UFC 312 live results: Two title fights from Sydney, Australia

The Octagon returns to Sydney, Australia, for the first time since September 2023 with UFC 312 from the Qudos Bank Arena.

The main event is a rematch for the UFC middleweight championship as champion Dricus Du Plessis defends against former champion Sean Strickland. “DDP” defeated Strickland to become the champion at January 2024’s UFC 297 and the rematch comes after both picked up wins in the meantime. Du Plessis is coming off a title defense over Israel Adesanya while Strickland defeated Paulo Costa.

In the co-main event, UFC women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends against undefeated Tatiana Suarez in what is perhaps the best fight one could make in the division. Weili has won four straight and is coming off a title defense against Yan Xiaonan in April. Suarez has been out of action since August 2023, but has won all ten of her pro fights to date.

Also on the main card is a heavyweight battle between Justin Tafa and Tallison Teixeira; a light heavyweight bout pitting Jimmy Crute against Rodolfo Bellato; and a welterweight bout between Jake Matthews and Francisco Prado.

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> Lightweights- Quillan Salkilld (7-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Anshul Jubli (7-1, 1-1 UFC)

Salkilld lands a jab then a leg kick. Salkilld then drops Jubli with the first right hand thrown and it is all over! What a finish from Salkilld in his debut!

Official Result- Quillan Salkilld def. Anshul Jubli by TKO (punch) at :19 of Round 1

> Welterweights- Jonathan Micallef (7-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Kevin Jousset (10-3, 2-1 UFC)

Micallef lands a left hand and a body kick after an exchange to start. They trade kicks. They trade body kicks and Jousset lands a counter left hand. Jousset with a right hand. Micallef lands a body kick. Jousset with a counter left hand then a jab. Micallef with another body kick. They trade kicks. They clinch and Jousset lands some uppercuts and an elbow as Micallef lands a pair of knees. They separate and trade body kicks. Micallef drops Jousset with a head kick then attacks the neck but they stand and separate. Jousset lands a right hand and they trade body kicks. Micallef with a body kick followed by a left hand. Micallef with a pair of body kicks. Micallef with another body kick then another. 10-9 Micallef.

Micallef lands a left hand. Jousset with a heavy leg kick. Jousset with another leg kick. They trade punches. Micallef with a hard body kick. They trade kicks. Micallef with a head kick. They trade left hands. Micallef with a series of jabs. Jousset lands a body kick then a leg kick. Micallef lands a body kick. Micallef with another head kick that momentarily stuns Jousset. They trade kicks. Micallef lands a left hand and Jousset with a body kick. They trade in the center. Jousset with a body kick then a right hand, then Micallef lands a question mark kick. 10-9 Micallef, 20-18 Micallef.

They’re trading early in the third round as Jousset is pressing forward, but Micallef is landing more from the outside. Micallef lands a body kick. Jousset with a straight right hand, but eats a body kick from Micallef. Jousset lands to the body and then lands a body kick. Micallef lands a body kick. Micallef with a head kick. Jousset with a body kick, but then Micallef lands a head kick, and Jousset lands a leg kick. Jousset lands a right hand, then follows with a left and another right. They trade combinations. Jousset lands a right hand. Jousset comes forward with a flurry late. 10-9 Jousset, 29-28 Micallef.

Official Result- Jonathan Micallef def. Kevin Jousset by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Lightweights- Rongzhu (25-6, 1-3 UFC) vs. Kody Steele (7-0, 0-0 UFC)

Rongzhu lands early and Steele scores a takedown, but they quickly get up. Rongzhu lands a leg kick and they trade some jabs. Steele with a right hand. Rongzhu lands a left hook. Steele lands a hard right hand. Rongzhu lands some big punches and Steele is in survival mode as he is rocked and having trouble standing. Steele is throwing punches back. Rongzhu lands a right hand. Steele lands a combo and Rongzhu lands a right hand and a left hook. Rongzhu with a right hand and then another as Steele fires back at the horn. Crazy round. 10-9 Rongzhu.

Rongzhu lands a hard right hand and Steele scores a takedown. Steele goes for a leg lock but Rongzhu escapes and they stand. They’re trading as both connect with combinations. Rongzhu with the jab and a right hand. Rongzhu with the double jab and a big left hand. They trade inside the pocket as Rongzhu lands a stiff left hook. Rongzhu with another big left hand followed by a stiff jab. Rongzhu lands a right hand. Rongzhu with a series of jabs then a right hand. 10-9 Rongzhu, 20-18 Rongzhu.

