The UFC and Dana White have spoken, and the verdict is in! Sean Strickland will get his shot at redemption against Dricus Du Plessis. Set to headline UFC 312 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, in 2025, this middleweight title rematch has plenty of buzz and an even more intriguing build-up behind it.

After losing his middleweight strap to Du Plessis in a heated clash at UFC 297, the brash American rebounded with a decisive victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302. Demanding a rematch ever since, Strickland’s persistence looks like it has paid off, but seemingly at the cost of his preferred location for the fight!

But that’s not all! The UFC 312 card is also set to feature another title fight between women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang and no. 1 ranked Tatiana Suarez. For Suarez, this fight is more than just a title opportunity—it’s a testament to resilience. Health setbacks forced Suarez out of two planned bouts this year, leaving fans and analysts to question if she could make it to the biggest fight of her career, but it looks like things are looking up for the promising contender.

However, all eyes are on the middleweight division as the announcement of the Du Plessis vs Strickland rematch has seemingly left Khamzat Chimaev out in the cold. After dismantling Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 ‘Borz’ had made a strong case for a title shot and the announcement of UFC 312 has led to a frenzy of reactions from the fandom. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say!

Fans rally behind Khamzat Chimaev as title fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis confirmed

The fans laid out their preferences for a Khamzat Chimaev title shot but highlighted an interesting perspective. The UFC 297 title fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis ended in a split-decision win for the South African. The result? A lot of debate over who won the fight and UFC boss Dana White even stated in the post-fight press conference, “I had it 2-2 going into the last round. And I thought Strickland won the last round. The guys sitting at the same table had it the other way. It was a close fight.”

“I preferred Khamzat, but now that they confirmed Strickland I believe he will beat DDP again like he did in the first fight.”

Others questioned the UFC’s decision to set up the UFC 312 event in Australia, and as mentioned earlier, Sean Strickland has been vocal about not wanting to fight in the country. Why? In a post on X, Strickland had recently stated, “I’m not fighting in Australia. We’re thinking Vegas in March. I have a love for the Aussies BUT I don’t think you’re government likes me… Which I take as a compliment!!”

“Why do they keep putting Strickland in Australia bro”

However, some fans pointed out that even if ‘Tarzan’ were to reclaim his throne, waiting in the shadows is Khamzat Chimaev. ‘Borz’s demolition of Robert Whittaker, a former champion, has added more weight to his campaign for a title shot. In fact, according to Dana White on an interview on ‘The Jim Rome Show’, “I’m looking forward to him getting a title fight in ’25. We’ll see how this plays out here, but I want him to fight in the United States. I want him to fight for a title here in the U.S.”

“Even if strickland wins this fight, Khamzat will eat him.”

And so, while some fans were “sad” that Chimaev may have to wait till after UFC 312 to figure out his path to the title, he’s still favored heavily over both Du Plessis and Strickland. What do you think?

“Sad for Khamzat, happy for Strickland. No matter what Khamzat beats both no problem, matter of time.”

While other fans weren’t so pleased with the announcement of UFC 312 as they simply demanded a title shot for the undefeated Chechen warrior.

“What the heck is that it should be DDP vs Borz”

To wrap things up, the stage is set for UFC 312, but the drama continues to unfold beyond the Octagon. While Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis gear up for a heated rematch, the shadow of Khamzat Chimaev looms large. Strickland’s quest for redemption and Du Plessis’ mission to solidify his reign promise fireworks, yet many fans can’t help but feel that ‘Borz’ has been dealt an unfair hand. The excitement for the upcoming fights is undeniable, but the question persists—has the UFC truly played its cards right? Should Khamzat Chimaev be the one challenging for the title instead of Strickland? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!