.Aug 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ETThere's one thing unique concerning a blended martial arts event Down Under.Maybe it is actually the amount of time warp a North United States follower expertises while checking out battles on television on a Sunday night and recognizing that they're taking place the adhering to early morning, true time. That concerns as disorienting as being actually cageside in Australia as well as knowing that followers midway worldwide are watching the fisticuffs live ... last night.Or possibly it's something else that makes seeing MMA battles in Australia experience thus unusual. Maybe it is the matches on their own, which frequently possess several exclamation aspects fastened. Any individual complying with the sporting activity for a number of years has seen the reality twists that can rise coming from cage fights within this edge of the Southern Hemisphere.Mark Pursuit and also Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva gave a career's well worth of big-time damages on one another during the course of one unforgettable night in Brisbane in 2013. A record-setting night (morning?) in Sydney a year later, with 11 matches and also 11 finishes. And also, of course, Holly Holm kicking Ronda Rousey off her high steed at UFC 193 in 2015 in Melbourne. That celebration established a company appearance document that stood up until the Octagon was actually reminded Melbourne in 2019 and 57,127 packed Marvel Coliseum to enjoy Israel Adesanya knock senseless Robert Whittaker and come to be middleweight champion.When the eight-sided crate go back to Australia on Saturday, the past two-time champ will challenge Dricus Du Plessis generally event of UFC 305 in Perth. Vulnerable will definitely be actually certainly not just a shiny strap but the honor of a continent 5,000 kilometers away, as each fighters are actually rooted in Africa, though along with far various life experiences.That's the origin of just among many intriguing stories that are going to participate in out this weekend. Below are actually five points to look for at UFC 305. Who will gain the homeland on a remote shore? 1. Middleweight champion: Dricus Du Plessis (c) vs. Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya squares off with Dricus Du Plessis generally occasion at UFC 305. Photograph through Willpower Russell/Zuffa LLCSaturday's main event resides in Western Australia, although the sensitive turf battle is actually hooked up to an arrive on the far side of the Indian Ocean. Du Plessis was actually born and also still resides in South Africa. Adesanya was birthed in Nigeria and moved along with his loved ones to New Zealand when he was ten years outdated. Due to those inconsonant lifestyle roads, Du Plessis the moment proclaimed, "I am the African competitor in the UFC." That carried out not sit well with Adesanya, that possesses stated his family departed looking for instructional opportunities.Editor's Picks1 RelatedIf there is actually an animosity added to the currently soaring concerns, thus be it. It is actually certainly not an essential component to create this an interesting fight, yet permitted's certainly not fail to remember that the final time Adesanya remained in an animosity-fueled match, he styled on Paulo Costa prior to taking him out in 2020. His one KO ever since came versus Alex Pereira in 2015, 5 months after Pereira possessed KO 'd him. So "The Final Stylebender" has presented a crave the get-back, particularly versus strong aggressors. Can Adesanya's counterpunching quit the brief reign of Du Plessis, that has bulldozed his technique to 9 success in a row?Which fixing task will stand tall? 2. Guy's flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve ErcegThe initially 2 opportunities Kara-France completed in the UFC, the fights took place in Australia and he was actually kind of the regional guy. He's in fact coming from New Zealand, 1,300 kilometers around the Tasman Ocean, but his opponents were actually coming from the opposite of the planet, the USA as well as Brazil. This time around, however, it's an away game for Kara-France, as Erceg was born in Perth as well as resides 20 minutes coming from RAC Arena. Erceg has actually combated in his hometown six times, yet all before his finalizing along with the UFC final summer season. He's brought in just four travels inside the Octagon and presently has competed for the 125-pound title.That last aspect highlights exactly how this fight, like the centerpiece, concerns much more than location. Erceg, 29, was using an 11-fight winning streak when he unsuccessfully challenged Alexandre Pantoja in May. Kara-France, 31, made a bid for an interim belt in 2022, shedding through TKO to ex-champ Brandon Moreno. Both Kara-France and also Erceg remain in reconstructing method. A loss listed here would not be actually completion of the street toward contender condition, but it could deliver that boxer on a preventing detour.Can most of us just appreciate a swaying good time? 3. Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho RozenstruikTai Tuivasa tries to end a four-fight losing streak at UFC 305 on Saturday night. Image through Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC using Getty ImagesI really feel regretful for caring Tuivasa battles as long as I perform. Certain, I adore watching a finely tuned sportsmen flaunt technological battle skill-sets in causing harm and shutting down what an enemy can throw their technique. That is actually the combined fighting styles I fit being actually a fan of. However I merely can not avert coming from a slobber knocker, which is what Tuivasa constantly promises.Top stories of the full week from Receive unique accessibility to hundreds of superior short articles a year from leading authors. u2022 MLB prophecies: Will Judge reached 60 HRs? "u2022 Barnwell: NFL playoff staffs to return "u2022 Final CFB preseason SP+ ranks" More ESPN+ content ".What the Aussie can easily not consistently assure, obviously, is his wonderfully horrible postfight event, the shoey. The beer and also shoes emerge merely in success, and Tuivasa has dropped 4 matches in a row. Yet here's something worthy of commemorating, also before the first haymaker is flung through these heavy-handed top cats: the matchmaking. Rozenstruik can swing for the fences like Tuivasa, therefore this one should be actually fun while it lasts.Will this degree adjustment achieve success? 4. Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan HookerI was starting to obtain stressed for Courtesan-- identical to the nerves of viewing Tony Ferguson complete at 40 years old. Concubine is actually merely 34 and also his skid wasn't pretty as sad, however during a stretch from June 2020 by means of March 2022, he lost 4 of 5 fights, obtaining ended up in every but among the losses. It needs to be actually kept in mind that those finishes off came against Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and also Arnold Allen-- certainly not a tomato can easily amongst them. As well as Woman of the streets has actually since bounced back with a pair of victories over challengers a measure lower on the ladder (Jalin Turner, Claudio Puelles). The concern for Courtesan is that this fight places him right back at the top degree of competition. Gamrot has gained seven of 8 matches and also performs the fringe of the headline photo. Will he be excessive for Woman of the streets, or even will Gamrot receive nudged 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 gained her fourth straight UFC fight in early 2022, and onlookers were beginning to hypothesize on where her roof was. Today she is on a two-fight skid, and also the guess work worries how much her falloff may be. At the same time, Santos is 3 matches in to her UFC round, riding a five-fight winning touch and also appearing like a rising prospect. This is actually an appropriate test for both ladies, an amount setter. O'Neill is 26 years of ages, while Santos is merely 24. So their storyline could possibly weave for a long times.