Steele lands a right hand then a jab. Rongzhu with a combination. Rongzhu lands a right hand. Rongzhu with a double jab. Rongzhu lands a flurry of punches. They’re trading in close range. They’re trading jabs back-and-forth. Rongzhu way ahead on volume as he’s landing a lot of punches, but Steele is eating them. Steele lands a jab. Rongzhu with a combination. Steele lands a combination. They trade big punches inside the pocket at the end. Fantastic fight. 10-9 Rongzhu, 30-27 Rongzhu.

Official Result- Rongzhu def. Kody Steele by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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> Bantamweights- Colby Thicknesse (7-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Aleksandre Topuria (5-1, 0-0 UFC)

Thicknesse lands a right hand. Thicknesse with a high kick. Topuria lands to the body. He lands some more body shots. Topuria lands a jab. Thicknesse lands a body kick. Thicknesse lands a high kick. They briefly clinch and Topuria lands an uppercut. They separate and Topuria lands a right hand. They clinch and Thicknesse lands a knee and Topuria pushes him away. Topuria lands a big right hand and Thicknesse is hurt. They scramble to the mat and Topuria has the back and lands, then lands some more as they get up. Thicknesse with a body kick. Thicknesse with a pair of kicks. Topuria lands to the body and gets the back as they scramble. Topuria with a big suplex from the back. 10-9 Topuria.

They trade to start the second as Topuria is pressuring. Topuria lands an uppercut to the body. Thicknesse with a head kick that Topuria mostly blocks. Thicknesse with a front kick to the body. Topuria with a heavy calf kick. Thicknesse shoots for a takedown against the fence but Topuria defends. Thicknesse lands a body kick. Topuria lands a body kick. Thicknesse lands a right hand. Thicknesse shoots for a takedown but Topuria defends. They trade jabs. 10-9 Topuria, 20-18 Topuria.

Thicknesse lands a body kick. Thicknesse shoots for a takedown but Topuria defends and sprawls to the back. Topuria has the back as they stand and they end up separating. Topuria gets Thicknesse down to the mat. Thicknesse looks to throw up a triangle choke but Topuria defends it and controls from the full guard. Topuria remaining in full control and landing from the top. Thicknesse is trying to set up something from the bottom but not having success as Topuria lands. 10-9 Topuria, 30-27 Topuria.

Official Result- Aleksandre Topuria def. Colby Thicknesse by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Women’s Flyweights- Wang Cong (6-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Bruna Brasil (10-4-1, 2-2 UFC)

Brasil lands a leg kick. Cong lands a leg kick. Brasil lands a leg kick. Cong lands a leg kick and a left hand. Brasil with a leg kick. They trade kicks and Cong lands a right hand and goes back to the leg kick. Cong with a combination. Cong gets Brasil to the mat late as Brasil missed a kick. 10-9 Cong.

Cong with a right hand and a calf kick. Cong lands a combination. Cong lands to the body as Brasil was backing up. Brasil is circling around and not throwing much offense and seems to be waiting to counter. Cong with a side leg kick. She lands two more leg kicks. Cong with a heavy leg kick. She lands another. Brasil throws a right hand that misses. Cong with an overhand right and she lands another as Brasil was backing up. Cong lands a right hand to the body and then some more body shots. Cong with a massive calf kick. 10-9 Cong, 20-18 Cong.

Cong with a side head kick but it barely missed. Cong lands a calf kick. They trade right hands. Cong lands a right hand and then another that snaps Brasil’s head back. Cong with a left hook. Cong with a side kick to the head and then one to the body. Cong with some leg and body kicks. Cong with a leg kick. They trade right hands. Cong way ahead on volume. Cong gets a late takedown. 10-9 Cong, 30-27 Cong.

Official Result- Wang Cong def. Bruna Brasil by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Lightweights- Tom Nolan (8-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (8-4-1, 3-3-1 UFC)

They trade leg kicks and Nolan lands a body kick. They briefly clinch but quickly separate. Nolan with a body kick. Nolan grabs the body lock and gets Borshchev down to the mat for a moment and has the back as they stand. Nolan with a knee. Nolan jumps on the back and is looking for a choke. Nolan with a few elbows. Borshchev falls back to break the grip, but Nolan ends up in side control. Nolan has a D’Arce choke locked in. Borshchev is trying to fight it off. Nolan lets go and lands an elbow before they stand and separate. Borshchev with a right hand to the body. Nolan lands a head kick. Nolan with a spin kick to the body. Nolan with a high kick then a pair of leg kicks. Borshchev with a right hand then a body kick. Borshchev with a right hand to the body then goes high with a punch and a kick. Nolan briefly gets it down but they pop right up. Borshchev with a push kick. 10-9 Nolan.

