UFC 312 | Sean Strickland vs. Dricus: The Brawl Down Under

Welcome to our Ringside Report MMA breakdown of UFC 312, which occurred at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Dave Simon, Fred Garcia, and AJ D’Alesio hosted the show live while the viewers chimed in from YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, and Kick. We saw sharp takedowns, lively banter, and more than a few surprises on a card full of twists. Below is our overview of each fight and the hosts’ reactions, complete with audience comments and key moments. Enjoy the recap, and remember you can catch the replay on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, or Kick.

The Welterweight Kickoff: Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado

Fast Start Sets the Pace

The night opened with Australia’s own Jake Matthews taking on the youthful Francisco Prado from Argentina. Matthews was a solid favorite and showed why in a workmanlike victory.

Dave Simon said, “Matthews won the first round by staying technical. Prado looked solid, but Matthews controlled the cage.”

Fred Garcia noted Prado’s energy at the start:
“He brought the action early, but Matthews settled in and had the better game plan.”

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AJ D’Alesio was impressed with Matthews’ well-rounded skills:
“Matthews is a veteran now, ever since the old Team Australia vs. Team Canada days. He really controlled that fight.”

The hosts agreed Matthews took the opening frame with cleaner striking and well-timed takedowns. Prado came out swinging later in the fight, but Matthews stayed in charge. When time ran out, Matthews took a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Audience member and YouTube channel member from New Brunswick Lior typed:
“This card is whack, but I still liked seeing Matthews go to work.”

In the end, the Aussie kicked off the main card with a tidy win in front of a hometown crowd.

Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato Ends in a Draw

Scorecard Chaos in the Light Heavyweight Clash

This light-heavyweight tilt delivered more drama than anyone expected, mostly due to a surprising final call. Jimmy Crute fought Rodolfo Bellato in a spirited scrap that included heavy ground control from Crute. Despite controlling the first two rounds, the final verdict was a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28).

Dave Simon didn’t hold back:
“Crute won. Plain and simple. He took the first two rounds easily and got reversed a bit in the last, but it’s insane to see a draw.”

Fred Garcia agreed:
“That second round was clearly Jimmy’s. This scoring hurts the fighter who did all the work.”

AJ D’Alesio threw in:
“Crute had a 10-8 round in the first. It’s bizarre to see the judges call it even.”

The fighters hugged it out at the end, but the judges’ decision left the hosts scratching their heads. This result means neither fighter gets a much-needed win, and Jimmy Crute left the cage visibly frustrated.

Tallison Teixeira’s 35-Second KO of Justin Tafa

Heavyweight Thunderbolt

Next came a heavyweight collision that ended in a blink. The towering Tallison Teixeira—standing 6’7”—blew through Justin Tafa in only 35 seconds. With a hard elbow inside the clinch, Tafa went crashing down.

Dave Simon said, “When you drop to your knees and turtle up, the ref’s stopping it. Tafa tried to protest, but he was hurt.”

Fred Garcia was shocked by the speed:
“I blinked, and Tafa was on his knees. Tallison is so tall—he just punished Tafa in close.”

AJ D’Alesio tried to see Tafa’s perspective:
“He wanted to keep going, but that elbow was lethal. He got rocked.”

A few viewers in the live chat, like “Peace and Love,” wrote,
“Wow, that was too fast. Tafa had no time to do anything.”

Teixeira’s record improves to 8-0, and he remains a scary proposition for future heavyweights. That giant reach and killer aggression promises more fireworks ahead.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez

Women’s Strawweight Title Fight Delivers Grit and Groundwork

Zhang Weili defended her strawweight belt against the undefeated Tatiana Suarez, who returned after a long layoff. Many fans saw Suarez’s wrestling background as a threat to Weili, but the champion dismantled that game plan.

Early Takedowns, Then Total Domination

Suarez landed a big takedown in the first round, locking Weili in side control for most of the frame. Dave Simon described the moment:
“Tatiana got her down early and tried to hold on. I thought maybe that was the start of Suarez’s blueprint.”

But from the second round on, Weili’s athleticism took over. She stuffed takedowns, out-grappled Suarez, and battered her with elbows and punches. Fred Garcia said,
“She turned those wrestling attempts against Suarez. Tatiana kept shooting, and Weili kept landing on top.”

By the end of round five, Suarez had a nasty cut on her knee and blood streaming from her forehead. Weili pounded away from the top position, clearly sealing a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).

AJ D’Alesio admitted he backed Suarez:
“I called Tatiana to win, but Weili was on another level. Once Suarez got that cut, it changed everything.”

