows Followed by Knees) at 0:35 into Round 1.

Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato ends in a Majority Draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28.)

Jake Matthews def. Francisco Prado by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)

Late Prelims (8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT, ESPN+ and ESPN2)

MOSQUITINHO GETS THE TAP 🦟@MosquitinhoMMA takes it out of the judges hands with a RNC in Round 3! #UFC312 pic.twitter.com/YPqW4cMvAJ

— UFC (@ufc) February 9, 2025

Featured Prelim:  Gabriel Santos def. Jack Jenkins by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:06 into Round 3.

Co-Featured Prelim: Tom Nolan def. Viacheslav Borschev by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27.)

Cong Wang def. Bruna Brasil by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27. 30-27.)

Aleksandre Topuria def. Colby Thicknesse by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)

Early Prelims: (6:30 pm ET/ 3:30 pm PT, UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+)

Featured Early Prelim: Rongzhu def. Kody Steele by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)

Co-Featured Early Prelim: Jonathan Micallef def. Kevin Jousset by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28.)

WELCOME TO THE UFC QUILLAN SALKILLD 😱

He ends his first outing in the Octagon in just 19 seconds at #UFC312 with a TKO! pic.twitter.com/VWFHZR24OI

— UFC (@ufc) February 8, 2025

Quillan Salkilld def. Anshul Jubli by TKO (Right Hand) at 0:19 into Round 1. Second-fastest knockout win by debuting UFC lightweight competitor in history.