.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's something unique about a blended martial arts occasion Down Under.Maybe it is actually the time warp a North United States enthusiast expertises while checking out fights on TV on a Saturday night and discovering that they are actually occurring the complying with early morning, local time. That's about as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia and recognizing that supporters midway worldwide are actually enjoying the fisticuffs live ... final night.Or perhaps it's something else that makes checking out MMA matches in Australia experience so unusual. Perhaps it is the matches on their own, which frequently have multiple exclamation factors connected. Any individual adhering to the sport for a number of years has seen the reality twists that may rise coming from cage matches within this corner of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt as well as Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva brought upon an occupation's worth of heavyweight damage 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 11 coatings. And, certainly, Holly Holm booting Ronda Rousey off her higher steed at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That celebration established a firm participation document that stood till the Octagon was actually brought back to Melbourne in 2019 and 57,127 filled Marvel Arena to enjoy Israel Adesanya knock out Robert Whittaker and come to be middleweight champion.When the eight-sided cage come back to Australia on Saturday, the past two-time champ will challenge Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 305 in Perth. On the line will be not simply a shiny strap but the satisfaction of a continent 5,000 miles away, as both fighters are actually embeded in Africa, though along with far different life experiences.That's the origin of simply among numerous appealing storylines that will play out this weekend. Right here are 5 factors to expect at UFC 305. Who will win over the birthplace on a remote shore? 1. Middleweight championship: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya squares off with Dricus Du Plessis generally activity at UFC 305. Photograph through Will Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's centerpiece resides in Western Australia, although the sensitive territory struggle is actually linked to an arrive at the far edge of the Indian Ocean. Du Plessis was actually born as well as still stays in South Africa. Adesanya was birthed in Nigeria and also relocated with his household to New Zealand when he was actually one decade aged. Because of those inconsonant lifestyle roads, Du Plessis the moment announced, "I am the African competitor in the UFC." That performed not sit well with Adesanya, that possesses stated his family moved abroad in search of informative opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there's an animosity contributed to the actually towering risks, so be it. It's certainly not an essential substance to make this an interesting match, yet let's certainly not overlook that the final time Adesanya was in an animosity-fueled competition, he styled on Paulo Costa prior to taking him out in 2020. His one KO since then happened versus Alex Pereira in 2013, five months after Pereira had KO 'd him. So "The Last Stylebender" has actually shown a thirst for the get-back, specifically versus effective assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching stop the brief regime of Du Plessis, who has bulldozed his method to 9 success in a row?Which rebuilding venture will stand tall? 2. Men's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe to begin with two opportunities Kara-France contended in the UFC, the fights occurred in Australia as well as he was actually sort of the regional fella. He's in fact from New Zealand, 1,300 miles across the Tasman Sea, but his opponents were actually from the other side of the planet, the United States as well as South America. This time around, though, it is actually an away ready Kara-France, as Erceg was actually born in Perth as well as lives twenty minutes from RAC Stadium. Erceg has dealt with in his neighborhood 6 opportunities, however all prior to his signing with the UFC final summer. He's created just 4 vacations inside the Octagon and also actually has actually contended for the 125-pound title.That final factor highlights how this match, like the main event, has to do with more than location. Erceg, 29, was riding an 11-fight winning streak when he unsuccessfully tested Alexandre Pantoja in Might. Kara-France, 31, tried for an acting belt in 2022, shedding by TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France and Erceg remain in rebuilding method. A reduction here would certainly certainly not be the end of the roadway toward challenger status, however it could deliver that competitor on a dissuading detour.Can most of us just take pleasure in a swinging great time? 3. Big-time: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa tries to finish a four-fight losing touch at UFC 305 on Saturday night. Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesI feel apologetic for loving Tuivasa battles as long as I perform. Sure, I really like seeing a finely tuned sportsmen exhibit technological fight abilities in bring upon harm and also stopping what an enemy can easily toss their method. That is actually the combined fighting styles I fit being actually an enthusiast of. But I simply can not avert from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa consistently promises.Top stories of the week coming from Receive unique accessibility to lots of premium articles a year from leading writers. u2022 MLB forecasts: Will Judge hit 60 HRs? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff teams to return "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ positions" More ESPN+ content ".What the Aussie can easily not consistently guarantee, obviously, is his delightfully revolting postfight event, the shoey. The draft beer and also shoes come out merely in triumph, and also Tuivasa has actually dropped 4 battles straight. However here's something worthwhile of commemorating, even before the initial haymaker is actually affaired by these heavy-handed heavyweights: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can sway for the fences like Tuivasa, therefore this set should be actually fun while it lasts.Will this level change be successful? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was actually beginning to receive concerned for Concubine-- comparable to the nerves of checking out Tony Ferguson complete at 40 years old. Courtesan is actually simply 34 as well as his skid wasn't very as depressing, however during a stretch coming from June 2020 with March 2022, he lost 4 of five fights, obtaining finished with all yet one of the losses. It needs to be kept in mind that those finishes off came versus Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler as well as Arnold Allen-- not a tomato can easily among all of them. As well as Courtesan has since recuperated with a set of triumphes over challengers a measure lower on the step ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The issue for Courtesan is actually that this fight puts him right back on top amount of competitors. Gamrot has actually gained seven of eight matches as well as performs the fringe of the headline image. Will he be too much for Hooker, or even will Gamrot receive pushed away from the frame?One boxer's roof is actually an additional boxer's ... ceiling? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was actually 9-0 after she gained her fourth direct UFC match in early 2022, and also onlookers were actually beginning to guess on where her roof was. And now she performs a two-fight skid, and also the guess work issues how far her falloff might be. On the other hand, Santos is actually three matches into her UFC trip, riding a five-fight winning touch and also looking like an increasing possibility. This is actually a suitable test for each girls, a level setter. O'Neill is actually 26 years of ages, while Santos is actually just 24. So their story can weave for several years.