The UFC’s latest big pay-per-view event goes down this weekend in Perth, Australia, with a fight card that features of host of stars who have made their names by delivering crowd-pleasing fights, and big finishes.
The 10 fighters set for action on the main card this weekend have a staggering 145 finishes between them from their combined 194 career fights, and with a packed crowd of Aussie fans set to fill the stands of the RAC Arena, we should be in for a spectacular event.
Here’s what to look out for when the action gets underway…
Middleweight title: Dricus Du Plessis v Israel Adesanya
Du Plessis: 21 wins, 19 finishes
Adesanya: 24 wins, 16 finishes
This one should be an absolute cracker. Du Plessis loves to push forward and throw big shots, while Adesanya is one of the best MMA fighters on the planet when it comes to counter-striking and fighting off the back foot.
It’s a stylistic match made in heaven, but throw in the bad blood – at least, from Adesanya’s side – over a throwaway comment about being a homegrown African champion, and it cranks the tension up to 11 ahead of what should be a thrilling main event clash.
Du Plessis has the advantages in strength and possibly raw power. But Adesanya believes his timing, speed and technique will be the South African’s kryptonite.
Flyweight: Kai Kara-France v Steve Erceg
Kara-France: 24 wins, 14 finishes
Erceg: 12 wins, 8 finishes
Two of the best finishers in the UFC flyweight division go head to head as Kai Kara-France and Steve “Astroboy” Erceg face off in the co-main event, with a possible title shot on the line for the winner.
Kara-France has been there or thereabouts in the upper echelon of the 125-pound division for a while now, but has yet to get his shot at undisputed championship gold. Erceg, meanwhile, has.
Australia’s Ercegan made waves with three wins in his first three fights in the UFC, with his knockout of Matt Schnell propelling him into a title fight with Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in May. Erceg fought well in his title tilt, but narrowly lost out on the scorecards, and is determined to get back to the top and make a second chance count.
Kara-France is looking to right the ship after back-to-back losses against Brandon Moreno (for the interim title) and Amir Albazi in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Kiwi still has designs on a shot at the undisputed belt, and knows that victory over “Astroboy” will put him right back in the frame.
Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot v Dan Hooker
Gamrot: 24 wins, 13 finishes
Hooker: 23 wins, 18 finishes
Two seasoned veterans of the game square off at lightweight, as former two-division KSW champion Mateusz Gamrot and Kiwi fan-favourite Dan Hooker face off at 155 pounds. Gamrot’s best chance of victory lies in the grappling realm, while Hooker loves nothing more than to stand and bang.
It’s a real grappler vs. striker matchup, and with both men more than capable of finishing fights, this should be a fascinating clash of styles. Whoever gets to dictate where the bout takes place will end up winning the fight.
Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa v Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Tuivasa: 14 wins, 13 finishes
Rozenstruik: 14 wins, 13 finishes
Just look at those finishing stats! While many MMA fights showcase fighters who can win fights in a variety of different ways, with these two hard-hitting heavyweights, it’s all about the knockout.
These two are pure strikers, with Tuivasa’s come-forward, brawling style going up against Rozenstruik’s kickboxing approach. Both men have the power to starch any heavyweight on the planet, so this one really is as straightforward as this – who’s going to connect clean first?
Welterweight: Li Jingliang v Carlos Prates
Jingliang: 19 wins, 14 finishes
Prates: 19 wins, 17 finishes
The UFC matchmakers always put a lot of consideration into the fight they place as the pay-per-view opener, and the welterweight matchup between returning Chinese fan-favourite Li Jingliang and dangerous Brazilian finisher Carlos Prates looks set to get the fireworks underway from the very start.
This one should be exciting from the opening bell, with Prates looking to extend his winning streak to 10, while Li plans on returning to action with a bang by halting the run of the Brazilian finisher.
It all adds up a lively night (or afternoon, if you’re in Australia) of fights at UFC 305 and you can bet on all of the big match-ups right here at Paddy Power. Check out our individual fight odds via our widgets below.
Du Plessis v Adesanya odds
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