.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's something special regarding a blended martial arts activity Down Under.Maybe it's the moment warp a North American enthusiast knowledge while checking out fights on TV on a Sunday night and realizing that they're happening the adhering to morning, true time. That concerns as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia as well as recognizing that fans halfway all over the world are watching the fisticuffs reside ... last night.Or perhaps it is actually one thing else that creates checking out MMA matches in Australia experience so offbeat. Probably it is actually the battles on their own, which typically have various exclamation aspects affixed. Any individual complying with the sport for a number of years has seen the reality spins that can emanate from cage battles within this section of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt as well as Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva delivered a job's really worth of heavyweight damage on each other throughout one memorable night in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting evening (early morning?) in Sydney a year later, with 11 fights as well as 11 surfaces. As well as, naturally, Holly Holm booting Ronda Rousey off her high horse at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That occasion developed a firm attendance record that stood up up until the Octagon was reminded Melbourne in 2019 as well as 57,127 packed Marvel Arena to see Israel Adesanya knock out Robert Whittaker and also become middleweight champion.When the eight-sided cage go back to Australia on Sunday, the previous two-time champ will definitely test Dricus Du Plessis in the main celebration of UFC 305 in Perth. On the line will definitely be actually certainly not only a bright band yet the take pride in of a continent 5,000 miles away, as both competitors are actually originated in Africa, though with much various lifestyle experiences.That's the genesis of only some of numerous intriguing storylines that will play out this weekend. Here are actually five factors to watch for at UFC 305. Who will get the birthplace on a remote bank? 1. Middleweight championship: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya conflict Dricus Du Plessis generally celebration at UFC 305. Picture by Will Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's centerpiece resides in Western Australia, although the sensitive turf struggle is attached to an arrive at the far edge of the Indian Sea. Du Plessis was actually born and still lives in South Africa. Adesanya was born in Nigeria as well as relocated along with his household to New Zealand when he was actually one decade outdated. In light of those disparate life courses, Du Plessis the moment declared, "I am actually the African fighter in the UFC." That carried out certainly not sit well with Adesanya, that possesses claimed his loved ones migrated looking for informative opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there is actually a grudge included in the actually high-rise stakes, thus be it. It's not a necessary active ingredient to create this an interesting battle, yet permitted's certainly not fail to remember that the last time Adesanya was in an animosity-fueled competition, he designated on Paulo Costa prior to knocking him out in 2020. His one KO since then happened versus Alex Pereira last year, 5 months after Pereira had KO 'd him. So "The Final Stylebender" has actually shown a crave the get-back, particularly versus powerful aggressors. Can Adesanya's counterpunching stop the short regime of Du Plessis, that has bulldozed his method to nine wins in a row?Which restoring venture will courageous? 2. Men's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe first two times Kara-France contended in the UFC, the battles happened in Australia and also he was kind of the local person. He's in fact from New Zealand, 1,300 kilometers around the Tasman Sea, yet his challengers were actually coming from the opposite of the planet, the USA as well as South America. This moment, however, it is actually an away ready Kara-France, as Erceg was actually born in Perth and also lives 20 moments from RAC Field. Erceg has actually combated in his hometown six opportunities, but all prior to his signing with the UFC last summertime. He is actually created only 4 excursions inside the Octagon as well as currently has completed for the 125-pound title.That last factor highlights how this fight, like the centerpiece, is about much more than location. Erceg, 29, was using an 11-fight winning touch when he unsuccessfully challenged Alexandre Pantoja in May. Kara-France, 31, made a bid for an interim waistband in 2022, shedding by TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Each Kara-France and Erceg are in fixing mode. A loss listed below will not be actually the end of the street toward competitor condition, but it could send that boxer on an inhibiting detour.Can most of us simply delight in an opening happy times? 3. Big-time: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa wants to end a four-fight losing touch at UFC 305 on Saturday evening. Picture through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesI feel apologetic for caring Tuivasa battles as much as I carry out. Certain, I enjoy seeing a carefully tuned sportsmen show off technological combat abilities in bring upon damages and also stopping what an enemy can toss their way. That's the combined fighting styles I fit being an enthusiast of. However I simply can't turn away from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa regularly promises.Top tales of the full week from Receive unique accessibility to 1000s of costs short articles a year coming from leading article writers. u2022 MLB prophecies: Will Court reached 60 HRs? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff staffs to return "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ ranks" Even more ESPN+ content ".What the Aussie may not constantly vow, certainly, is his delightfully awful postfight festivity, the shoey. The beer as well as shoes visit only in success, and Tuivasa has actually dropped 4 matches in a row. But below's something worthy of commemorating, also prior to the initial haymaker is actually flung through these heavy-handed top cats: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can sway for the fences like Tuivasa, therefore this should be actually enjoyable while it lasts.Will this amount change achieve success? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was beginning to receive anxious for Hooker-- comparable to the nerves of enjoying Tony Ferguson compete at 40 years old. Hooker is actually only 34 and also his skid wasn't fairly as depressing, but during the course of an extent coming from June 2020 via March 2022, he fell 4 of 5 matches, obtaining ended up in each yet one of the reductions. It must be actually kept in mind that those finishes off came versus Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and Arnold Allen-- certainly not a tomato can one of all of them. As well as Whore has actually given that recovered along with a set of triumphes over challengers an action lower on the ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The trouble for Hooker is that this fight puts him right back on top level of competitors. Gamrot has won 7 of eight fights and also is on the fringe of the label photo. Will he be actually too much for Woman of the streets, or even will Gamrot get poked away from the frame?One boxer's roof is one more boxer's ... ceiling? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was 9-0 after she succeeded her fourth direct UFC match in early 2022, and onlookers were actually starting to speculate on where her ceiling was. Now she is on a two-fight skid, and the guessing issues just how much her falloff might be. In the meantime, Santos is actually 3 fights in to her UFC run, using a five-fight winning touch as well as looking like a rising prospect. This is actually a necessary test for both girls, a level setter. O'Neill is 26 years old, while Santos is simply 24. So their storyline might weave for many years.