UFC 312: Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland close out UFC's latest trip to Australian shores

The debate about whether UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) should be popular resurfaces every time the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) juggernaut returns to Australia, but that argument is effectively outdated. Because the market and the audience have already provided a clear answer.

Mixed martial arts doesn't have to appeal to everyone, but its demand in this country is undeniable, and has been since the first event was held in Australia in 2010. At that time, ticket sales for that event broke the UFC's all-time record for speed.

Just like on the day of the UFC 312 event, fans were already gathering around Olympic Park as early as 9 a.m., two hours before the first fight of the day. Light heavyweight world champion Alex Pereira met with fans outside the venue, which made the atmosphere even more heated, as he has become one of the brightest stars in MMA in recent years. The line to shake his hand or take a selfie stretched for 400 meters.

Despite the lack of local or international stars aside from the two championship title fights, the audience's enthusiasm was completely ignited from the very first fight of the day, and throughout the entire week. While there are still issues worth discussing regarding MMA's place in the broader sporting culture, after nearly 20 years in the mainstream, it's undeniable that it has become a part of that culture.

American Senator John McCain's criticism of the sport, calling it "human cockfighting," is often cited by commentators. But that was nearly 30 years ago, and McCain himself eventually changed his mind – about a decade later, he said he would have competed in MMA if he were younger. There will always be people who find the sport offensive, which is understandable, as it is indeed the bloodiest and most brutal of mainstream sports, but it is this rawness that attracts so many passionate and loyal fans who will show up to support the sport.

The state government's decision to allocate A$16 million to bring a series of UFC events to Sydney has captured the needs of most fans. While this agreement will continue to be criticized from a political or philosophical standpoint, it has fully achieved its intended effect in terms of economic benefits. The data doesn't lie, and neither does the packed house at the Homebush stadium on Sunday, which is exactly what the government paid for and received in return.

But there are also some complexities involved, the biggest of which arose in the main event of UFC 312, Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title. Strickland's views are extremely controversial, and he shares them unashamedly in the most vulgar way. Even in a combat sport known for attracting extreme personalities, he has gone too far in intentionally attracting attention, almost uniquely so.

He has been an unexpected star since winning the middleweight title by defeating Israel Adesanya in Sydney in 2023, in what was one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Strickland lost the title to du Plessis 12 months ago, but he was warmly welcomed by fans at all pre-fight events this week. When he entered the main event on Sunday, the cheers were deafening, until du Plessis gained the upper hand in the fight and eventually won by unanimous decision.

Du Plessis has risen rapidly and won the title with an unorthodox style that focuses on function over form. None of his movements are textbook, but he has managed to pass every test. He showed unprecedented striking skills, defeating Strickland over five rounds, establishing distance with his kicking game, and maintaining a high level of discipline throughout the fight. Strickland's game style is built on volume and consistency of offense throughout the fight, but the South African's power showed time and time again, and he gained the upper hand in most exchanges.

The key moment came early in the fourth round when du Plessis landed a heavy blow that broke Strickland's nose. He failed to land a finishing blow, but this propelled him to an insurmountable lead, and Strickland's coaches urged him to let go in the final round, but the American fighter continued to fight in his usual style. In the final few rounds, some boos drifted towards the two fighters. Strickland is accustomed to promising to create utter chaos in the cage, but he found it almost impossible to change his steady and methodical pattern.

Du Plessis seemed to thrive in the fierce gunfight, pushing the offense as much as he could, while Strickland's time was running out, and those who had once supported him began to turn. On the scene, under the lights, the blood seemed even brighter, and they wanted what they had been promised. When Strickland returned to his corner after the final round, he cursed loudly. Like everyone else in the arena, he knew the result before it was announced, and du Plessis ended their rivalry in a clear way.

The other fights on the night were also exciting enough, most notably Zhang Weili's overwhelming victory over Tatiana Suarez to defend her strawweight title, once again proving that she is one of the best female fighters of her era. Local fighters also had a good showing. Victoria's Jack Matthews scored an impressive victory, as did Queensland's rising star Tom Nolan. Perth's Queillen Sakiield kicked off the day's action with a stunning 19-second KO victory over Anshul Jubli.

It was an exciting debut for the lightweight fighter, and a welcome injection of young Australian talent into the UFC. Australia is in a golden age of top UFC fighters, including former world champions Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski. But as some of these stars approach the end of their careers, new blood is always welcome. They will soon have the opportunity to fight at home again. The UFC will soon return to Sydney. Ticket revenue for this event broke the record for the highest-grossing arena event in Australia. Those fans who lined up to watch Pereira will be back next time.

When they arrive, the debate over whether the government should pay to host such events will continue throughout the week, and Sunday's results will follow as expected. UFC President Dana White will, as usual, try to suppress any criticism. Even if the star lineup isn't strong enough, gamblers will come from all directions. They will pay for tickets, accommodation, flights, and beer, the treasury will swell, and if the fights are exciting enough to satisfy them, they will go home happy. Everyone will get what they want, which is exactly what they paid for.