.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's one thing special regarding a blended martial arts event Down Under.Maybe it is actually the time warp a Northern United States enthusiast expertises while watching battles on television on a Saturday evening as well as understanding that they are actually taking place the observing morning, true time. That has to do with as disorienting as being cageside in Australia as well as understanding that fans halfway all over the world are checking out the fights reside ... last night.Or perhaps it is actually one thing else that creates seeing mixed martial arts battles in Australia believe thus offbeat. Probably it is the fights on their own, which frequently possess several vociferation aspects affixed. Any individual complying with the sporting activity for many years has observed the fact twists that may emanate from cage matches in this edge of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt and also Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva brought upon a career's worth of big-time damage on one another during one memorable night in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting evening (early morning?) in Sydney a year eventually, with 11 matches and also 11 coatings. As well as, naturally, Holly Holm booting Ronda Rousey off her higher equine at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That occasion set up a firm attendance file that stood up until the Octagon was reminded Melbourne in 2019 and also 57,127 filled Wonder Arena to enjoy Israel Adesanya knock senseless Robert Whittaker as well as end up being middleweight champion.When the eight-sided cage returns to Australia on Saturday, the former two-time champ is going to challenge Dricus Du Plessis generally event of UFC 305 in Perth. On the line will be not simply a glossy strap but the honor of a continent 5,000 kilometers away, as both competitors are originated in Africa, though with far different life experiences.That's the genesis of simply among a number of intriguing stories that are going to participate in out this weekend break. Below are actually five things to expect at UFC 305. Who will get the birthplace on a remote shore? 1. Middleweight championship: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya squares off with Dricus Du Plessis in the main celebration at UFC 305. Picture through Will Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's main event resides in Western Australia, although the sensitive turf war is actually linked to an arrive on the far side of the Indian Ocean. Du Plessis was actually birthed and still lives in South Africa. Adesanya was actually born in Nigeria as well as moved with his household to New Zealand when he was one decade old. In light of those disparate lifestyle paths, Du Plessis when announced, "I am the African boxer in the UFC." That performed certainly not sit well with Adesanya, that has stated his household migrated looking for academic opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there's an animosity added to the actually lofty risks, thus be it. It's certainly not a necessary ingredient to create this an appealing match, yet let's certainly not fail to remember that the final time Adesanya resided in an animosity-fueled matchup, he designated on Paulo Costa before taking him out in 2020. His one KO ever since happened against Alex Pereira in 2014, five months after Pereira possessed KO 'd him. So "The Last Stylebender" has actually presented a thirst for the get-back, particularly versus powerful assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching stop the short power of Du Plessis, that possesses bulldozed his means to nine triumphes in a row?Which fixing venture will stand tall? 2. Men's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe to begin with 2 times Kara-France competed in the UFC, the fights took place in Australia and also he was kind of the regional man. He's really coming from New Zealand, 1,300 miles around the Tasman Ocean, however his challengers were actually from the opposite of the globe, the United States as well as South America. This moment, though, it's an away game for Kara-France, as Erceg was actually birthed in Perth and also resides twenty mins from RAC Arena. Erceg has dealt with in his hometown 6 times, but all prior to his finalizing with the UFC final summer season. He is actually made just four travels inside the Octagon as well as currently has completed for the 125-pound title.That last point highlights how this battle, like the main event, concerns greater than location. Erceg, 29, was using an 11-fight winning touch when he unsuccessfully challenged Alexandre Pantoja in Might. Kara-France, 31, made a bid for an acting belt in 2022, shedding by TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Each Kara-France and also Erceg remain in restoring setting. A reduction right here would certainly certainly not be completion of the road towards contender standing, but it could send out that boxer on a preventing detour.Can all of us simply enjoy a swaying great time? 3. Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa looks to finish a four-fight losing streak at UFC 305 on Sunday night. Photo through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC using Getty ImagesI feel apologetic for loving Tuivasa fights as long as I perform. Certain, I like enjoying a carefully tuned athlete display specialized fight skills in delivering damages as well as turning off what a challenger can easily throw their method. That's the combined martial arts I'm comfortable being actually an enthusiast of. However I simply can not avert coming from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa always promises.Top tales of the full week coming from Receive exclusive access to hundreds of superior short articles a year from top writers. u2022 MLB prophecies: Will Judge reached 60 Humans resources? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff staffs to return "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ rankings" More ESPN+ web content ".What the Aussie may certainly not always vow, certainly, is his fantastically revolting postfight occasion, the shoey. The beer and also footwear emerge just in success, and Tuivasa has lost four matches straight. But listed here's one thing deserving of commemorating, also prior to the 1st haymaker is flung by these heavy-handed heavyweights: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can sway for the fences like Tuivasa, therefore this should be exciting while it lasts.Will this level modification prosper? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was actually beginning to get stressed for Whore-- similar to the nerves of enjoying Tony Ferguson compete at 40 years old. Concubine is just 34 and his skid had not been pretty as unfortunate, yet in the course of a stretch from June 2020 by means of March 2022, he went down four of five matches, getting ended up in all yet one of the reductions. It needs to be actually noted that those finishes off came versus Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler as well as Arnold Allen-- not a tomato can easily one of all of them. And Woman of the streets has since rebounded with a pair of triumphes over rivals a step lower on the ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The problem for Woman of the streets is that this battle places him right back on top degree of competition. Gamrot has succeeded seven of 8 fights as well as performs the fringe of the headline image. Will he be actually too much for Hooker, or even will Gamrot get pushed out of the frame?One fighter's roof is one more competitor's ... roof? 5. Female's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was actually 9-0 after she won her fourth straight UFC battle in early 2022, and also observers were actually starting to hypothesize on where her ceiling was actually. Today she performs a two-fight skid, and the guesswork problems just how much her falloff could be. At the same time, Santos is actually 3 matches in to her UFC trip, using a five-fight winning touch as well as appearing like a rising possibility. This is actually an appropriate exam for each females, a degree setter. O'Neill is actually 26 years of ages, while Santos is simply 24. So their storyline could weave for many years.