.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's one thing special about a mixed fighting styles event Down Under.Maybe it's the amount of time warp a North American enthusiast experiences while viewing fights on TV on a Sunday night and also understanding that they are actually occurring the following morning, local time. That's about as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia as well as knowing that followers midway worldwide are watching the fisticuffs stay ... final night.Or possibly it's one thing else that makes seeing MMA fights in Australia think therefore offbeat. Maybe it is the battles on their own, which often possess numerous exclamation aspects affixed. Anybody complying with the sporting activity for numerous years has experienced the reality twists that may emanate coming from crate matches in this section of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt as well as Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva delivered an occupation's truly worth of big-time damages on one another during the course of one remarkable night in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting night (morning?) in Sydney a year later on, with 11 battles as well as 11 finishes. And, certainly, Holly Holm kicking Ronda Rousey off her high horse at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That event created a provider appearance report that stood up until the Octagon was actually brought back to Melbourne in 2019 and also 57,127 loaded Wonder Coliseum to view Israel Adesanya knock out Robert Whittaker as well as come to be middleweight champion.When the eight-sided crate go back to Australia on Saturday, the previous two-time champ is going to test Dricus Du Plessis generally occasion of UFC 305 in Perth. Vulnerable will certainly be actually not merely a bright strap however the satisfaction of a continent 5,000 kilometers away, as each boxers are actually originated in Africa, though with far various lifestyle experiences.That's the genesis of just among a number of intriguing stories that will play out this weekend. Listed here are five traits to expect at UFC 305. That will sway the homeland on a distant bank? 1. Middleweight champion: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya squares off with Dricus Du Plessis generally occasion at UFC 305. Photograph by Will Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's centerpiece remains in Western Australia, although the sensitive turf war is actually linked to a come down on the much side of the Indian Ocean. Du Plessis was born and also still stays in South Africa. Adesanya was born in Nigeria and relocated along with his household to New Zealand when he was one decade old. Because of those dissimilar life roads, Du Plessis once stated, "I am actually the African fighter in the UFC." That did not sit well with Adesanya, that possesses claimed his family members departed searching for informative opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there is actually an animosity contributed to the actually skyscraping concerns, thus be it. It is actually not an important element to create this a fascinating match, however allowed's certainly not neglect that the last time Adesanya remained in an animosity-fueled matchup, he styled on Paulo Costa just before taking him out in 2020. His one KO since then happened against Alex Pereira last year, 5 months after Pereira had KO 'd him. So "The Last Stylebender" has revealed a thirst for the get-back, specifically against effective assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching stop the quick supremacy of Du Plessis, who possesses bulldozed his method to 9 victories in a row?Which fixing venture will courageous? 2. Guy's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe to begin with pair of opportunities Kara-France completed in the UFC, the fights took place in Australia and he was actually kind of the local area man. He's really from New Zealand, 1,300 miles throughout the Tasman Ocean, but his challengers were from the other side of the globe, the USA as well as Brazil. This moment, though, it's an away ready Kara-France, as Erceg was actually born in Perth and also stays twenty minutes coming from RAC Stadium. Erceg has dealt with in his home town 6 times, however all before his signing with the UFC final summer months. He is actually made only four journeys inside the Octagon as well as already has completed for the 125-pound title.That last factor highlights just how this battle, like the centerpiece, has to do with more than geography. Erceg, 29, was riding an 11-fight winning touch when he unsuccessfully challenged Alexandre Pantoja in May. Kara-France, 31, made a bid for an acting belt in 2022, shedding by TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France and also Erceg remain in fixing method. A reduction here would certainly not be actually the end of the road towards challenger condition, yet it could send out that competitor on a preventing detour.Can most of us merely take pleasure in a swinging great time? 3. Big-time: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa aims to finish a four-fight losing touch at UFC 305 on Saturday evening. Photograph through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by means of Getty ImagesI feel apologetic for nurturing Tuivasa fights as much as I perform. Certain, I adore checking out a finely tuned athlete exhibit technological combat skill-sets in causing damage as well as shutting down what an enemy can throw their means. That is actually the blended fighting styles I fit being a fan of. But I just can not turn away from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa constantly promises.Top accounts of the week from Get unique accessibility to hundreds of costs articles a year coming from leading article writers. u2022 MLB prophecies: Will Judge hit 60 HRs? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff staffs to return "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ ranks" More ESPN+ information ".What the Aussie can easily not always vow, of course, is his wonderfully horrible postfight party, the shoey. The beer and footwear show up simply in triumph, as well as Tuivasa has actually lost four matches in a row. However here's one thing worthwhile of commemorating, also prior to the 1st haymaker is affaired through these heavy-handed heavyweights: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can open for the fences like Tuivasa, so this set should be actually exciting while it lasts.Will this level improvement achieve success? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was actually starting to obtain tense for Concubine-- identical to the nerves of viewing Tony Ferguson contend at 40 years old. Hooker is actually simply 34 and his skid wasn't rather as sad, yet during an extent coming from June 2020 by means of March 2022, he lost four of 5 matches, getting finished in each however one of the reductions. It must be kept in mind that those finishes off happened versus Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and also Arnold Allen-- certainly not a tomato may among all of them. And Woman of the streets has because gotten better along with a pair of success over rivals a measure lower on the ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The concern for Woman of the streets is that this fight places him straight back at the top amount of competitors. Gamrot has actually gained seven of 8 matches as well as is on the fringe of the title image. Will he be way too much for Hooker, or even will Gamrot get nudged out of the frame?One fighter's ceiling is yet another boxer's ... ceiling? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was 9-0 after she gained her 4th direct UFC battle in early 2022, and also viewers were actually beginning to guess on where her ceiling was. Today she is on a two-fight skid, and the guesswork concerns just how much her falloff may be. On the other hand, Santos is three matches right into her UFC run, riding a five-fight winning touch as well as resembling an increasing prospect. This is a proper test for each women, a level setter. O'Neill is 26 years of ages, while Santos is merely 24. So their story could weave for a long times.