.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's something special regarding a combined fighting styles celebration Down Under.Maybe it is actually the amount of time warp a N. American fan experiences while watching fights on TV on a Saturday evening as well as understanding that they're taking place the adhering to morning, true time. That concerns as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia and also knowing that supporters midway around the globe are viewing the fisticuffs live ... final night.Or maybe it is actually one thing else that creates viewing mixed martial arts matches in Australia feel therefore unconventional. Perhaps it is the fights on their own, which usually have various exclamation points connected. Any individual observing the sporting activity for a number of years has actually seen the fact spins that can easily originate coming from crate matches within this section of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Search and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva brought upon a profession's worth of heavyweight harm on one another throughout one memorable night in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting night (early morning?) in Sydney a year later on, with 11 fights and also 11 coatings. As well as, naturally, Holly Holm kicking Ronda Rousey off her higher horse at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That activity created a firm appearance document that stood up until the Octagon was brought back to Melbourne in 2019 as well as 57,127 loaded Marvel Coliseum to view Israel Adesanya knock senseless Robert Whittaker and also come to be middleweight champion.When the eight-sided cage come back to Australia on Saturday, the past two-time champ will certainly challenge Dricus Du Plessis generally event of UFC 305 in Perth. On the line will be certainly not only a glossy band however the take pride in of a continent 5,000 kilometers away, as both fighters are rooted in Africa, though along with far different lifestyle experiences.That's the origin of merely one of many appealing stories that will definitely participate in out this weekend. Here are five things to watch for at UFC 305. Who will gain the homeland on a far-off coast? 1. Middleweight championship: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya squares off with Dricus Du Plessis generally celebration at UFC 305. Picture through Will Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's centerpiece remains in Western Australia, although the touchy territory war is actually linked to an arrive at the far edge of the Indian Sea. Du Plessis was born and still stays in South Africa. Adesanya was actually born in Nigeria and relocated with his family to New Zealand when he was 10 years old. In light of those disparate life pathways, Du Plessis when announced, "I am actually the African competitor in the UFC." That carried out certainly not agree with Adesanya, who possesses mentioned his family emigrated looking for academic opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there is actually a grudge contributed to the actually skyscraping concerns, thus be it. It is actually not a needed component to make this a fascinating battle, yet permitted's certainly not forget that the last time Adesanya resided in an animosity-fueled matchup, he styled on Paulo Costa before knocking him out in 2020. His one KO ever since came against Alex Pereira in 2014, 5 months after Pereira possessed KO 'd him. So "The Last Stylebender" has actually revealed a thirst for the get-back, specifically against powerful assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching stop the brief reign of Du Plessis, who possesses bulldozed his technique to nine success in a row?Which fixing venture will courageous? 2. Men's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe to begin with 2 opportunities Kara-France contended in the UFC, the battles happened in Australia and he was sort of the regional man. He's actually from New Zealand, 1,300 kilometers throughout the Tasman Sea, but his opponents were actually from the other side of the world, the USA as well as Brazil. This time around, however, it is actually an away game for Kara-France, as Erceg was actually born in Perth and resides twenty mins coming from RAC Field. Erceg has actually battled in his home town 6 times, yet all just before his signing along with the UFC final summer. He's made just four excursions inside the Octagon as well as actually has contended for the 125-pound title.That last aspect highlights exactly how this match, like the main event, concerns greater than geographics. Erceg, 29, was actually riding an 11-fight winning streak when he unsuccessfully tested Alexandre Pantoja in Might. Kara-France, 31, made a bid for an interim belt in 2022, losing through TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Each Kara-France and also Erceg reside in rebuilding mode. A loss below would certainly not be completion of the road towards challenger standing, yet it could send that competitor on a preventing detour.Can all of us simply enjoy an opening happy times? 3. Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa wants to end a four-fight losing streak at UFC 305 on Saturday evening. Image through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC through Getty ImagesI feel regretful for loving Tuivasa battles as high as I perform. Sure, I adore enjoying a finely tuned sportsmen exhibit technical battle abilities in bring upon damages as well as closing down what a challenger can easily throw their way. That is actually the combined fighting styles I fit being an enthusiast of. Yet I simply can not turn away coming from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa always promises.Top tales of the week from Receive unique access to thousands of fee posts a year coming from leading authors. u2022 MLB forecasts: Will Court attacked 60 Humans resources? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff crews to come back "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ rankings" Additional ESPN+ web content ".What the Aussie can not always vow, naturally, is his wonderfully awful postfight event, the shoey. The beer and footwear emerge merely in success, as well as Tuivasa has actually shed four matches straight. But right here's one thing worthwhile of commemorating, also prior to the first haymaker is actually flung by these heavy-handed heavyweights: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can turn for the fences like Tuivasa, thus this one should be actually exciting while it lasts.Will this amount modification prosper? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was starting to get anxious for Courtesan-- comparable to the nerves of seeing Tony Ferguson contend at 40 years old. Whore is actually merely 34 and his skid had not been very as saddening, yet in the course of an extent coming from June 2020 through March 2022, he lost 4 of 5 matches, obtaining completed in all yet among the losses. It ought to be actually taken note that those finishes off happened against Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler as well as Arnold Allen-- certainly not a tomato can easily among them. And also Concubine has actually considering that gotten better with a pair of success over challengers a measure lower on the ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The problem for Courtesan is that this fight puts him straight back on top level of competition. Gamrot has actually gained 7 of eight battles and gets on the edge of the title picture. Will he be too much for Whore, or even will Gamrot acquire pushed away from the frame?One boxer's ceiling is yet another boxer's ... roof? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was actually 9-0 after she gained her 4th straight UFC match in very early 2022, as well as viewers were actually starting to hypothesize on where her ceiling was actually. Now she performs a two-fight skid, as well as the guesswork problems how far her falloff might be. Meanwhile, Santos is three fights right into her UFC run, using a five-fight winning streak and also looking like an increasing prospect. This is a proper exam for both girls, an amount setter. O'Neill is actually 26 years old, while Santos is only 24. So their storyline could possibly twist and turn for several years.