Strickland vs Du Plessis set for UFC 312

Former champion Sean Strickland will face reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 312, taking place in Sydney, Australia.

The fight will serve as a rematch, as Strickland lost his belt to Du Plessis in controversial fashion. The media was divided over the outcome of their previous bout, and UFC president Dana White expressed his belief that Strickland had won during his post-event interview.

This matchup comes as a slight surprise, with many expecting Khamzat Chimaev to leapfrog Strickland and contend for the title. Chimaev delivered an outstanding performance in his last fight against former champion Robert Whittaker, securing a submission victory in the very first round.

The rematch is anticipated to be a closely contested affair, given how competitive their first meeting was. However, Du Plessis has momentum on his side, having defeated Israel Adesanya in his most recent fight to successfully defend his title for the first time.