.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's one thing special about a combined fighting styles occasion Down Under.Maybe it's the amount of time warp a North American fan adventures while viewing battles on TV on a Sunday night as well as discovering that they are actually happening the observing early morning, local time. That's about as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia and also recognizing that supporters halfway all over the world are actually enjoying the fights stay ... final night.Or maybe it's one thing else that makes viewing MMA battles in Australia experience therefore offbeat. Possibly it is the fights themselves, which typically have numerous exclamation aspects fastened. Any person adhering to the sport for numerous years has seen the fact twists that can emanate from cage battles in this edge of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Pursuit as well as Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva brought upon a career's worth of heavyweight damage on each other during the course of one memorable night in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting night (morning?) in Sydney a year eventually, with 11 matches and also 11 coatings. And also, naturally, Holly Holm kicking Ronda Rousey off her high equine at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That occasion created a company appearance record that stood till the Octagon was actually reminded Melbourne in 2019 as well as 57,127 filled up Marvel Stadium to check out Israel Adesanya knock senseless Robert Whittaker and end up being middleweight champion.When the eight-sided crate returns to Australia on Saturday, the former two-time champ will challenge Dricus Du Plessis in the main occasion of UFC 305 in Perth. On the line will be actually certainly not simply a shiny strap but the honor of a continent 5,000 kilometers away, as each boxers are embeded in Africa, though along with much various life experiences.That's the origin of simply one of many appealing stories that are going to play out this weekend break. Listed here are actually five things to watch for at UFC 305. That will win over the birthplace on a remote bank? 1. Middleweight champion: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya squares off with Dricus Du Plessis in the main event at UFC 305. Photo by Willpower Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's centerpiece is in Western Australia, although the touchy territory struggle is connected to an arrive on the far edge of the Indian Ocean. Du Plessis was born and also still resides in South Africa. Adesanya was actually birthed in Nigeria and relocated with his family to New Zealand when he was one decade outdated. Due to those dissimilar lifestyle roads, Du Plessis the moment stated, "I am the African boxer in the UFC." That performed certainly not agree with Adesanya, who possesses said his family members departed seeking educational opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there is actually an animosity included in the currently soaring risks, thus be it. It is actually certainly not a needed substance to create this an interesting match, but let's certainly not neglect that the last time Adesanya remained in an animosity-fueled match, he styled on Paulo Costa before knocking him out in 2020. His one KO since then happened versus Alex Pereira last year, 5 months after Pereira had KO 'd him. So "The Last Stylebender" has actually presented a crave the get-back, specifically versus powerful aggressors. Can Adesanya's counterpunching cease the brief power of Du Plessis, who has bulldozed his means to nine triumphes in a row?Which reconstructing project will stand tall? 2. Men's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe to begin with pair of opportunities Kara-France competed in the UFC, the matches took place in Australia as well as he was actually sort of the nearby guy. He's really coming from New Zealand, 1,300 miles across the Tasman Ocean, however his opponents were actually from the other side of the world, the United States as well as South America. This time, however, it's an away ready Kara-France, as Erceg was birthed in Perth and resides 20 minutes from RAC Stadium. Erceg has battled in his home town six times, but all just before his signing along with the UFC last summer months. He's brought in just four trips inside the Octagon and also actually has competed for the 125-pound title.That final factor highlights how this fight, like the centerpiece, has to do with greater than location. Erceg, 29, was actually using an 11-fight winning streak when he unsuccessfully tested Alexandre Pantoja in Might. Kara-France, 31, tried for an acting belt in 2022, losing through TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Each Kara-France as well as Erceg are in fixing setting. A reduction below will certainly not be actually the end of the street towards competitor condition, yet it could send out that competitor on a discouraging detour.Can we all only delight in a swaying happy times? 3. Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa looks to end a four-fight losing streak at UFC 305 on Saturday night. Photo through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by means of Getty ImagesI really feel apologetic for caring Tuivasa matches as high as I perform. Sure, I love checking out a carefully tuned professional athlete show off technological battle capabilities in delivering damages and also shutting down what a rival may toss their method. That is actually the combined martial arts I'm comfortable being a fan of. But I just can't turn away coming from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa regularly promises.Top accounts of the full week coming from Acquire special access to hundreds of fee short articles a year coming from leading authors. u2022 MLB predictions: Will Judge reached 60 HRs? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff teams to come back "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ ranks" Even more ESPN+ web content ".What the Aussie may certainly not consistently vow, obviously, is his delightfully awful postfight party, the shoey. The beer and also shoes come out simply in triumph, and Tuivasa has actually dropped four fights straight. Yet listed here's one thing worthwhile of commemorating, also before the 1st haymaker is actually flung by these heavy-handed top cats: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can swing for the fences like Tuivasa, thus this should be actually enjoyable while it lasts.Will this level change succeed? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was actually starting to receive stressed for Hooker-- comparable to the nerves of seeing Tony Ferguson compete at 40 years of ages. Whore is actually simply 34 and his skid had not been pretty as unfortunate, yet throughout a stretch coming from June 2020 with March 2022, he lost four of 5 matches, getting ended up in all yet one of the reductions. It must be taken note that those defeats came against Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler as well as Arnold Allen-- not a tomato can easily among them. And also Concubine has actually considering that recuperated along with a pair of victories over opponents an action lower on the ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The trouble for Hooker is that this fight places him straight back on top degree of competition. Gamrot has gained seven of 8 matches and is on the fringe of the title picture. Will he be way too much for Whore, or even will Gamrot obtain nudged out of the frame?One fighter's ceiling is actually an additional competitor's ... roof? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was actually 9-0 after she succeeded her fourth direct UFC match in early 2022, and viewers were actually starting to guess on where her ceiling was. Today she gets on a two-fight skid, and the uncertainty problems just how much her falloff could be. At the same time, Santos is actually three battles in to her UFC round, using a five-fight winning streak as well as appearing like an increasing prospect. This is actually an ideal exam for each girls, a level setter. O'Neill is actually 26 years of ages, while Santos is actually simply 24. So their storyline could possibly twist and turn for several years.