Things didn’t go to plan for heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa at UFC 305, as his lengthy losing skid got further extended by Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Since rising to a career high #3 in the rankings when a knockout of Derrick Lewis put him on a five-fight winning run, fan favorite Tuivasa has experienced nothing but defeat inside the Octagon.
This year began with “Bam Bam” suffering a fourth straight loss, with Marcin Tybura adding to the woes of the Australian’s setbacks opposite Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexander Volkov.
And at this past weekend’s pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, it was the turn of Rozenstruik to get in on the action. “Bigi Boy” followed up on his headline win over Shamil Gaziev earlier in 2024 by comfortably outpointing Tuivasa in enemy territory.
Tuivasa On UFC 305 Setback: ‘We Live To Fight Another Day’
Following his latest defeat, Tuivasa soon took to social media with his first comments.
In a post on Instagram, “Bam Bam” acknowledged the effort he put into camp and expressed understandable disappointing at failing to have his hand raised in front of his home fans Down Under.
Nevertheless, the Aussie won’t be kept down, with the 31-year-old telling his fans that he “lives to fight another day.”
“Fuck. What a sport,” Tuivasa wrote. “I put my all into this camp and didn’t come away with the win. Big love to all my fans I put my all into this didn’t get the treats. My bad 😌 love you all the real ones ❤️ Live to fight another day. AUSSIE FANS I LOVE YOU C**TS BEST IN THE BIZZO 🥰🥰 We live to fight another day 😌”
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Tuivasa. He had previously outlined his intention to return for a third fight this year following UFC 305. Whether or not that plan remains after Saturday’s loss is unclear.
UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis had nothing but kind words for the parents of defeated opponent Israel Adesanya this past weekend.
The pair appeared to have one of the more heated rivalries seen on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this year, centered around Du Plessis’ controversial remarks last year about becoming the first Africa-residing champion.
The two rivals quickly patched things up inside the Octagon, showing immense respect for one another following an enthralling and competitive headliner. And that trend continued backstage at the RAC Arena, where the families of both fighters embraced.
Du Plessis, Adesanya Families Enjoy Respectful Interaction Post-Fight
Footage captured by MMA Junkie soon after UFC 305 showed Du Plessis and Adesanya catching up behind the scenes, with the champ gifting the Nigerian-born New Zealander a custom-made, South Africa-themed jacket.
While Adesanya shared some words with his victorious opponent’s family and coach, Du Plessis interacted with the former two-time titleholder’s parents, thanking both for “raising a warrior.”
Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya share an incredible backstage moment after #UFC305 and embrace each other families. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Dsu7btTZyV
“You have an incredible son,” Du Plessis said at one point during the interaction.
During his post-fight press conference, the champ opened up on his brief conversation with Adesanya’s family and the gift he had prepared for his challenger.
“I will never disrespect your parents, and he said he understands that,” Du Plessis said. “We’re not friends because on a personal level, we do not see eye-to-eye. But warrior-to-warrior, and after spending time (with him) in that octagon and what he’s achieved in the sport, you can’t not respect that man.
“To give him that jacket was a reminder, a token of appreciation and a thank you for this,” Du Plessis continued. “It’s a memory for me, it’s such a massive moment in my life. I brought the jacket here specifically to give it to him.”
On Saturday night, the mixed martial arts leader returned for its latest pay-per-view event, UFC 305.
For the first time this year, the UFC was Down Under this week, where Perth’s RAC Arena played host to the promotion’s latest Australian show. And the promotion brought with it across the globe a notable lineup that included a title fight and a host of intriguing undercard scraps.
The championship clash at the top of the billing saw Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya’s heated feud finally reach the the Octagon, with the South African’s middleweight belt on the line seven months on from his crowning at the expense of Sean Strickland in “The Great White North.”
Elsewhere, former flyweight title challengers Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg looked to stake their claims for a second shot at UFC gold in the co-main event, while Oceanic fan favorites Dan Hooker and Tai Tuivasa also hoped to deliver standout triumphs on the main card.
But did all those names come together to put on an entertaining night of fights? Let’s find out with all the positives and negatives from UFC 305.
Jesus Aguilar has two hobbies (among other things, I’m sure. Perhaps he’s partial to some ballroom dancing. Who knows?) — fighting Australians and locking in guillotine chokes. Combining them must have been like Christmas at UFC 305.
