Dricus du Plessis and Zhang Weili successfully defended their UFC titles at UFC 312 in Sydney, with du Plessis defeating Sean Strickland and Zhang dominating Tatiana Suarez, solidifying their positions as top fighters in their respective divisions.
Dricus du Plessis and Zhang Weili remain at the top of their divisions.
This past Saturday, UFC 312 went down in Sydney, and for the second time this year, both champions retained their titles in clear-cut fashion.
In the co-main event, longtime champion Weili cemented herself as the best pound-for-pound female fighter on the planet (and maybe the best strawweight of all-time) with a one-sided display against Tatiana Suarez.
Then, in the main event, du Plessis silenced the doubters with a dominant decision win over rival Sean Strickland in their rematch.
So, with plenty to talk about, let’s dive into your questions.
Dricus du Plessis
“Where does DDP currently rank among UFC middleweight champions, and what do you think of his chances against Khamzat Chimaev?”
If du Plessis retired tomorrow, I’d feel comfortable calling him the fourth-greatest middleweight champion in UFC history. That puts him behind Anderson Silva, Israel Adesanya, and Chris Weidman. One slot above Rich Franklin/Robert Whittaker. Seems right.
Du Plessis’s run through the UFC has been pretty damn impressive: 9 wins, 0 losses, 6 finishes. Add to that two Performance of the Night bonuses and two Fight of the Nights. Dominant wins over top contenders? Check. Elite stuff.
Ultimately though, that’s the best du Plessis can reasonably hope for. The problem with being a middleweight is Anderson Silva set an impossible standard to live up to. Eleven title defenses! Truly unfathomable. Du Plessis knows it too; he’s already laying groundwork for arguments around it.
That being said, Adesanya is possible to chase down if du Plessis can keep this up, and I’m excited to watch him try.
As for the Chimaev part? See below.
DDP vs. Khamzat Chimaev
“DDP vs Khamzat is the real life version of a toddler taking two action figures and smashing them together head first until one breaks. Who breaks who in this fight?”
With his win over Strickland, du Plessis is now set for a collision course with Chimaev sometime later this year. It’s a fight du Plessis called for instead of the Strickland matchup. Basically, it’s what we’ve all wanted for over a year. Finally, Chimaev looks like he’s going to fight for a belt.
But I don’t think it’s going to go as easy for him as many people believe.
Chimaev is a force of nature who at his peak appears unstoppable…except we’ve seen him nearly stopped a few times already. Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman gave “Borz” everything he could handle while also being decently undersized. Whatever your thoughts on du Plessis, he ain’t undersized.
People are finally coming around to accept that though du Plessis is not a technical marvel, he’s huge, athletic, powerful, tough as nails, relentless. He has an exceptional understanding of fighting and how to go about it. That’s pretty much exactly the specs I’d want if I were designing someone to combat Chimaev.
Chimaev is a grappling savant but papers over flaws by simply hossing people around. Doubt that’s possible against du Plessis. On top of that? The way Chimaev fights leads to fatigue; du Plessis has great cardio (sure he looks tired but doesn’t fight tired). Honestly incredible how he wills himself not to gas out!
That being said…will I be shocked if Chimaev runs through DDP and wins the belt? No. But 2025’s been bad for “uncrowned champions” *cough* Umar Nurmagomedov and Tatiana Suarez *cough,* could get worse if Magomed Ankalaev comes up short next month. Wouldn’t be too confident in Chimaev.
Other middleweights
Imavov next for DPP? I know we want to see Khamzat but can you justify he’s earned it over Imavov?
— patmody (@patmody)
“Nassourdine Imavov next for DPP? I know we want to see Khamzat but can you justify he’s earned it over Imavov?”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Come on now! In a strictly merit-based organization, Imavov would get the next crack at du Plessis but as William Munny famously said: “Deserves got nothing to do with it.” Chimaev is getting the shot. But if I’m in Imavov’s camp? Campaign hard to be backup fighter for that bout because when it comes to a Chimaev fight…nothing guaranteed.
Zhang Weili
Is Weili Zhang at her peak at the moment?
her wins against joanna were great but they bookend her rose loses. since then she has fought once a year so far and has looked better every time based on the 35years and older stat as champion is there better yet to come? thanks— Liam Parry (@liamparry86)
“Is Zhang Weili at her peak at the moment? Her wins against Joanna Jedrzejczyk were great but they bookend her Rose Namajunas losses. Since then she has fought once a year so far and has looked better every time based on the 35 years and older stat as champion is there better yet to come?”
I think this is undeniably Zhang’s peak right now; it’s simply how long will it last? Thirty-five is old for sports…ancient for fight sports…damn near prehistoric for lower weight class fight sports! Clock ticking on Zhang; matter of how long she can fend it off.
Fortunately for her (and us fans), looks like could be good long while! Zhang looked incredible against Tatiana Suarez—a fight I thought would be very difficult for her—dominated Suarez in wrestling/grappling even hossed her around bunch too! Suarez had nothing offer; Zhang not remotely close falling off!
But that’s question isn’t it: Will Zhang stick around?
Even before Saturday Zhang was talking about move up125 afterwards UFC CEO Dana White all but declared gonna happen! If sticks around strawweight Zhang most likely put together unimpeachable run puts right alongside all-time greats seems allure two belts too much!
Flyweight
Am I wrong thinking Valentina would soundly defeat Weili? Weili brute but Valentina physical force even135lbs(I thought beat Nunes rematch). She’s got Zhang covered terms physicality don’t think skill gap wide enough Zhang win3of5 rounds./P—Mathis Desjardins(@mdesjardins00.bsky.social)2025-02-09T17:18:35.803Z/
“Am I wrong thinking Valentina Shevchenko would soundly defeat Weili? Weili brute but Valentina physical force even135lbs(I thought beat Nunes rematch). She’s got Zhang covered terms physicality don’t think skill gap wide enough Zhang win3of5 rounds.”/
No aren’t but also thought Tatiana Suarez win so what know?
In head Shevchenko beats Zhang most boring fashion because much bigger no matter what jiu-jitsu tried tell size does matter! Old enough remember when Jessica Andrade greatness real test Shevchenko despite natural115er—oh wait arguably Shevchenko most dominant win!
Still there matter where Shevchenko career right now while drop off coming Zhang sooner later already come Shevchenko yes reclaimed title Alexa Grasso pretty clearly diminishing terms physicality speed athleticism definitely wouldn’t favor Zhang wouldn’t count out either!
Other fights
“Thoughts Jimmy Crute vs Rodolfo Bellato draw?”
I would’ve bet money not single person was gonna ask rest main card guess would have been wrong!
Uh was surprisingly fun? Kody Steele Rongzhu deserved win Fight Night honors wasn’t terrible runner up issue just didn’t matter outside fighters themselves outside main co-main event every fight either uninspired meaningless both promptly forget all them!
Oof
Was worst three fights ever open up PPV?/P—Dillon Armoogam(@DOGYEE)February10,2025
“Was worst three fights ever open up PPV?”
Surely not there have been over300 pay-per-view events sure if dug deep could find one but yeah nothing comes mind tops it this UFC2025 gonna buy anyway why should bother?
Thanks reading thanks everyone sent tweets(Xs?)! Do have any burning questions about things least somewhat related combat sports then luck because send tweets me@JedKMeshew