Borshchev lands a leg kick. Borshchev with some side kicks to the legs. Nolan lands a spinning back elbow. Borshchev with a high kick. Nolan with a right hand. Borshchev lands a right hand then a combination. Nolan with an elbow. Borshchev lands a pair of body kicks. Nolan lands a double jab then a leg kick. Borshchev with a jumping knee. Nolan shoots for a takedown and is in deep and is finally able to complete it after Borshchev tried defending. Nolan with a couple of left hands and attacks for the choke. They scramble up and trade punches. Nolan with a straight left hand. Borshchev lands a right hand. Nolan with a step-in knee. Nolan with a left hand. Borshchev with a spin kick. He lands another. Close round. 10-9 Nolan, 20-18 Nolan.

Borshchev with a body kick. They trade and Nolan lands a hard body kick. Borshchev lands a body kick and Nolan shoots for a takedown. Borshchev sprawls to defend and Nolan goes to his back and lands some upkicks. Borshchev backs away and is throwing kicks at the leg. Nolan jumps up and lands a head kick then stays on his back. Nolan is ordered to his feet. Nolan lands a head kick. Nolan lands a low kick and timeout is called. They get back to action. Nolan slips to the mat. Borshchev decides to get on top and then lands from the back as they scramble. Borshchev remains on top and Nolan lands a pair of elbows from his back. Nolan with hammerfists from the bottom as Borshchev lands a pair of left hands from the top. Borshchev stands but Nolan lands an upkick. Nolan with hammerfists from his back and Borshchev is cut open. They both land on the mat. Borshchev with a pair of left hands and some hammerfists. Nolan with some elbows from his back and Borshchev lands a big left hand. Borshchev goes for a late leg lock. 10-9 Nolan, 30-27 Nolan.

Official Result- Tom Nolan def. Viacheslav Borshchev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Featherweights- Jack Jenkins (13-3, 3-1 UFC) vs. Gabriel Santos (11-2, 1-2 UFC)

They trade leg kicks early. Santos lands an inside leg kick. Santos with a body kick then a leg kick. Jenkins drops Santos with a head kick and starts landing from the top. Jenkins inside the guard of Santos and throwing a ton of punches. Santos looked for an armbar but Jenkins was landing. Santos then locks in a triangle choke and it looks in deep. Jenkins is trying to escape and is able to. They get to their feet as Jenkins has Santos against the fence and lands some knees. They separate. Santos scores a takedown. Santos ends the round on top. 10-9 Jenkins.

Jenkins with a pair of body kicks as Santos lands a leg kick then a body kick. Santos lands a left hand. Jenkins with an uppercut. Jenkins just misses a head kick. Santos gets the body lock against the fence and scores a takedown. Santos lands to the body and moves to the half-guard. Santos landing from the top and controls for the rest of the round as he lands. 10-9 Santos, 19-19.

Santos rocks Jenkins with a front kick to the face and then a left hand and jumps on the back as they’re against the fence. Santos lands from the back as they go to the mat. Santos is working for a choke and has a rear-naked choke locked in deep and Jenkins taps! Great comeback from Santos after being dropped in the first round.

Official Result- Gabriel Santos def. Jack Jenkins by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:06 of Round 3

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> Welterweights- Jake Matthews (20-7, 13-7 UFC) vs. Francisco Prado (12-2, 1-2 UFC)

Matthews lands a jab. Matthews with a quick combination. Prado connects with a left hook and Matthews lands a counter combination then a right hand. Prado rushes in and lands. They trade left hands. Matthews lands a straight right hand. Matthews with some uppercuts in the clinch as Prado landed some knees. Matthews with a body kick. Prado lands a leg kick after they have an exchange. Matthews lands a solid left hook. Prado with a leg kick and Matthews counters with a head kick then lands a right hand. Prado looks for a takedown and completes it. Prado with two elbows and Matthews lands a right hand on the way up. They trade in close range. Matthews lands late. 10-9 Matthews.

Matthews with a combo to the body and head. Prado with an elbow and Matthews lands a flurry to the body. Prado with a leg kick. Matthews pressing forward and landing with more volume. Prado lands an outside leg kick. They trade left hooks. Matthews landing whenever they get in close range. Prado pushes it against the fence with underhooks looking to get it down. Matthews landing to the body as Prado has him pressed against the fence. They exchange knees. They separate and Matthews lands a flurry to the body. Prado with a right hand. They swing in close range. Matthews with a right hand and Prado is bleeding more. 10-9 Matthews, 20-18 Matthews.

