.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's something unique regarding a mixed martial arts occasion Down Under.Maybe it is actually the amount of time warp a Northern United States enthusiast knowledge while watching battles on television on a Saturday evening and also realizing that they are actually taking place the complying with morning, local time. That has to do with as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia and also understanding that followers midway around the globe are actually seeing the fights live ... final night.Or maybe it's one thing else that creates seeing MMA matches in Australia feel therefore offbeat. Probably it is actually the battles on their own, which commonly possess a number of exclamation aspects affixed. Anyone following the sporting activity for numerous years has seen the reality twists that can emanate coming from cage fights in this particular section of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Hunt and also Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva delivered a job's really worth of heavyweight harm on each other during the course of one memorable night in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting night (morning?) in Sydney a year later on, along with 11 battles and 11 coatings. And, obviously, Holly Holm booting Ronda Rousey off her higher horse at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That occasion established a provider participation file that stood until the Octagon was actually brought back to Melbourne in 2019 as well as 57,127 packed Marvel Arena to enjoy Israel Adesanya knock senseless Robert Whittaker and also come to be middleweight champion.When the eight-sided cage go back to Australia on Saturday, the past two-time champ is going to test Dricus Du Plessis generally occasion of UFC 305 in Perth. On the line will be not simply a shiny band but the pleasure of a continent 5,000 miles away, as each competitors are actually embeded in Africa, though along with far various life experiences.That's the origin of simply some of several fascinating stories that will certainly play out this weekend break. Here are actually 5 points to watch for at UFC 305. Who will draw the birthplace on a remote bank? 1. Middleweight champion: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya conflict Dricus Du Plessis generally celebration at UFC 305. Photograph through Will Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's main event is in Western Australia, although the sensitive turf war is actually hooked up to a land on the much edge of the Indian Ocean. Du Plessis was actually born and also still resides in South Africa. Adesanya was born in Nigeria and moved with his family members to New Zealand when he was 10 years outdated. Due to those inconsonant life courses, Du Plessis as soon as proclaimed, "I am the African boxer in the UFC." That did not agree with Adesanya, that possesses stated his family emigrated trying to find informative opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there's an animosity contributed to the actually high-rise risks, thus be it. It's certainly not a required active ingredient to make this an interesting battle, yet permitted's not overlook that the final time Adesanya was in an animosity-fueled match, he designated on Paulo Costa just before knocking him out in 2020. His one KO since then happened against Alex Pereira in 2013, five months after Pereira possessed KO 'd him. So "The Final Stylebender" has revealed a thirst for the get-back, especially versus strong assailants. Can Adesanya's counterpunching quit the short regime of Du Plessis, that has bulldozed his way to 9 triumphes in a row?Which fixing venture will courageous? 2. Male's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe first two times Kara-France competed in the UFC, the battles happened in Australia as well as he was actually sort of the regional man. He's in fact coming from New Zealand, 1,300 miles around the Tasman Ocean, however his rivals were coming from the other side of the planet, the USA and also South America. This time around, however, it's an away game for Kara-France, as Erceg was birthed in Perth and stays 20 mins from RAC Stadium. Erceg has actually battled in his neighborhood six opportunities, yet all just before his finalizing with the UFC final summer months. He's brought in just 4 journeys inside the Octagon and currently has completed for the 125-pound title.That last factor highlights exactly how this match, like the centerpiece, is about more than geography. Erceg, 29, was actually using an 11-fight winning streak when he unsuccessfully tested Alexandre Pantoja in May. Kara-France, 31, tried for an interim waistband in 2022, losing through TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France as well as Erceg reside in fixing mode. A reduction listed here would certainly not be actually completion of the roadway toward challenger standing, but it could send that fighter on an inhibiting detour.Can most of us just enjoy a swinging great time? 3. Big-time: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa looks to finish a four-fight losing touch at UFC 305 on Saturday evening. Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesI experience regretful for loving Tuivasa matches as much as I carry out. Sure, I enjoy checking out a carefully tuned athlete exhibit specialized combat capabilities in causing damages and stopping what a rival may throw their technique. That's the combined fighting styles I fit being actually a follower of. But I simply can't turn away from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa constantly promises.Top stories of the week coming from Receive unique access to 1000s of premium short articles a year coming from top authors. u2022 MLB forecasts: Will Judge struck 60 HRs? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff groups to return "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ positions" Additional ESPN+ content ".What the Aussie may certainly not regularly vow, certainly, is his wonderfully disgusting postfight party, the shoey. The draft beer as well as footwear appear just in triumph, as well as Tuivasa has dropped 4 battles straight. But right here's something worthy of celebrating, also prior to the 1st haymaker is actually affaired through these heavy-handed top cats: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can swing for the fences like Tuivasa, so this should be actually exciting while it lasts.Will this amount modification succeed? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was starting to get stressed for Courtesan-- identical to the nerves of enjoying Tony Ferguson contend at 40 years old. Whore is actually only 34 as well as his skid wasn't rather as sad, however in the course of an extent from June 2020 via March 2022, he dropped 4 of 5 matches, getting completed in every but some of the reductions. It needs to be kept in mind that those finishes off happened against Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and also Arnold Allen-- certainly not a tomato can among all of them. And Whore has actually since bounced back along with a set of success over rivals a measure lower on the ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The concern for Woman of the streets is actually that this fight places him straight back on top level of competition. Gamrot has actually won seven of 8 battles and also is on the fringe of the headline picture. Will he be actually too much for Concubine, or will Gamrot receive nudged away from the frame?One competitor's roof is yet another boxer's ... roof? 5. Women's flyweight: Casey O'Neill vs. Luana SantosO'Neill was 9-0 after she succeeded her 4th direct UFC fight in early 2022, and also viewers were actually beginning to guess on where her roof was actually. Today she gets on a two-fight skid, and the uncertainty concerns exactly how much her falloff might be. At the same time, Santos is actually 3 matches in to her UFC round, riding a five-fight winning touch as well as appearing like a rising prospect. This is actually a necessary test for each girls, an amount setter. O'Neill is 26 years old, while Santos is just 24. So their storyline might weave for years.