Dricus du Plessis will NOT defend UFC belt in South Africa

The UFC’s return to Australia in February 2025 will be top-heavy with a pair of title fights, including Dricus du Plessis vs Sean Strickland.

The UFC’s return to Australia in February 2025 will be top-heavy with a pair of title fights, including Dricus du Plessis vs Sean Strickland. Image: Free Malaysia Today

The UFC’s return to Australia in February 2025 will be top-heavy with a pair of title fights.

South Africa’s middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) wanted a title defence against Khamzat Chimaev, but instead it will be a rematch against former title holder Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC), whom he beat to win the title earlier this year.

In addition, women’s strawweight titleholder Weili Zhang (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will take on challenger Tatiana Suarez (10-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) – who went from a fight against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 310 that was scrapped to a title shot.

UFC officials announced the bouts during Saturday’s UFC 310 pay-per-view broadcast.

UFC 312 takes place on Sunday, 9 February at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

There had been hopes – and promises made – that Du Plessis would defend his title in South Africa.

Alas, that was not meant to be.

Grudge match

Du Plessis took a split decision from Strickland in a Fight of the Night winner at UFC 297 in January in Toronto, Canada.

In Australia in August, he submitted former champion Israel Adesanya in the fourth round of a grudge match.

Many thought he’d get Chimaev for his next defence, but Strickland retained the title shot he was promised after a split call win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June.