The Mexican entered the cage as an underdog for the first fight of the night in Perth, which many expected to be a coming out party for Australia’s newest hot prospect, the previously undefeated Stewart Nicoll.
But the 29-year-old fell to the same fate as his fellow countryman Shannon Ross did at UFC 290 in July 2023 — being left unconscious in the very first round.
In Las Vegas last year, Ross was absolutely obliterated on the feet by Aguilar in just 17 seconds in one of 2023’s most brutal knockouts. Nicoll’s demise came on the ground when he had his strong start rendered null after getting caught in Aguilar’s favorite submission move. The Mexican was, indeed, not silly. When the opportunity presented itself, he jumped the gilly and put Nicoll out — not that anybody bar Aguilar actually noticed.
That left a scary visual of the Aussie wide-eyed as his sleeping body fell back. On another note, could the referee not have maybe caught his head as it thundered onto the canvas? It feels like we regularly see superhero saves from officials in Muay Thai fights over in Asia, but on this occasion, it looked like the ref practically dodged Nicoll’s head.
Regardless, the finish was incredibly impressive from Aguilar, who now has five guillotines out of his six fight-ending chokes.
Accept a bout with Aguilar at your peril, Australian flyweights!
Negative – What One Burns Can Do, The Other Burns… Well, Can’t
With the watering down of the UFC product, there’s been quite a few instances of fighters entering the cage this year who simply aren’t of a sufficient quality to be competing on the sport’s biggest stage.
Herbert Burns, however, is a veteran of that group.
It’s fascinating to watch back Burns’ knockout of Nate Landwehr in 2020. I try not to buy into ‘fluke’ narratives, but that is a compelling one. Since then, the Brazilian has lost four straight by TKO, two of which have been the same type of retirement.
Against both Bill Algeo in 2022 and Jack Jenkins on Saturday night, “The Blaze” — an apt moniker for someone whose UFC career has gone up in smoke — responded to adversity by attempting to pull guard and collapsing to his back when desperation takedowns failed.
After a while of doing so in both instances, Keith Peterson and Marc Goddard waved the bouts off. With the memory of the Algeo fight growing ever clearer as Burns’ UFC 305 bout played out, I remarked to colleagues, “He’ll do it (fall to his back) enough times until Goddard stops it.” Like clockwork.
You know it’s bad when your brother’s own podcast is flaming you on social media, before hastily deleting…
Of course, credit has to go to Jenkins for his performance on home soil. Regardless of the opposition level, “Phar” looked on it in the striking realm. But his crisp boxing wasn’t enough to override the negative that is Burns’ latest disastrous display inside the Octagon.
Negative – A Mess
Well, the UFC 305 featured prelim when swimmingly, didn’t it?
The fight’s conclusion came after the Brazilian clutched onto his Aussie counterpart’s leg and locked in a heel hook. Things suddenly came to an end, with replays showing that Tafa had yelled out in pain. That stoppage ended up being controversial, not because it was wrong, but because the sport’s leading promotion employs commentators who don’t know the ruleset of what they’re tasked with describing to a global audience.
It’s remarkable to say, but we had two legendary former champions, Daniel Cormier and Dominick Cruz, questioning the third man inside the cage. The latter — who never shies away from using his agenda against Keith Peterson to slam referees — even went as far as to group the moment with instances of fighters having their chance to compete cruelly taken away.
Guys…Read. The. Rules.
Verbal tap out: When a contestant verbally announces to the referee that he or she does not wish to continue or makes audible sounds such as screams indicating pain or discomfort.
The fact we had to sit through five minutes of doubting the referee’s decision before texts from those better informed arrived to save the day is yet further evidence as to why Laura Sanko needs to be a permanent fixture on the commentary desk.
#UFC305 Official Result: Valter Walker defeats Junior Tafa by Technical Submission at 4:56 in Round 1.
An unhappy Tafa responded by butting heads with Walker before slapping him. The UFC has been pretty inconsistent when it comes with dealing with similar instances — Khabib Nurmagomedov continued his title reign post-instigating the UFC 229 brawl, while Paul Daley was cut and forever ousted from the promotion for his sucker punch against Josh Koscheck at UFC 113.
What happens next in the career of Tafa remains to be seen, but a release shouldn’t be out of the question.
