.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's one thing unique regarding a combined martial arts event Down Under.Maybe it is actually the time warp a North American follower adventures while viewing matches on TV on a Saturday evening and realizing that they're happening the observing morning, true time. That's about as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia as well as knowing that supporters midway all over the world are seeing the fights reside ... final night.Or perhaps it's something else that creates enjoying MMA matches in Australia feel so unconventional. Maybe it is the fights on their own, which usually possess a number of vociferation aspects affixed. Any person complying with the sport for numerous years has seen the truth twists that can rise from cage fights in this corner of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt and also Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva inflicted an occupation's really worth of big-time damage on one another during the course of one extraordinary night in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting night (morning?) in Sydney a year later on, along with 11 battles as well as 11 coatings. As well as, certainly, Holly Holm booting Ronda Rousey off her high equine at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That event created a business participation report that stood up up until the Octagon was reminded Melbourne in 2019 as well as 57,127 filled up Wonder Coliseum to watch Israel Adesanya knock out Robert Whittaker and end up being middleweight champion.When the eight-sided crate go back to Australia on Saturday, the previous two-time champ is going to challenge Dricus Du Plessis generally occasion of UFC 305 in Perth. Vulnerable will be not merely a shiny strap however the take pride in of a continent 5,000 kilometers away, as both fighters are rooted in Africa, though with far different life experiences.That's the origin of only some of many fascinating storylines that will participate in out this weekend. Here are 5 traits to watch for at UFC 305. Who will draw the birthplace on a far-off bank? 1. Middleweight champion: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya conflict Dricus Du Plessis in the main celebration at UFC 305. Photograph by Will Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's main event resides in Western Australia, although the sensitive turf battle is actually connected to an arrive at the far edge of the Indian Ocean. Du Plessis was actually birthed and also still stays in South Africa. Adesanya was actually birthed in Nigeria and also relocated with his family members to New Zealand when he was ten years aged. In light of those diverse lifestyle paths, Du Plessis the moment stated, "I am actually the African boxer in the UFC." That did certainly not sit well with Adesanya, who possesses claimed his family members emigrated in search of educational opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there's a grudge added to the presently high-rise concerns, thus be it. It's not an important active ingredient to make this an intriguing match, yet let's certainly not fail to remember that the final opportunity Adesanya was in an animosity-fueled competition, he designated on Paulo Costa before knocking him out in 2020. His one KO ever since came against Alex Pereira in 2013, 5 months after Pereira possessed KO 'd him. So "The Final Stylebender" has actually shown a thirst for the get-back, specifically versus powerful assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching cease the short power of Du Plessis, that has bulldozed his technique to 9 wins in a row?Which rebuilding venture will stand tall? 2. Male's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe first 2 times Kara-France completed in the UFC, the fights occurred in Australia and also he was kind of the regional guy. He's in fact coming from New Zealand, 1,300 kilometers all over the Tasman Sea, yet his opponents were actually from the other side of the globe, the United States as well as Brazil. This moment, however, it's an away ready Kara-France, as Erceg was birthed in Perth and resides 20 mins coming from RAC Arena. Erceg has fought in his hometown 6 times, but all before his finalizing with the UFC final summertime. He is actually made just 4 excursions inside the Octagon and also already has contended for the 125-pound title.That last factor highlights how this fight, like the main event, is about greater 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 waistband in 2022, shedding through TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France and also Erceg reside in reconstructing setting. A reduction right here will certainly not be actually completion of the road toward competitor standing, but it could send out that competitor on a preventing detour.Can all of us just enjoy a turning happy times? 3. Big-time: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa hopes to finish a four-fight losing touch at UFC 305 on Sunday night. Image through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC using Getty ImagesI really feel regretful for loving Tuivasa battles as high as I perform. Sure, I like watching a finely tuned athlete display technological battle skill-sets in inflicting damage and turning off what an opponent may toss their way. That's the combined martial arts I'm comfortable being a fan of. Yet I simply can't avert coming from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa constantly promises.Top tales of the week from Get special accessibility to 1000s of fee short articles a year coming from top writers. u2022 MLB predictions: Will Court attacked 60 HRs? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff staffs to come back "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ rankings" More ESPN+ information ".What the Aussie can certainly not constantly guarantee, of course, is his wonderfully revolting postfight celebration, the shoey. The draft beer and also footwear appear merely in triumph, as well as Tuivasa has actually dropped 4 matches straight. However below's one thing worthy of commemorating, also before the first haymaker is flung by these heavy-handed heavyweights: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can turn for the fences like Tuivasa, so this one should be enjoyable while it lasts.Will this level change be successful? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was starting to receive concerned for Concubine-- identical to the nerves of checking out Tony Ferguson compete at 40 years of ages. Whore is actually just 34 and also his skid wasn't very as saddening, however during the course of a stretch coming from June 2020 by means of March 2022, he went down four of five battles, getting finished in every but some of the reductions. It must be noted that those defeats happened against Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and also Arnold Allen-- certainly not a tomato can one of all of them. As well as Concubine has because bounced back along with a pair of victories over rivals a measure lower on the step ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The concern for Hooker is that this fight puts him straight back at the top level of competitors. Gamrot has actually gained seven of eight fights as well as performs the edge of the headline photo. Will he be actually a lot of for Woman of the streets, or even will Gamrot receive nudged away from 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 4th straight UFC battle in very early 2022, as well as observers were starting to hypothesize on where her roof was. Today she gets on a two-fight skid, and the uncertainty issues just how far her falloff may be. On the other hand, Santos is 3 battles right into her UFC run, using a five-fight winning streak as well as looking like a rising prospect. This is actually an appropriate exam for each women, an amount setter. O'Neill is 26 years old, while Santos is actually just 24. So their storyline might weave for a long times.