UFC 312 is primed to deliver a night of unforgettable action, featuring a lineup stacked with some of the sport’s biggest stars. At the top of the card, the rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland for the 185lbs strap promises to captivate fans. The undercard is just as compelling, spotlighting a mix of rising prospects and beloved veterans eager to leave their mark and take their careers to the next level.

Adding to the excitement, 2025’s PPV offering in Australia is rumored to mark the debut of Ilia Topuria’s brother, Aleksandre Topuria, a newcomer poised to make waves in the promotion. But who will stand across the Octagon from him in his first UFC appearance? Let’s dive into the details of this highly anticipated matchup.

Ilia Topuria’s brother is rumored to face Alexander Volkanovski’s training partner

Aleksandre Topuria, the older brother of undefeated 145lbs god-king Ilia Topuria, signed with the promotion in August, sparking excitement among fans eager to witness another Topuria bring his talent to the Octagon. As UFC Tampa wrapped up the 2024 calendar, Aleksandre, nicknamed ‘El Cazador’ announced on Instagram that his highly anticipated debut would take place in early 2025.

Although Aleksandre doesn’t match the level of experience his brother Ilia had when debuting in 2020, the 28-year-old bantamweight has already proven himself a dangerous finisher. With a 100% finishing rate in his victories, he has stopped every opponent in the first round—except for his sole defeat to Ivo Ivanov in 2015. Coming off three straight knockout wins, each accomplished in under two minutes, Aleksandre is set to make a statement in his UFC debut.

Originally slated to face Cody Haddon, Aleksandre’s opponent withdrew due to injury. Álvaro Colmenero provided an update on X, tweeting, “Breaking: Aleksandre Topuria vs. Colby Thicknesse (7-0) at UFC 312 is verbally accepted after he dropped Cody Haddon due to injury. The Aussie is undefeated and is HEC champion.”

Benny P further commented, adding to the intrigue, “If this ends up coming to fruition, then Volk vs. Ilia two is gonna be a proxy war (Colby is a main training partner of Volk).”

Fans eagerly await the official announcement, and this matchup promises to be one worth watching. Meanwhile, attention shifts to featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, who has been making headlines recently. ‘El Matador’ has set his sights on a super fight with Islam Makhachev, aiming to capture a second belt and cement his legacy. However, 125lbs GOAT Demetrious Johnson believes there’s one opponent Topuria must defeat before earning a shot at Makhachev.

Mighty Mouse weighs in on Ilia’s double-champ aspirations

Following Islam Makhachev’s dominant victory over Renato Moicano at UFC 311, Ilia Topuria wasted no time sending a message to the lightweight champion, hinting at a future showdown. While a clash between ‘El Matador; and Makhachev is an enticing prospect, former UFC and ONE flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson believes Topuria should face a different challenge before stepping into the Octagon with the lightweight kingpin.

During an interview with EssentiallySports’ Andrew Whitelaw in Thailand, where Johnson attended ONE 170 in Bangkok, the 38-year-old legend shared his perspective on Topuria’s potential move to the 155-pound division. Johnson suggested that Topuria should first face Arman Tsarukyan.

The Armenian was originally scheduled to headline UFC 311 but was forced to withdraw at the last minute due to an injury. Johnson believes a bout between Topuria and Tsarukyan would not only make sense but could also solidify Topuria’s case for a title shot against Makhachev.

He explained, “I think that’s a great fight [Topuria vs. Makhachev]. I don’t know who else is left in that division for Topuria, and the same thing with Islam Makhachev. I think they are gonna have to run it back for him and Arman [Tsarukyan]. I think if Topuria can fight Arman – if he beats Arman, they need [Topuria] to fight Islam.”

Despite Johnson’s suggestion, Topuria appears to have a different path in mind. For now, the future remains uncertain for Alexandre as fans eagerly await an official announcement. Share your thoughts in the comments below!