UFC 305 preview: 25 tidbits, info and storylines

After a lackluster occasion final week, Final Combating Championship (UFC) heads “Down Beneath” this weekend (Sat., Aug. 17, 2024) to RAC Area in Perth, Australia, for UFC 305. Within the pay-per-view (PPV) principal occasion, Dricus Du Plessis defends his Middleweight belt for the primary time in opposition to bitter African rival, Israel Adesanya. In UFC 305’s co-main occasion, former Flyweight title challenger, Steve Erceg, takes on former interim Flyweight title challenger, Kai Kara-France.

UFC 305 has a ton of enjoyable fights, and it ought to have a enjoyable ambiance. So, earlier than UFC’s ninth pay-per-view (PPV) goes down tomorrow night time on ESPN+, let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits and statistics forward of showtime …

‘Metropolis of Mild’

UFC returns to Perth, Australia, for the primary time since UFC 284, the place Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski competed in 2023’s “Battle of the 12 months.” Within the co-main occasion, Yair Rodriguez submitted Josh Emmett to say the interim Featherweight championship (watch highlights). Jack Della Maddalena was additionally on the cardboard and knocked out Randy Brown within the first spherical (see that right here).

Dangerous Blood

It’s been a couple of yr since Adesanya and Du Plessis had their notorious staredown at UFC 290 (see that right here). And whereas the struggle would have been a lot greater if it had been to go down at UFC 293 (or UFC 300) prefer it was imagined to, there nonetheless is unhealthy blood hooked up to it. And primarily due to Du Plessis’ feedback about Africa. With “Stillknocks” now holding the belt, the dynamic is totally different.

Historical past

Adesanya and Du Plessis will mark the primary time two African-born athletes meet for a title within the group.

It seems like UFC screwed up by not having this struggle happen in … AFRICA … proper?

Perhaps subsequent time …

Enemy Territory

With the struggle not going down in Africa, Du Plessis will enter enemy territory. Whereas Adesanya is not Australian, he usually fights within the nation and is shut sufficient to New Zealand.

Feelin’ Recent

It has been 11 months since Adesanya has competed, which is by far the longest layoff of his UFC profession, which is wild if you actually give it some thought. Throughout his time away from the cage, he turned mentally and bodily wholesome. “The Final Stylebender” additionally discovered his love for the game once more and feels recent.

A wholesome, motivated Adesanya is a really harmful fighter.

Foremost Occasion(s)

Adesanya will compete in his eleventh straight principal occasion on Saturday, whereas Du Plessis will compete in his second principal occasion.

AUS vs. NZ

The co-main occasion sees Flyweights collide. No. 4-ranked Kara-France fights No. 7-seeded Erceg, who’s coming off his unsuccessful title struggle in opposition to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301.

Whereas the struggle has few stakes, they each struggle for his or her international locations: Kara-France represents New Zealand, and Erceg represents Australia.

Hometown Boy

Erceg will even have the hometown benefit as he lives and trains in Perth, Australia.

‘Don’t Blink’ Is Again!

Kara-France is returning after a 14-month layoff. He was imagined to return to motion in opposition to Manel Kape at UFC 293, however was pulled from the struggle after receiving a concussion.

Kara-France is driving a two-fight dropping streak.

Poor ‘Gamer’

It seems like Mateusz Gamrot should win 5,768 fights in a row — similar to Belal Muhammad — to obtain a title shot or simply clear out the division. Gamrot is 7-2 within the promotion and is driving a three-fight win streak.

He takes on Dan Hooker in UFC 305’s “Featured” bout.

‘Hangman’ In Australia

Talking of Hooker, he fights in Australia for the primary time since UFC 243 (Oct. 6, 2019), the place he defeated Al Iaquinta through unanimous choice.

Hooker has had fairly good outcomes when combating the AUSNZ area, and a win over Gamrot would launch him again into the Light-weight image. He additionally coming off a prolonged layoff of 13 months.

CKB

Some fighters love combating with their teammates on the cardboard, and one health club that enjoys that’s Metropolis Kickboxing, the most effective on the earth. In reality, three athletes from CKB will compete in UFC 305’s prime three bouts on the PPV principal card: Adesanya, Kara-France and Hooker.

Do Or Die?

