Title: Rising Star Shines in UFC 312's Bigger-Than-Ever PPV Showcase
Kody Steele, a standout from Season 8 of Dana White's Contender Series, is often found at the top of the credible list of prospects who scored contracts during that period. The 29-year-old Syndicate MMA product's impending UFC debut, set against Rongzhu at UFC 312, is well-deserved and noteworthy.
Vendetta Sports Media has previously recognized six elite fighters from Season 8, and Steele is undeniably part of that esteemed group. The buzz surrounding Steele's main roster debut is palpable, and with good reason.
On January 8th, news broke that Steele's UFC debut would take place at UFC 312 on February 8th. The venue for this event is the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Here's a glance at the complete lineup:
- Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland - Middleweight (185 lbs)
- Weili Zhang vs. Tatiana Suarez - Strawweight (115 lbs)
- Rei Tsuruya vs. Stewart Nicoll - Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli - Lightweight (155 lbs)
- Tallison Teixeira vs. Justin Tafa - Heavyweight (265 lbs)
- Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev - Lightweight (155 lbs)
- Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos - Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Cody Haddon vs. Aleksandre Topuria - Bantamweight (135 lbs)
- Cong Wang vs. Bruna Brasil - Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato - Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
- Kody Steele vs. Rongzhu - Lightweight (155 lbs)
Steele enters this fight with an unblemished 7-0 record, with finishes in five of his bouts. His contract-earning performance against Chasen Blair, a devastating second-round destruction, was a highlight of Season 8. Regrettably, Steele's initial opponent, Quemuel Ottoni, had to withdraw on the night of the fight, necessitating a rescheduling of the contest.
Steele boasts an impressive and well-rounded skill set for any newcomer in the UFC. With a tough opponent awaiting him in Rongzhu, he's poised to make his impact felt in the Octagon.
Rongzhu, a 24-year-old fighter with 31 professional MMA fights under his belt, will provide a stiff challenge for Steele. Despite his young age, Rongzhu's experience includes a second contract with the UFC, which he lost in 2024 to Chris Padilla following a doctor stoppage. His return to the main roster resulted in a loss, forcing him out of the UFC briefly. A second consecutive loss could put him at risk of being released once more.
Steele's bout with Rongzhu isn't the only notable debut at UFC 312. Cody Haddon, another Season 8 graduate and rising star, will face Aleksandre Topuria, a brother of the UFC featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, who is making his own UFC debut.
Other notable main roster debuts at UFC 312 include Tallison Teixeira, the best heavyweight from Season 8 of the Contender Series. Teixeira will face Justin Tafa in his debut, creating a compelling clash for fans of the Contender Series.
UFC 312 isn't just about the newcomers. It also features two title bouts highlighted by a rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland at Middleweight (185 lbs), as well as Tatiana Suarez's opportunity to challenge for Weili Zhang's title in the Strawweight (115 lbs) division.
On paper, UFC 312 appears to be a strong event. Let's hope that the action lives up to the expectations.
- The UFC 312 card, where Kody Steele is set to make his debut, includes his fight against Rongzhu in the Lightweight (155 lbs) division.
- Kody Steele's next fight, scheduled for UFC 312 on February 8th, will take place at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- If you're looking for Kody Steele's first UFC fight information, it's against Rongzhu at UFC 312, which has a full lineup available.
- Fans of Kody Steele will be excited to know that his UFC 312 card fight against Rongzhu is part of a larger event, hosting several main roster debuts and title bouts.
