.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's something special concerning a blended martial arts event Down Under.Maybe it's the amount of time warp a Northern American fan expertises while enjoying fights on television on a Sunday evening and also recognizing that they're occurring the adhering to early morning, true time. That concerns as disorienting as being cageside in Australia and also recognizing that followers midway worldwide are enjoying the fights live ... final night.Or perhaps it's one thing else that creates seeing mixed martial arts fights in Australia believe thus unique. Maybe it is actually the fights on their own, which commonly possess a number of exclamation factors attached. Any person following the sport for numerous years has actually witnessed the reality twists that may originate from cage matches in this particular section of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt and also Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva brought upon a profession's well worth of heavyweight harm on each other during one unforgettable evening in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting evening (morning?) in Sydney a year later on, with 11 battles and also 11 appearances. As well as, obviously, Holly Holm kicking Ronda Rousey off her higher steed at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That occasion developed a business presence report that stood till the Octagon was actually reminded Melbourne in 2019 and also 57,127 loaded Marvel Coliseum to check out Israel Adesanya knock senseless Robert Whittaker and come to be middleweight champion.When the eight-sided crate go back to Australia on Sunday, the former two-time champ is going to challenge Dricus Du Plessis generally event of UFC 305 in Perth. Vulnerable is going to be not only a shiny strap but the take pride in of a continent 5,000 kilometers away, as each boxers are originated in Africa, though along with far various lifestyle experiences.That's the genesis of simply some of several intriguing stories that will definitely participate in out this weekend. Right here are actually five things to expect at UFC 305. That will sway the home on a distant shore? 1. Middleweight championship: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya squares off with Dricus Du Plessis in the main celebration at UFC 305. Photograph by Willpower Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's centerpiece resides in Western Australia, although the touchy territory war is hooked up to an arrive on the much edge of the Indian Sea. Du Plessis was born and still resides in South Africa. Adesanya was actually birthed in Nigeria and also moved with his household to New Zealand when he was actually one decade outdated. Due to those diverse lifestyle paths, Du Plessis once announced, "I am the African boxer in the UFC." That performed not agree with Adesanya, who has stated his household departed in search of academic opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there is actually a grudge included in the actually high-rise concerns, thus be it. It's not an essential component to create this a fascinating battle, yet let's certainly not overlook that the last time Adesanya was in an animosity-fueled match, he designated on Paulo Costa just before knocking him out in 2020. His one KO ever since happened versus Alex Pereira in 2015, five months after Pereira had KO 'd him. So "The Final Stylebender" has actually presented a crave the get-back, especially versus strong assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching quit the short supremacy of Du Plessis, who has bulldozed his method to nine triumphes in a row?Which rebuilding project will courageous? 2. Guy's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe first pair of opportunities Kara-France competed in the UFC, the matches occurred in Australia and also he was actually kind of the nearby individual. He's really coming from New Zealand, 1,300 miles around the Tasman Ocean, yet his challengers were from the opposite of the world, the United States and also Brazil. This moment, though, it's an away ready Kara-France, as Erceg was actually born in Perth and lives 20 mins coming from RAC Arena. Erceg has battled in his home town six opportunities, but all prior to his signing with the UFC last summertime. He's created only four excursions inside the Octagon as well as actually has competed for the 125-pound title.That last aspect highlights just how this fight, like the main event, concerns greater than geography. Erceg, 29, was using an 11-fight winning streak when he unsuccessfully tested Alexandre Pantoja in Might. Kara-France, 31, made a bid for an interim waistband in 2022, shedding through TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France and also Erceg remain in rebuilding method. A loss below would certainly not be actually completion of the road towards challenger status, but it could send out that competitor on a dissuading detour.Can most of us merely appreciate a turning good time? 3. Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa hopes to finish a four-fight losing touch at UFC 305 on Saturday evening. Picture through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC using Getty ImagesI really feel regretful for loving Tuivasa fights as high as I carry out. Sure, I love enjoying a finely tuned professional athlete show off technological fight skills in delivering damage as well as closing down what a rival can easily toss their method. That is actually the mixed fighting styles I fit being a supporter of. Yet I simply can't avert from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa regularly promises.Top tales of the full week coming from Get special accessibility to countless superior articles a year coming from leading authors. u2022 MLB forecasts: Will Court struck 60 Humans resources? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff crews to come back "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ positions" More ESPN+ web content ".What the Aussie can certainly not consistently assure, certainly, is his delightfully revolting postfight event, the shoey. The beer and footwear show up merely in success, and also Tuivasa has lost 4 matches straight. However listed below's one thing deserving of celebrating, also before the 1st haymaker is actually affaired by these heavy-handed top cats: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can open for the fencings like Tuivasa, thus this set should be fun while it lasts.Will this level modification achieve success? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was beginning to obtain nervous for Hooker-- comparable to the nerves of enjoying Tony Ferguson contend at 40 years old. Woman of the streets is just 34 and also his skid wasn't very as saddening, but during an extent from June 2020 with March 2022, he fell 4 of 5 matches, acquiring completed with all yet some of the losses. It should be actually taken note that those finishes off came against Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and also Arnold Allen-- certainly not a tomato can among them. And Woman of the streets has because gotten better with a set of triumphes over enemies a measure lower on the step ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The problem for Concubine is actually that this battle places him right back on top level of competitors. Gamrot has gained 7 of eight fights and also performs the fringe of the headline picture. Will he be too much for Concubine, or will Gamrot acquire poked out of the frame?One fighter's roof is actually another boxer's ... roof? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was 9-0 after she gained her fourth straight UFC fight in very early 2022, as well as viewers were actually beginning to guess on where her ceiling was actually. Today she is on a two-fight skid, as well as the guesswork worries how far her falloff may be. Meanwhile, Santos is three matches right into her UFC run, using a five-fight winning touch and looking like a rising prospect. This is actually a proper examination for each females, a degree setter. O'Neill is 26 years old, while Santos is only 24. So their storyline could weave for a long times.