The chat also lit up, with Henry Cejudo tweeting,
“Zhang Weili is the greatest female fighter in the world.”

Meanwhile, Lior wrote,
“Suarez looked worn out. Weili’s shape is unreal.”

A View on the UFC’s Women’s Division

Is the Women’s Roster Running Thin?

Throughout the show, the hosts touched on the current state of women’s MMA. There was agreement that the UFC’s women’s divisions currently lack major headliners.

Dave Simon said,
“We’ve seen a lot of good champions, but no one has that star power of a Ronda Rousey. Valentina Shevchenko never drew big. Juliana Peña isn’t either.”

Fred Garcia chimed in:
“At some point, we need a fresh face—like a new Ronda or someone who can carry the brand. Right now, there’s no star who can main event a pay-per-view alone.”

AJ D’Alesio added,
“Nunes was amazing, but she retired. Valentina is great but not a big draw. Weili might become the next star, but we’ll see if that catches on.”

Various audience members agreed. including longtime channel member at membership.ringsidereport.net, “Doug Hepburn” noted,
“All the big female champs have lost a bit of aura. A new champion has to rise up.”

With Zhang Weili dominantly ruling the strawweight division, the question is whether she can build enough hype for the future. Her skill is clear now, but the UFC is still looking for the next breakout name to headline.

Main Event Shock: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland

Middleweight Rematch Headlines UFC 312

Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis put his belt on the line against Sean Strickland. These two had already met once, with Du Plessis dethroning Strickland in a narrow split decision. Expectations soared for the second clash.

Strickland Brings the Talk; Du Plessis Brings the Pace

Sean Strickland arrived with signature trash talk and a new mustache. During fight week, he also revealed a looming concern: a staff infection on his arm. Despite that, he stepped into the cage, ready to scrap.

Fred Garcia said,
“Strickland’s unpredictability is fun to watch. But Du Plessis is so relentless.”

Dave Simon was more direct:
“All week, people asked if staff would slow him down. But once the bell rang, Strickland looked exactly like Strickland—hands up, forward pressure.”

Yet Du Plessis set the tempo, blasting Strickland’s body and legs, then mixing in takedowns to keep Strickland guessing. Strickland’s jab landed as the fight went on, but Du Plessis threw heavier strikes and stuffed Sean’s attempts at momentum.

The Final Outcome

Strickland’s nose was a bloody mess by the championship rounds, and Du Plessis poured it on with hard combinations. Ultimately, he made a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to retain the middleweight title. He passed a tough test, leaving Strickland nursing a broken nose and a second loss to Du Plessis.

AJ D’Alesio said,
“Deep down, I wanted Sean to pull off something wild, but Du Plessis is a machine.”

Dave Simon was impressed,
“He out-hustled Strickland, out-struck him, and turned the chatty man quiet.”

Fred Garcia concluded,
“Du Plessis is next level at 185. And if it’s him and Khamzat Chimaev next, that’s fireworks.”

Long-time YouTube Channel Member Patrick C. Hamilton, in the chat, wrote,
“I picked Du Plessis, and I’m thrilled he made Strickland look helpless.”

With Du Plessis on a nine-fight streak at middleweight and Strickland back to the drawing board, the question remains: will we see Khamzat Chimaev challenge next, or does someone else step forward?

Where Do We Go From Here?

The UFC’s Next Steps, Montreal Hopes, and More

While fans celebrated UFC 312’s wild finishes, another storyline is the UFC’s return to Canada. Ticket sales for UFC 315 in Montreal go on sale on February 28, but no main event has been announced. Dave, Fred, and AJ hope for a big card with star power.

Dave Simon said,
“They haven’t been here since 2015. A big name has to headline for them to sell out fast.”

Fred Garcia warned,
“If local fans don’t show up, it might be another long wait before the UFC returns.”

AJ D’Alesio added,
“We’ll be watching. I hope they give us a big fight.”

Whether it’s Du Plessis, another champion in Montreal, or new matchups at strawweight, the UFC’s schedule seems wide open. Folks in the live chat joked, “Conor McGregor might even show up,” but no one knows what he’ll do next. For now, Du Plessis stands tall at 185, and Zhang Weili at 115.

Calls to Action

• Watch the UFC 312 replay on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, or Kick.
• Join Dave Simon, Fred Garcia, and AJ D’Alesio on the Ringside Report Network MMA show every Thursday live for more fight breakdowns.

Thanks for reading this recap. We had controversies, statements made, and top-tier grappling all in one night. Don’t forget to check back for more Ringside Report MMA coverage of upcoming UFC events, and drop your thoughts in the comments on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, or Kick!