Light heavyweight champion Pereira will be in Strickland’s (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) corner when he challenges middleweight champion Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Feb. 8 main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney ( ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

Rewatch the full fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Robert Whittaker ahead of Du Plessis's rematch title fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 312.

Whittaker was the second former champion that Chimaev has bested after he also took a majority decision over Kamaru Usman in a short-notice matchup at UFC 294, and in total the 30-year-old has added eight UFC victories to his undefeated record since making his promotional debut in 2020.

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis believes he wouldn't have much of a problem with Islam Makhachev inside the Octagon.

Dricus du Plessis reacts to Islam Makhachev’s challenge, addressing size differences and his openness to a fight if the timing aligns.

Sean Strickland has challenged middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis to make their UFC 312 title fight a striking-only encounter. Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) rematches Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Feb. 8 headliner at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.