Matthews with a combination. They trade body kicks. They trade in close range with Matthews landing more. Matthews lands and grabs the body lock but Prado is able to shake it off. Matthews lands an uppercut. Matthews with a flurry to the body. Prado looks for a takedown but Matthews defends. Prado lands a body kick. Matthews with a stiff left hook. Matthews buckles Prado for a moment with a left hook. Prado pushes it to the fence and Matthews lands a knee. Matthews with a pair of knees as Prado has him pressed against the fence. They separate and Matthews lands a right hand. They trade in close range. Prado with a leg kick. Matthews grabs the body lock and pushes it against the fence. They break apart. They clinch against the fence and Matthews lands a knee. 10-9 Matthews, 30-27 Matthews.

Official Result- Jake Matthews def. Francisco Prado by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Light Heavyweights- Jimmy Crute (12-4-1, 4-4-1 UFC) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (12-2, 1-0 UFC)

Crute lands some leg kicks and then a combination. Crute with a spin kick to the body. Bellato tries a takedown but Crute reverses it and ends up in the mount and lands. Crute looks for a choke but starts working from the half-guard. Crute moves to side control. Bellato looks to scramble out but Crute ends up back inside the guard of Bellato. Crute landing lots of right hands from the top. Crute with some left hands. Crute with some elbows and is still working from the half-guard. They sweep to the feet and Crute lands a right hand. Crute drops Bellato with a right hand and starts landing from the top. Crute with some big elbows and Bellato survives the round. 10-8 Crute.

Crute lands two right hands and a leg kick. Bellato lands a combination. Crute with a combo and a head kick. Bellato lands a stiff jab. Bellato lands a right hand and Crute with some short uppercuts. Bellato lands to the body. Crute with a right hand and Bellato lands a calf kick. Bellato with a left hook and lands a calf kick. Crute shoots for a takedown but Bellato squirms away. Crute with a left hook and a spin kick. Crute lands a combo. They trade leg kicks and Bellato lands a left hook. Crute with a right hand. Bellato with a calf kick. Crute with a solid right hand and some uppercuts. They trade in the clinch as both land some dirty boxing. Bellato with a heavy calf kick. Close round. 10-9 Bellato, 19-18 Crute.

Bellato with a leg kick. They trade inside the pocket. Bellato with a leg kick. Crute with a quick combination. Bellato with a stiff right hand then a leg kick. Crute tries to get it down but Bellato is able to scramble away. Bellato with an inside leg kick. Bellato with a heavy leg kick as Crute lands a combination. They trade right hands. Crute with a lunging right hand. Bellato scores a takedown but they scramble up. Bellato has the back and drags it down. They scramble up and Bellato lands a leg kick. Crute with a right hand and a head kick. Bellato with a leg kick. Crute lands a right hand and Bellato fires back a right hand. Bellato with a jab. Bellato with a heavy calf kick. Bellato with a combination. 10-9 Bellato, 28-28 DRAW.

Official Result- Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato scored a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)

> Heavyweights- Justin Tafa (7-4 1 NC, 4-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Tallison Teixeira (7-0, 0-0 UFC)

Teixeira lands a body kick. Teixeira looks for a takedown and pushes it to the fence. Teixeira with a knee and an elbow and Tafa goes to the mat. Teixeira lands some punches as Tafa is covering up and it is stopped. What a finish from Teixeira as Tafa is protesting the stoppage.

Official Result- Tallison Teixeira def. Justin Tafa by TKO (strikes) at :35 of Round 1

> UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship- C Zhang Weili (25-3, 9-2 UFC) vs. #1 Tatiana Suarez (10-0, 7-0 UFC)

Weili with a side kick and a right hand. Suarez is able to score a takedown right into side control. Suarez with some right hands to the body. Suarez with some left hands from the top. Weili throwing elbows from the bottom as Suarez lands to the body. Suarez moves back to side control. Suarez with a few knees to the body. Suarez grabs the neck as they stand and drops down looking for a choke but Weili escapes and is on top. Suarez landing to the body from the bottom. Suarez controlling an arm. Weili lands from the top. 10-9 Suarez.

Weili lands a high kick. Weili lands a right hand as Suarez was closing in for a takedown attempt. Suarez tries a takedown but Weili immediately scrambles into mount. Weili with some left hands from the top. Weili with lots of left hands as Suarez is trying to scramble up. Weili has the neck and looks for a guillotine choke as she lands a knee. Suarez looks to take it down. Weili with a knee. They separate. Weili lands a big right hand. Suarez rushes in for the takedown and pushes Weili to the fence. They go to the mat and Weili lands from the top. Weili landing more from the top as Suarez is trying to control position. Weili with more punches to end the round. 10-9 Weili, 19-19.

