.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's something unique regarding a combined fighting styles event Down Under.Maybe it is actually the moment warp a North United States follower expertises while watching matches on television on a Saturday night as well as understanding that they're happening the adhering to morning, local time. That's about as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia and knowing that enthusiasts midway around the globe are watching the fights stay ... last night.Or possibly it is actually one thing else that makes checking out mixed martial arts battles in Australia believe thus unique. Possibly it is the matches themselves, which typically possess a number of exclamation points connected. Any individual following the sporting activity for many years has actually experienced the reality twists that may rise coming from cage matches in this corner of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt as well as Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva delivered a job's truly worth of big-time damages on each other throughout one memorable evening in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting evening (early morning?) in Sydney a year eventually, with 11 battles and also 11 surfaces. And, obviously, Holly Holm booting Ronda Rousey off her high equine at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That occasion established a business appearance file that stood up until the Octagon was actually brought back to Melbourne in 2019 as well as 57,127 loaded Marvel Coliseum to enjoy Israel Adesanya knock senseless Robert Whittaker and also become middleweight champion.When the eight-sided cage go back to Australia on Sunday, the former two-time champ will test Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 305 in Perth. On the line will be actually not just a shiny strap yet the honor of a continent 5,000 miles away, as each fighters are rooted in Africa, though with far different lifestyle experiences.That's the genesis of merely among several appealing stories that will participate in out this weekend. Listed here are actually five traits to expect at UFC 305. That will gain the birthplace on a far-off bank? 1. Middleweight championship: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya conflict Dricus Du Plessis generally event at UFC 305. Photo through Willpower Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's main event remains in Western Australia, although the sensitive territory battle is hooked up to a come down on the far side of the Indian Sea. Du Plessis was actually born and still lives in South Africa. Adesanya was birthed in Nigeria and moved with his family to New Zealand when he was 10 years outdated. Due to those inconsonant lifestyle roads, Du Plessis the moment declared, "I am the African fighter in the UFC." That did not sit well with Adesanya, who possesses said his household emigrated seeking informative opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there's a grudge included in the actually skyscraping risks, thus be it. It's certainly not an essential component to make this an interesting battle, but allowed's certainly not forget that the last opportunity Adesanya resided in an animosity-fueled competition, he styled 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 shown a crave the get-back, specifically versus highly effective assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching stop the brief regime of Du Plessis, who has bulldozed his method to 9 triumphes in a row?Which reconstructing venture will stand tall? 2. Men's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe first pair of opportunities Kara-France completed in the UFC, the fights happened in Australia and he was actually kind of the local area man. He's in fact coming from New Zealand, 1,300 miles across the Tasman Ocean, but his challengers were coming from the opposite side of the globe, the USA and Brazil. This time around, however, it is actually an away ready Kara-France, as Erceg was birthed in Perth and stays 20 minutes coming from RAC Arena. Erceg has fought in his neighborhood six times, but all just before his finalizing with the UFC last summer months. He is actually created simply 4 excursions inside the Octagon and already has completed for the 125-pound title.That last point highlights exactly how this match, like the main event, is about greater than geographics. Erceg, 29, was actually using an 11-fight winning touch when he unsuccessfully tested Alexandre Pantoja in Might. Kara-France, 31, made a bid for an acting waistband in 2022, dropping through TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France and also Erceg remain in rebuilding method. A loss listed here would certainly certainly not be actually completion of the road toward challenger condition, yet it could deliver that competitor on a dissuading detour.Can most of us only enjoy a swaying happy times? 3. Big-time: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa wants to end a four-fight losing touch at UFC 305 on Sunday night. Image through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC through Getty ImagesI feel regretful for loving Tuivasa matches as high as I do. Sure, I enjoy seeing a finely tuned professional athlete show off technical combat capabilities in delivering harm and stopping what a challenger may toss their technique. That's the blended martial arts I'm comfortable being actually a follower of. However I simply can not avert from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa regularly promises.Top accounts of the full week coming from Receive exclusive accessibility to 1000s of superior posts a year coming from top writers. u2022 MLB prophecies: Will Judge reached 60 Humans resources? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff crews to return "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ ranks" Even more ESPN+ information ".What the Aussie can easily certainly not always guarantee, certainly, is his wonderfully disgusting postfight festivity, the shoey. The draft beer and footwear emerge merely in success, and also Tuivasa has actually dropped four fights straight. Yet here's one thing worthwhile of commemorating, even just before the very first haymaker is flung by these heavy-handed top cats: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can open for the fencings like Tuivasa, thus this set should be fun while it lasts.Will this amount change succeed? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was actually beginning to obtain tense for Whore-- comparable to the nerves of checking out Tony Ferguson complete at 40 years of ages. Concubine is just 34 and also his skid wasn't very as saddening, however throughout a stretch from June 2020 through March 2022, he dropped 4 of five battles, receiving completed with all yet among the losses. It needs to be taken note that those defeats came versus Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and also Arnold Allen-- not a tomato can among them. As well as Hooker has because recuperated with a set of victories over enemies a step lower on the step ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The complication for Hooker is that this battle puts him straight back at the top degree of competitors. Gamrot has actually succeeded seven of eight matches and also performs the fringe of the label picture. Will he be actually way too much for Courtesan, or even will Gamrot obtain pushed out of the frame?One boxer's ceiling is an additional competitor's ... ceiling? 5. Female's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was 9-0 after she won her fourth direct UFC battle in early 2022, and onlookers were beginning to guess on where her ceiling was actually. And now she is on a two-fight skid, as well as the guesswork issues how far her falloff might be. At the same time, Santos is three battles in to her UFC round, using a five-fight winning streak as well as looking like a climbing prospect. This is an ideal test for both women, a level setter. O'Neill is 26 years of ages, while Santos is just 24. So their story can weave for many years.