.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's one thing exclusive regarding a combined martial arts activity Down Under.Maybe it is actually the moment warp a N. American follower expertises while seeing fights on television on a Saturday evening and also understanding that they're taking place the observing morning, local time. That's about as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia and recognizing that followers halfway all over the world are watching the fisticuffs reside ... final night.Or possibly it's something else that creates viewing MMA battles in Australia believe thus unusual. Possibly it is actually the matches on their own, which commonly possess numerous exclamation aspects fastened. Any individual observing the sporting activity for several years has seen the fact twists that can rise from cage fights within this section of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva gave an occupation's truly worth of heavyweight harm on each other throughout one unforgettable evening in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting night (morning?) in Sydney a year later, with 11 battles and also 11 finishes. As well as, certainly, Holly Holm booting Ronda Rousey off her high steed at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That celebration set up a provider attendance document that stood up until the Octagon was brought back to Melbourne in 2019 and 57,127 packed Marvel Stadium to enjoy Israel Adesanya knock out Robert Whittaker and also become middleweight champion.When the eight-sided cage go back to Australia on Sunday, the previous two-time champ will challenge Dricus Du Plessis generally activity of UFC 305 in Perth. Vulnerable will be certainly not simply a shiny band but the take pride in of a continent 5,000 miles away, as each competitors are actually rooted in Africa, though with much various life experiences.That's the genesis of just among numerous appealing storylines that will participate in out this weekend. Here are five factors to expect at UFC 305. Who will sway the birthplace on a far-off bank? 1. Middleweight championship: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya conflict Dricus Du Plessis generally activity at UFC 305. Photograph by Willpower Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's main event resides in Western Australia, although the touchy territory struggle is actually linked to an arrive on the much side of the Indian Sea. Du Plessis was actually born as well as still lives in South Africa. Adesanya was birthed in Nigeria as well as relocated with his family members to New Zealand when he was actually 10 years aged. Due to those inconsonant lifestyle paths, Du Plessis once stated, "I am the African competitor in the UFC." That performed certainly not agree with Adesanya, that possesses said his family moved abroad searching for instructional opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there is actually an animosity added to the currently lofty stakes, thus be it. It is actually certainly not an important element to make this a fascinating fight, however allowed's certainly not overlook that the last time Adesanya remained in an animosity-fueled match, he designated on Paulo Costa before knocking him out in 2020. His one KO since then came against Alex Pereira last year, five months after Pereira had KO 'd him. So "The Final Stylebender" has actually presented a crave the get-back, especially versus powerful aggressors. Can Adesanya's counterpunching stop the short reign of Du Plessis, who possesses bulldozed his method to 9 victories in a row?Which restoring project will courageous? 2. Male's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe to begin with 2 times Kara-France completed in the UFC, the matches occurred in Australia and also he was actually type of the neighborhood man. He's actually from New Zealand, 1,300 miles all over the Tasman Sea, yet his opponents were actually from the opposite of the world, the USA as well as South America. This moment, however, it's an away game for Kara-France, as Erceg was actually birthed in Perth and also lives twenty minutes coming from RAC Arena. Erceg has combated in his home town 6 opportunities, however all prior to his finalizing along with the UFC final summer. He's made simply 4 vacations inside the Octagon as well as already has contended for the 125-pound title.That last aspect highlights just how this match, like the main event, has to do with greater than location. Erceg, 29, was using an 11-fight winning touch when he unsuccessfully challenged Alexandre Pantoja in Might. Kara-France, 31, tried for an interim waistband in 2022, losing by TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France as well as Erceg reside in fixing method. A reduction here will certainly not be the end of the street toward challenger condition, yet it could deliver that competitor on a discouraging detour.Can all of us just enjoy an opening great time? 3. Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa tries to finish a four-fight losing touch at UFC 305 on Saturday night. Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC through Getty ImagesI experience apologetic for caring Tuivasa battles as much as I carry out. Sure, I love viewing a finely tuned athlete exhibit technical combat skills in causing harm as well as closing down what an opponent can easily toss their way. That's the mixed martial arts I fit being actually an enthusiast of. However I just can not avert from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa constantly promises.Top stories of the full week from Acquire exclusive accessibility to 1000s of fee short articles a year coming from top authors. u2022 MLB forecasts: Will Judge struck 60 HRs? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff teams to return "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ ranks" Even more ESPN+ web content ".What the Aussie may not always guarantee, certainly, is his fantastically disgusting postfight party, the shoey. The draft beer and also shoes show up simply in triumph, as well as Tuivasa has dropped 4 matches in a row. But right here's something deserving of commemorating, even before the very first haymaker is flung by these heavy-handed top cats: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can swing for the fences like Tuivasa, thus this one should be actually exciting while it lasts.Will this level adjustment succeed? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was actually beginning to obtain anxious for Woman of the streets-- comparable to the nerves of enjoying Tony Ferguson contend at 40 years old. Hooker is actually only 34 and his skid wasn't fairly as unfortunate, however in the course of a stretch coming from June 2020 through March 2022, he went down four of 5 battles, receiving ended up in all however among the reductions. It should be actually taken note that those finishes off happened versus Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and also Arnold Allen-- not a tomato may amongst them. And also Hooker has since bounced back with a pair of victories over opponents a step lower on the step ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The issue for Woman of the streets is actually that this match puts him straight back at the top amount of competition. Gamrot has actually won seven of eight battles and also gets on the edge of the title photo. Will he be too much for Concubine, or will Gamrot get poked out of the frame?One boxer's roof is an additional boxer's ... ceiling? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was actually 9-0 after she won her fourth straight UFC battle in early 2022, as well as viewers were actually beginning to hypothesize on where her ceiling was actually. And now she is on a two-fight skid, and also the uncertainty issues just how far her falloff could be. On the other hand, Santos is three battles in to her UFC round, using a five-fight winning streak and appearing like an increasing possibility. This is actually an appropriate test for both girls, an amount setter. O'Neill is actually 26 years of ages, while Santos is simply 24. So their storyline can weave for a long times.