Whereas I’ve a tough time seeing UFC releasing Tai Tuivasa as a result of he’s a fan favourite who brings it each single time, a loss at UFC 305 will carry him to 5 in a row … and UFC will be ruthless at occasions. Nonetheless, all of these losses have come in opposition to ranked High 10-ranked Heavyweights.

Nonetheless, Tuivasa desperately wants a win this weekend. He takes on fellow knockout artist Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

However hey, the final time Tuivasa fought in Perth, he destroyed Cyril Asker.

WELCOME BACK, ‘LEECH!’

After 23 months, fan-favorite Li Jingliang returns to motion. The Chinese language fighter was imagined to struggle final yr at UFC 287; nevertheless, he pulled out due to a backbone damage … and he’s been coping with the horrifying velocity bump ever since.

“Leech” is now fully wholesome and able to leap again into the Welterweight pool. Nonetheless, he has a difficult activity as he fights an absolute killer in Carlos Prates.

Bros

As UFC continues to get greater and larger, an increasing number of siblings are getting signed to the promotion. After all, we all know concerning the Diaz brothers, the Nogueira brothers and the Pettis brothers.

At UFC 305, 4 brothers of outstanding UFC fighters compete:

• Junior Tafa — brother of Justin Tafa — takes on Valter Walker (brother of Johnny Walker).
• Herbert Burns — brother of Gilbert Burns — fights Jack Jenkins.
• Alex Reyes — brother of Dominick Reyes — takes on Tom Nolan.

New Health club, New Fighter?

Generally, altering a health club is the perfect factor a fighter can do — it freshens up issues and offers new perspective … and that’s precisely what Casey O’Neil did.

O’Neil has been with Xtreme Couture for many of her UFC profession, however she packed up her issues for this camp and went 4 hours away to Battle Prepared in Arizona.

“King” is on the primary two-fight dropping streak of her profession. She additionally fights in Australia for the primary time in her time with UFC.

O’Neil fights Luana Santos.

Welcome To UFC!

Just one fighter is making their UFC debut at UFC 305: Stewart Nicoll (8-0).

Nicoll takes on Jesus Santos Aguilar. Nicoll comes from Beatdown Promotions and holds an 88 % end price with 4 knockouts.

Aussies In Australia

Seven Australian-born fighters are combating in Perth, Australia, this weekend.

• Erceg
• Tuivasa
• Tafa
• Josh Culibao
• Jenkins
• Tom Nolan
• Nicoll

UFC 305 Battle Chief

The fighter with probably the most profession fights competing at UFC 305 is Kara-France (36).

UFC 305 Battle Rookie

The fighter with the least quantity of profession fights competing at UFC 305 is Tafa (7).

UFC 305 Knockout King

The fighter with probably the most quantity of profession knockouts competing at UFC 305 is Adesanya (16).

UFC 305 Submission Savant

The fighter with probably the most quantity of profession submissions competing at UFC 305 is Du Plessis (10).

Winners And Losers

Ten fighters are coming off wins, whereas 14 are coming off losses.

Multi-Divisions

Listed below are the divisions that can be on show this Saturday:

• Two Heavyweight fights
• One Middleweight struggle
• Two Welterweight fights
• Two Light-weight fights
• Two Featherweight fights
• Two Flyweight fights
• One Girls’s Flyweight struggle

Beta Canine

In line with DraftKings, the “largest” underdog at UFC 305 is Reyes at +750.

LIVE! Watch UFC 305 PPV On ESPN+ Right here!

’BAD BLOOD BOILS OVER! Final Combating Championship (UFC) returns to RAC Area in Perth, western Australia, on Sat., Aug. 17, 2024, with a fully unbelievable pay-per-view (PPV) principal occasion between Middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, taking up African rival — and former 185-pound roost-ruler — Israel Adesanya. In UFC 305’s co-headliner, top-ranked Flyweight contender, Kai Kara-France (No. 4), locks horns with former 125-pound title contender, Steve Erceg (No. 7), whereas Mateusz Gamrot meets Dan Hooker in a enjoyable Light-weight scrap one struggle prior. UFC 305’s PPV principal card (see it right here) will even function Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Jingliang Li vs. Carlos Prates and a lot extra. It’s must-watch motion from “Down Beneath!” UFC 305 begin time scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (Prelims) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching motion!

To checkout the newest and biggest UFC 305 struggle card and rumors click on right here.