Positive – Nightmare? I’ll Say
The welterweight division always seems to have one major prospect establishing himself as one to watch, with recent years seeing Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry following successful arrivals with climbs into title contention.
All signs point toward Carlos Prates joining them soon enough.
There aren’t enough superlatives to do justice to the Brazilian’s performance. He became the first man to knock out Li Jingliang, but his display was by no means defined by a sudden fight-ending sequence. Prates frankly beat “The Leech” up for the best part of nine minutes.
That’s evidently what it was going to take to get the returning Chinese fighter out of there — soften up what’s long been an iron chin with knockdown after knockdown, before uncorking one of the most clubbing hooks in recent memory to finish the job.
Add Prates to the list of, “Oh, he’s on the card? Hell yeah,” fighters in the UFC.
Considering I’m often leaping to the defense of judges, who frequently come under fire from individuals with no concept of how mixed martial arts fights are scored, it feels good to be able to grab a pitchfork this time around.
“Bigi Boy” was clinical with his performance, piecing Tuivasa up while avoiding virtually all of the home favorite’s power shots. Judge Howie Booth, however, must have gotten the red and blue corners confused because it’s hard to see any other explanation for his work at UFC 305.
Thankfully, he was relieved from his duties for the rest of the night (not that it mattered anyway given how the co-main event finished…more on that soon). But, to be honest, that scorecard is so bad that Howie probably shouldn’t be with scorecard in hand ever again.
Even hours later, I’m still trying to recall a scorecard that even comes close. Chris Lee’s 48-47 in favor of Paul Felder over Rafael dos Anjos, perhaps?
It’s 2024 and Dan Hooker is in the lightweight top five (or at least should be come next week’s update). Redemption arcs don’t come much better than that.
Hooker entered the cage at UFC 305 with an almighty task ahead of him, getting his wish to feature on the card granted in the form of a showdown with the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot. Be it odds, fans, or analysts, basically every metric had “The Hangman” falling short to the smothering grappling of “Gamer.”
Round one saw both men exchange knockdowns, before the second frame was more a tail of the Polish fighter’s control versus Hooker’s strikes while defending Gamrot’s wrestling. And the concluding stanza was just a war that can be summed up by two-and-a-half minutes of striking success each.
Judge that.
Two cageside scorers ultimately leant the way of “The Hangman,” and with that he’s rendered the 1-4 run he entered UFC 281 in 2022 riding a distance memory. And with three straight wins and a triumph over a name like Gamrot, he is well and truly back in the mix.
If Dustin Poirier is looking for one last hurrah…rematch, anyone?
He wants it ALL! 😤@DanTheHangman is talkin' his talk after beating Mateusz Gamrot at #UFC305!
Speaking of underdogs who made a mockery of their betting lines…
Steve Erceg was perhaps one or two ill-advised takedowns away from a shock title win in Brazil this past May. And his efforts left many heavily favoring him to bounce back at the expense of the returning Kai Kara-France at UFC 305.
But in the words of the New Zealander’s teammate Israel Adesanya, “Y’all must have forgot.”
With Kai Asakura’s signing and Kara-France’s emphatic performance on Saturday night, Alexandre Pantoja isn’t short on possible challenges. And with that, the flyweight division remains among the most exciting, and one in which you absolutely should not blink.
it always seemed unlikely that the UFC 305 main event would disappoint. It was just always going to deliver, wasn’t it? But even so, what we got in Perth was special.
Add in a bit of a feud, the story of Adesanya’s return, and Du Plessis’ continued habit of proving his sizable group of doubters wrong, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a Fight of the Year contender.
Through three rounds, I had the champ leading 29-28, but that was by no means a clear and easy score. As has been the case with the South African in the past, the tale was his power shorts versus his opponents’ volume. In the end, after that had already put him up on the scorecards, “Stillknocks” connected hard in a fourth frame that had been all Adesanya, eventually putting him down and locking in a rear-naked choke.
The positives here are all around, from the entertaining nature of the fight to the pair’s respectful exchange in the Octagon in the aftermath to Adesanya’s humble approach to another setback.
Du Plessis, of course, deserves the main plaudits. He is beginning to amass a largely unrivaled résumé in the UFC, with his 8-0 record including a knockout of Robert Whittaker and the feat of being the first to submit another all-time great in “The Last Stylebender.”
Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, who is tasked with getting the better of returning great Israel Adesanya if he’s to record a first successful title defense and stall the three-time ambitions of the Nigerian-New Zealander.
Also set to make the walk on Saturday night will be the likes of lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker, heavyweight slugger Tai Tuivasa, and returning welterweight Li Jingliang.
Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 305 main card here.
UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 305 (as of 8/17), courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Dricus Du Plessis (-108) vs. Israel Adesanya (-112)
Kai Kara-France (+185) vs. Steve Erceg (-225)
Mateusz Gamrot (-410) vs. Dan Hooker (+320)
Tai Tuivasa (+200) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (-245)
After unseating Sean Strickland in the American’s first defense this past January, the South African will look to avoid the same fate when he puts the gold on the line Down Under opposite former two-time champ Israel Adesanya.
Title stakes could be down the line for the co-main event winner, meanwhile, with recent challenger Steve Erceg looking to immediately bounce back from his first UFC setback against the returning Kai Kara-France.
Elsewhere on the UFC 305 card, lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker shoots for a top-five ranking opposite Mateusz Gamrot, hard-hitting heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Jairzinho Rozenstruik likely swing for the fences, and China’s Li Jingliang makes a long-awaited comeback.
Nevertheless, every fight has remained intact, and all that remained on Friday night (Saturday local time) was for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 305 ceremonial weigh-ins!
Check out a stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, followed by all the faceoffs!
The championship clash at the top of the card will see Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya’s heated feud finally reach the steel surroundings of the Octagon, with the South African’s middleweight title on the line.
UFC 305 takes place Saturday, August 17 (August 18 local time) at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.
See above for a replay of the UFC 305 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis (185lbs) vs. Israel Adesanya (184lbs)
Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France (125lbs) vs. Steve Erceg (125.5lbs)
Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot (156lbs) vs. Dan Hooker (155.5lbs)
Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa (265lbs) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (259lbs)
Welterweight: Li Jingliang (171lbs) vs. Carlos Prates (170lbs)
Preliminary Card:
Heavyweight: Junior Tafa (244lbs) vs. Valter Walker (252lbs)
Featherweight: Joshua Culibao (146lbs) vs. Ricardo Ramos (145.5lbs)
Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill (125.5lbs) vs. Luana Santos (126lbs)
Featherweight: Jack Jenkins (145.5lbs) vs. Herbert Burns (146lbs)
Early Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Tom Nolan (155.5lbs) vs. Alex Reyes (156lbs)
Welterweight: Song Kenan (171lbs) vs. Ricky Glenn (171lbs)
Flyweight: Stewart Nicoll (126lbs) vs. Jesus Aguilar (127.5lbs)*
*Jesus Aguilar missed the flyweight limit by 1.5 pounds, forfeits 20 percent of his purse
The 2024 PFL Playoffs continued on Friday night with the second of three semifinal events in the postseason, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!
The Professional Fighters League was back this week, with the championship finals at light heavyweight and lightweight decided inside the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.
In the 205-pound main event, 2023 PFL kingpin Impa Kasanganay returned for the next step in his pursuit of back-to-back titles. To reach a second consecutive final, “Tshilobo” got the better of his championship opponent from last year, Josh Silveira, again.
Having won that contest, Kasanganay will face either former Bellator fighter Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov with $1 million prize money and this year’s light heavyweight title on the line. That’s after the Turkmenistani outpointed 2022 champ Rob Wilkinson in the co-headliner.
Massive takedown from Kasanganay in the final :30!
The lightweight bracket, meanwhile, included Clay Collard’s attempt to make his second straight championship final and keep his hopes of a first title win alive. He ultimately failed in that task, with Brent Primus instead advancing to meet Russia’s Gadzhi Rabadanov, who knocked out Canada’s Michael Dufort.
Outside of semifinal action, notable names like Biaggio Ali Walsh and Danny Sabatello will also took to the SmartCage in “The Sunshine State.”
With the event concluded, check out the full results below, followed by all the highlights!
2024 PFL 8 Playoffs Results & Highlights
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Semifinal Main Event: Impa Kasanganay def. Josh Silveira via decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Dovlet Yagshimuradov def. Rob Wilkinson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight Semifinal: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Michael Dufort via KO (punches): R2, 1:51
Lightweight Semifinal: Brent Primus def. Clay Collard via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Brian Stapleton via KO (punches): R1, 0:55
Preliminary Card:
Bantamweight: Danny Sabatello vs. Lazaro Dayron ends in majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
UFC 305 headliner Israel Adesanya increased his prominence en route to the middleweight throne by adding the legendary name of Anderson Silva to his record in 2019.
