UFC 312 pre-event facts: Inside Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland rematch

Dricus Du Plessis

Du Plessis is one of 14 undisputed middleweight champions in UFC history.

Du Plessis is the only South African champion in UFC history.

Du Plessis is one of five fighters in UFC history to force a title change by split decision. Alexandre Pantoja, Robbie Lawler, Henry Cejudo and Carla Esparza also accomplished the feat.

Du Plessis’ eight-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Du Plessis’ eight-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is tied for the fourth-longest streak in divisional history behind Anderson Silva (13), Israel Adesanya (12) and Chris Weidman (nine).

Du Plessis has earned 20 of his 22 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished eight of those wins in Round 1.

Du Plessis lands 6.18 significant strikes per minute in UFC middleweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Strickland (6.32).

Sean Strickland

Strickland is one of 14 undisputed middleweight champions in UFC history.

Strickland is 7-3 since he returned to the UFC middleweight division in October 2020.

Strickland is one of 17 fighters in history to earn victories in three UFC weight classes. He’s won at light heavyweight, middleweight and welterweight.

Strickland is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn victories at light heavyweight, middleweight and welterweight. Ildemar Alcantara and Trevin Giles also accomplished the feat.

Strickland’s two victories in a 14-day stretch at UFC Fight Night 181 and UFC Fight Night 182 are tied for the third shortest span between non-tournament UFC wins.

Strickland’s average fight time of 17:37 in UFC middleweight competition is longest in divisional history.

Strickland has landed 1,337 significant strikes in UFC middleweight competition, the second-most in divisional history behind Michael Bisping (1,384).

Strickland lands 6.32 significant strikes per minute in UFC middleweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.

Strickland defends 62.3 percent of all opponent strike attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the highest rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez

Zhang Weili

Weili is the only Chinese fighter in history to win a UFC title.

Weili’s five victories in UFC bantamweight title fights are second-most in divisional history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (six).

Weili’s four stoppage victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for fifth-most in divisional history behind Jessica Andrade (five), Rose Namajunas (five), Mackenzie Dern (five) and Amanda Lemos (five).

Weili’s two knockout victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Andrade (four) and Lemos (three).

Weili’s disparity of +267 in total strikes landed (296 to 29) at UFC 292 is the second-biggest margin in a title fight. Kamaru Usman outlanded Tyron Woodley by a +276 margin at UFC 235.

Weili and Jedrzejczyk combined for 351 significant strikes landed at UFC 248, the third most in UFC title-fight history. Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega holds the record with 400 total at UFC 231.

Weili’s five fight-night bonuses in UFC strawweight bouts are fourth-most in divisional history behind Andrade (nine), Dern (seven) and Namajunas (six).

Tatiana Suarez

Suarez can become the 15th fighter in UFC history to win an undisputed championship with an undefeated record.

Suarez’s seven-fight UFC winning streak is tied with Manon Fiorot for the longest active streak among female fighters in the company.

Suarez’s six-fight UFC winning streak in strawweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

Suarez’s four stoppage victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for fifth-most in divisional history behind Andrade (five), Namajunas (five), Dern (five) and Amanda Lemos (five).

Suarez’s three submission victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Dern (five).

Suarez has completed multiple takedowns against all seven of her UFC opponents.

Suarez completes 65.8 percent of her takedown attempts in UFC strawweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.

Suarez lands 63.6 percent of her significant strike attempts in UFC strawweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.

Suarez absorbs just 1.48 significant strikes per minute in UFC strawweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.

Jimmy Crute

Jimmy Crute’s (12-4-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC) four-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since October 2020.

Crute completes 57.6 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC light heavyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Lyoto Machida (65 percent).

Crute is one of five fighters in UFC history to earn multiple submission victories by kimura. Krzysztof Soszynski, Rani Yahya, Frank Mir and George Sotiropoulos also accomplished the feat.

Crute’s victory at the 4:51 mark of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 142 is the second latest finish in a three-round UFC light heavyweight fight behind Paul Craig’s win at 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 127.

Jake Matthews

Jake Matthews (19-7 MMA, 13-7 UFC) makes his 21st octagon appearance, the most by any Australian-born fighter in company history.

Matthews has alternated wins and losses over his past seven fights. He was victorious in his most recent bout at UFC 302 in June.

Matthews is 9-4 since he moved up to the UFC welterweight division in November 2017.

Aleksandre Topuria, Ilia Topuria

Bruna Brasil

Bruna Brasil (10-4-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) moves up to the women’s flyweight division after spending his previous UFC tenure at strawweight.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.