Morning Report: Gilbert Burns picks Tatiana Suarez to have ‘dominant’ win over Zhang Weili at UFC 312

Gilbert Burns expects one new champion to be topped at UFC 312 and that the brand new titleholder will earn their belt with an emphatic efficiency.

Two titles are on the road Saturday in Sydney, with middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis rematching Sean Strickland in the principle occasion, and Zhang Weili going for the third protection of her second strawweight reign when she faces the undefeated Tatiana Suarez within the co-main.

It’s that co-main occasion that has Burns intrigued, particularly with Suarez searching for to satisfy her championship future after years of coping with accidents. If Suarez is on level, Burns thinks her elite wrestling will lead to her cruising to victory.

“I’m an enormous fan of each, particularly Tatiana Suarez,” Burns mentioned on his YouTube channel. “She had most cancers, she beat most cancers, she had so many accidents, however now she’s up on her ft, she’s preventing for the title. I believe she’s going to beat Zhang Weili. I believe she’s going to take her down and preserve taking her down and ground-and-pound and ground-and-pound. Possibly a submission, I don’t assume so. However I believe Tatiana Suarez goes to be ‘And New’ by resolution, beating Zhang Weili.

“Don’t rely Zhang Weili out, she’s nonetheless going to have her moments. I believe she would possibly harm Tatiana a little bit bit, however Tatiana is aware of her second, she’s going to take her down and she or he’s going to Khabib and win by dominant resolution. Tatiana Suarez. And. New.”

Suarez has impressed every time she enters the cage, with a grind-it-out resolution win over Nina Nunes (then Nina Ansaroff) at UFC 238 in June 2019 as the one blip on her document. Exterior of that, it’s accidents which have hindered Suarez, as she has fought simply twice since defeating Nunes. As Burns notes, she has usually been in comparison with the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov for her highly effective wrestling type.

In relation to Saturday’s headliner, Burns isn’t being as adventurous along with his decide. He favors champion du Plessis to retain, incomes one other win after incomes a slim cut up resolution nod in his first battle with Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024. A part of his reasoning for the decide is that he’s desperate to see du Plessis face off with undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev subsequent.

“Sean Strickland goes to do Sean Strickland,” Burns mentioned. “He’s going to ‘Philly Shell’ ahead, doing his factor. I believe Dricus has a lot to enhance, he’s been enhancing, he’s been getting higher. He can get beat like he did for a few different guys, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, Darren Till, initially, however then finally when he begins [going] they can’t sustain, so I’ve acquired to go together with Dricus du Plessis successful this battle and I wish to see Dricus du Plessis vs. Chimaev subsequent. That’s the battle that I actually, actually wish to see, so I’ve acquired to go together with Dricus du Plessis, however it’s going to be a battle.”

Try the remainder of Burns’ UFC 312 picks under.

Unfathomable. Is Sean Strickland really about to become a TWO-TIME UFC champion?

Respect. Dricus du Plessis doesn’t assume former rival Israel Adesanya has anything left to prove.

Drop. ESPN+ is losing subscribers fast as a breakup with UFC looms.

Uncouth. Footage has leaked of Kevin Lee getting rocked in training.

Superfight. Ilia Topuria nonetheless desires Islam Makhachev over all other options for his subsequent battle.

Dang. Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape is OFF of UFC Vegas 103.

Don’t miss the UFC 312 official weigh-ins tonight at 11 p.m. ET.

UFC 312 Embedded.

DC and Strickland.

Very cool.

No Bets Barred. Jed Meshew digs in to the very best bets for a top-heavy UFC 312 card.

The weekend battle schedule.

If that is just a few crypto factor I swear…

Neat.

Hmm.

Trace trace.

Oof.

Possibly?

Bother finds you, champ.

Elizeu Zaleski (25-8-1) vs. Chidi Njokuani (24-10, 1 NC); UFC Vegas 104, March 15

If Tatiana Suarez really picks up a one-sided win over Zhang Weili, whether or not it’s on the scorecards or an early end, I’ll be as stunned as anybody. Slightly predictions spoiler right here, I’m going with Zhang to retain. However I’ve been incorrect earlier than (so many, many, many occasions).

For those who discover one thing you’d wish to see within the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and tell us about it. Additionally, comply with MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Facebook.