Suarez with a pair of leg kicks as Weili lands a right hand. Weili lands a head kick. Weili lands a combo. Weili rocks Suarez with a big right hand. Suarez shoots for a desperation takedown but Weili defends. Suarez lands to the body. Suarez tries a takedown but Weili defends. They are tied up against the fence. Suarez with a knee to the body as Weili lands in the clinch and they break apart. Weili with a high kick. Weili lands a right hand. Weili with a body kick and a right hand. Suarez ties it up but Weili lands an elbow and escapes. 10-9 Weili, 29-28 Weili.

Weili with a leg kick. Weili lands a combo. Weili scores a takedown with an inside trip. Weili landing from inside the guard of Suarez. Weili looking for an arm-triangle choke. Suarez is trying to hang on as it’s not completely locked in and Weili lets go. Weili landing from the top. Weili controlling from the top and is landing punches and elbows. Suarez has a deep gash on her knee that looks bad. Weili ends the round landing. 10-9 Weili, 39-37 Weili.

Weili lands a right hand. Suarez with a leg kick. Suarez looks for a takedown but Weili lands some knees to defend and lands an elbow. Suarez pushes it against the fence. Weili defends and they separate. Weili lands a body kick then a knee and an elbow as they clinch. They scramble down but Weili rolls and ends up on top. Weili working from inside the guard of Suarez and landing some punches. Weili continues to land to the body. Weili stands at the end. 10-9 Weili, 49-46 Weili.

Official Result- Zhang Weili def. Tatiana Suarez by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) to retain the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship

> UFC Middleweight Championship- C Dricus Du Plessis (22-2, 8-0 UFC) vs. #1 Sean Strickland (29-6, 16-6 UFC)

Du Plessis with a body kick. He lands another. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Du Plessis with a high kick then a body kick. Strickland lands a jab. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Strickland lands the jab. Du Plessis with a body kick. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a spin kick. Du Plessis with a grazing head kick. Strickland lands the jab. They trade in close range. Du Plessis with a head kick. Du Plessis lands a right hand after a pair of body kicks. Du Plessis with a leg kick. 10-9 Du Plessis.

Du Plessis with a body kick. They trade leg kicks and Du Plessis lands a body kick. Strickland with an overhand right hand. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis misses a combo but eats a counter right hand from Strickland. Strickland lands a combo and ends landing the jab. Du Plessis cuts Strickland open with a jab. Du Plessis with a head kick and lands a leg kick. Du Plessis with a spinning back fist and connects with a right hand. Du Plessis lands a body kick. He lands an inside leg kick as Strickland works the jab. Du Plessis lands to the body. 10-9 Du Plessis, 20-18 Du Plessis.

Du Plessis with a body kick. Du Plessis lands a solid right hand. Du Plessis with a side kick. Strickland with a right hand. Du Plessis lands a hard left hand. Strickland still mostly working the jab. Strickland lands a combination. Du Plessis with a right hand. Du Plessis with a side kick. Du Plessis with a body kick. Du Plessis with a right hand and a body kick. Strickland lands a right hand. They trade jabs. Du Plessis lands a spinning back fist. Du Plessis with a body kick then a left hand and a right hand. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Du Plessis lands a hard elbow after landing some jabs. Strickland lands two right hands. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Du Plessis gets a takedown but they get right up. Strickland with a right hand. 10-9 Du Plessis, 30-27 Du Plessis.

Du Plessis with a left hand. Du Plessis lands a high kick then a right hand to the body. Du Plessis with a push kick. Du Plessis with a hard right hand and Strickland is backing up. Strickland’s nose looks broken and it is bleeding everywhere. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis pressuring and getting a little reckless but Strickland is still trying to retreat. Du Plessis lands a leg kick. Strickland lands a right hand. He lands another. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis with another right hand. Strickland with a jab and Du Plessis lands a body kick. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a right hand. He lands a big right hand. Strickland with a jab. 10-9 Du Plessis, 40-36 Du Plessis.

Du Plessis lands to the body then lands a jab to the face. Strickland with a stiff jab. Du Plessis lands a pair of leg kicks. Du Plessis with another leg kick. Strickland with a quick combo. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis throws a lot and lands a right hand. Strickland with a jab. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a body kick. They trade punches and Strickland is pouring blood again. Du Plessis lands a body kick. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Du Plessis with a high kick. Strickland works the jab. Du Plessis with a right hand and tries a takedown but Strickland slips away and lands a right hand. 10-9 Du Plessis, 50-45 Du Plessis.

Official Result- Dricus Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to retain the UFC Middleweight Championship