Date: February 8, 2025
Time:
Prelims: 8:00 PM ET
Main card: 10:00 PM ET
Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
It’s been a minute. Or two.
A lot has happened in 5 years. Betting has grown and become arguably the biggest motivator is sports fandom. Especially in an individual sport like MMA.
We’ve also seen the UFC grow. They’ve debut and held 3 title fights at “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi. We’ve seen the career heights and retirement of Amanda Nunes and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
But like Jon Jones, Cheap Seats returns from hiatus… Heavier, yet just as consistent and impressive as ever.
All of a sudden it’s UFC 312, which features a highly anticipated middleweight title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. With this Super Bowl weekend force-feeding us Patrick Mahomes, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lamar, let’s indulge some MMA couch commentating with Cheap Seat Predictions.
💺💺💺💺
Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis (c) (UFC Record: 6-0) vs. Sean Strickland (UFC Record: 15-5) – Middleweight Championship
Breakdown: Du Plessis finally gets his shot at defending the belt after an impressive rise through the division. Strickland, known for his relentless pressure, cardio, and unfiltered trash talk (to reporters included), is looking to reclaim gold after losing to DDP via Split Decision almost a year ago.
Du Plessis’ unpredictable striking and grappling make him dangerous. He was 6/11 in takedown attempts in their last showdown. But, Strickland’s high-volume boxing and takedown defense still pose a serious challenge. He actually led the fight in total strikes and cut DDP early on. Strickland also looks like he’s in the best shape of his life so this will be a lot closer than the fight odds are showing.
Last time they fought, it was -110 odds for both fighters making it a Pick Em. This time around, DDP is the -205 favorite, according to Draft Kings.
Prediction: Going with the underdog. Strickland by Decision. If he can weather the early storm and keep Du Plessis at bay with his jab and movement, he should outpoint the champion over five rounds.
Co-Main Event: Weili Zhang (c) (UFC Record: 9-2) vs. Tatiana Suarez (UFC Record: 6-0) – Women’s Strawweight Championship
Breakdown: Weili Zhang faces one of her toughest challenges yet in undefeated grappling phenom Tatiana Suarez. Zhang has shown a well-rounded skill set, blending striking, power, and improved wrestling. However, Suarez’s dominant wrestling and relentless top pressure have made her a nightmare matchup for everyone she has faced. The key factor will be whether Zhang can keep the fight standing or if Suarez can impose her grappling game early.
The disrespect to the first Chinese UFC Champion is clear as Weili is the current underdog at +100.
Prediction: Despite the intriguing underdog status for the defending champion, I’m going with Suarez by Decision. If she can establish her takedowns and control Zhang on the ground, she has a strong path to victory over five rounds.
Final Thoughts
UFC 312 is kicking off the year with two great headliners. With multiple high-stakes matchups, fans should expect fireworks from start to finish. Do you agree with our predictions? Let us know in the comments, and enjoy the fights!
CheapSeatFans 
Leave a comment