.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's something special concerning a mixed fighting styles activity Down Under.Maybe it is actually the moment warp a North American follower experiences while seeing matches on TV on a Saturday evening and also realizing that they are actually occurring the adhering to early morning, true time. That's about as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia and also recognizing that enthusiasts midway around the world are viewing the fisticuffs reside ... final night.Or perhaps it's something else that creates seeing MMA fights in Australia think thus unconventional. Probably it is actually the matches themselves, which frequently have a number of vociferation aspects attached. Any person observing the sporting activity for numerous years has actually watched the reality twists that may rise from cage matches within this edge of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt as well as Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva delivered a job's truly worth of heavyweight damages on each other during the course of one memorable evening in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting night (early morning?) in Sydney a year later, along with 11 battles as well as 11 finishes. And, naturally, Holly Holm kicking Ronda Rousey off her high horse at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That event set up a provider appearance record that stood up until the Octagon was reminded Melbourne in 2019 and 57,127 filled up Wonder Stadium to enjoy Israel Adesanya knock senseless Robert Whittaker and also come to be middleweight champion.When the eight-sided cage returns to Australia on Sunday, the past two-time champ will definitely challenge Dricus Du Plessis in the main activity of UFC 305 in Perth. Vulnerable will be actually certainly not simply a glossy band yet 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 only one of numerous appealing storylines that are going to play out this weekend. Listed here are 5 points to watch for at UFC 305. Who will win over the homeland on a distant shore? 1. Middleweight championship: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya conflict Dricus Du Plessis in the main event at UFC 305. Photograph through Willpower Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's main event resides in Western Australia, although the touchy turf war is hooked up to an arrive at the much side of the Indian Ocean. Du Plessis was actually born and still resides in South Africa. Adesanya was actually born in Nigeria and also moved with his loved ones to New Zealand when he was 10 years aged. Because of those dissimilar lifestyle paths, Du Plessis as soon as stated, "I am the African fighter in the UFC." That carried out certainly not agree with Adesanya, that possesses claimed his loved ones migrated trying to find instructional opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there's an animosity included in the presently towering concerns, therefore be it. It is actually not an important ingredient to make this an appealing match, however allowed's not fail to remember that the final opportunity Adesanya remained in an animosity-fueled matchup, he designated on Paulo Costa just before taking him out in 2020. His one KO ever since came versus Alex Pereira last year, five months after Pereira possessed KO 'd him. So "The Last Stylebender" has presented a crave the get-back, especially versus powerful assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching cease the brief power of Du Plessis, that has bulldozed his means to nine success in a row?Which fixing project will courageous? 2. Men's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe first 2 opportunities Kara-France competed in the UFC, the matches happened in Australia as well as he was actually sort of the neighborhood person. He's really coming from New Zealand, 1,300 kilometers around the Tasman Ocean, but his enemies were actually coming from the opposite side of the globe, the USA and also Brazil. This moment, however, it is actually an away ready Kara-France, as Erceg was actually birthed in Perth and lives twenty minutes coming from RAC Stadium. Erceg has actually dealt with in his hometown 6 times, yet all before his finalizing along with the UFC last summer. He is actually brought in just 4 vacations inside the Octagon and also presently has actually contended for the 125-pound title.That final factor highlights exactly how this match, like the main event, concerns much more than geography. Erceg, 29, was actually riding an 11-fight winning touch when he unsuccessfully challenged Alexandre Pantoja in Might. Kara-France, 31, tried for an interim belt in 2022, shedding through TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France and Erceg remain in fixing mode. A reduction listed here will not be completion of the road toward challenger condition, yet it could deliver that boxer on an inhibiting detour.Can we all only enjoy an opening great time? 3. Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa aims to end a four-fight losing streak at UFC 305 on Sunday evening. Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC using Getty ImagesI really feel apologetic for loving Tuivasa matches as high as I carry out. Certain, I like viewing a finely tuned athlete show off technological fight capabilities in giving damages and also shutting down what an opponent can toss their technique. That's the blended martial arts I'm comfortable being a fan of. Yet I simply can not turn away from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa always promises.Top stories of the week coming from Acquire unique accessibility to thousands of costs posts a year from top authors. u2022 MLB forecasts: Will Judge struck 60 Humans resources? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff staffs to come back "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ ranks" More ESPN+ web content ".What the Aussie can certainly not always promise, of course, is his delightfully revolting postfight event, the shoey. The draft beer as well as shoes appear just in victory, as well as Tuivasa has actually dropped four matches straight. But listed below's one thing worthwhile of celebrating, also prior to the initial haymaker is actually flung by these heavy-handed heavyweights: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can turn for the fences like Tuivasa, thus this one should be fun while it lasts.Will this degree modification succeed? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was actually beginning to acquire nervous for Hooker-- identical to the nerves of enjoying Tony Ferguson compete at 40 years old. Woman of the streets is actually just 34 as well as his skid had not been very as saddening, however throughout a stretch coming from June 2020 via March 2022, he fell 4 of five battles, receiving finished in all yet among the losses. It ought to be noted that those finishes off happened versus Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and also Arnold Allen-- not a tomato can easily one of them. And also Concubine has since recuperated along with a set of success over challengers a measure lower on the step ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The complication for Courtesan is actually that this match puts him right back on top level of competition. Gamrot has gained 7 of eight battles and also performs the edge of the label photo. Will he be actually way too much for Woman of the streets, or will Gamrot acquire poked out of the frame?One fighter's roof is yet another fighter's ... roof? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was 9-0 after she won her 4th straight UFC battle in early 2022, and observers were beginning to suppose on where her ceiling was. Today she is on a two-fight skid, as well as the guessing problems how far her falloff could be. In the meantime, Santos is actually three battles in to her UFC run, using a five-fight winning touch as well as looking like an increasing prospect. This is a proper test for each ladies, an amount setter. O'Neill is actually 26 years of ages, while Santos is just 24. So their story could twist and turn for a long times.