Adesanya captured the 185-pound crown for the first time as an undefeated fighter by stopping Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 in October 2019. The result was the culmination of a successful 3-0 year in the cage for the Nigerian-New Zealander, and it started against a GOAT contender.
Eight months before his undisputed win, Adesanya shared the cage with Silva. The pair’s flashy striking styles collided in the UFC 234 main event, getting promoted to the headline spotlight on short notice after the cancellation of Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum’s scheduled title fight.
The three-round contest, which collected Fight of the Night honors, delivered plenty of highlights, with Adesanya ultimately running out a unanimous decision win over one of the greatest the sport has ever seen.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Adesanya vs. Silva fight from UFC 234 on its official YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz_ecf5jYR0
Since that result, Adesanya has made good on the decision many made to brand his victory over Silva a passing of the torch moment. With two reigns and numerous notable wins, “The Last Stylebender” now sits just below “The Spider” in the division’s all-time list for many.
And he’ll have the chance to further cement that spot this weekend by achieving a record third crowning at 185 pounds at the expense of Du Plessis.
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira’s next title defense has come out of nowhere.
Pereira, who is also a former middleweight kingpin on MMA’s biggest stage, has had a standout year thus far, defending the 205-pound gold he won last November twice at the expense of former champs Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka.
Both victories saw “Poatan” save the day in late-notice headliners, first at the milestone UFC 300 event and then by replacing Conor McGregor’s planned return as the main attraction for International Fight Week this past June.
With two outings in close proximity, many were expecting Pereira to take a decent chunk of time to rest and recuperate. That, however, is not the case.
The Brazilian already has his next assignment in the calendar, with UFC CEO Dana White announcing on Friday that “Poatan” will put his strap on the line against the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree at UFC 307.
The event is set for the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5.
Pereira Targets 3 From 3 For Title Defenses In 2024
When he competes for the third time in six months, Pereira will be looking to likely cement Fighter of the Year status for 2024 by recording a third straight successful defense.
Pereira (11-2), a former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champion, only debuted at 205 pounds in the UFC just over a year ago following the end of his middleweight rule. A narrow victory over Jan Błachowicz was enough to book “Poatan” a spot opposite Procházka in a bout for the vacant belt.
And when they shared the cage inside Madison Square Garden, Pereira achieved two-division glory at record speed, adding a second piece of gold to his MMA trophy cabinet just two years on from his opening Octagon appearance. Having further cemented his legacy against Hill and in a rematch with “BJP,” the Brazilian now has yet another fellow power-puncher to contend with.
The choice of Rountree (13-5, 1 NC) as the next challenger has come as somewhat of a surprise, especially given Magomed Ankalaev’s position in the top five. “The War Horse,” in contrast, is down at #8 in the pecking order and recently had a likely title eliminator against Hill scrapped after a failed drugs test. Before that, Rountree knocked out Anthony Smith to make it five wins on the bounce.
The 34-year-old is still facing potential action from the Nevada State Athletic Commission following his recent Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) suspension, with a hearing scheduled for August 29 in Las Vegas.
With this and other additions to the card announced by White, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5 are as follows:
Alex Pereira (C) vs. Khalil Rountree (light heavyweight championship main event)
UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France believes factors outside of the cage eliminate heavyweight champion Jon Jones from the GOAT conversation.
Not many debates continuously rage on in the mixed martial arts community quite like the GOAT back-and-forth, which usually sees the likes of Jones, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, and Demetrious Johnson, among others, vying for the all-time throne.
Seemingly leading the charge is “Bones,” a former two-time light heavyweight kingpin whose most recent outing saw him achieve two-division glory. Those pieces of gold sit alongside numerous records on MMA’s biggest stage.
Kara-France: ‘The Man Behind The Gloves’ Determines The UFC GOAT
During a fight week interview with Brook and Jordan from The Morning Shift, Kara-France answered a number of quick-fire questions, including on the subject of who holds the crown as the UFC’s greatest of all time.
While the accomplishments of Jones have left him as the clear pick in the eyes of many, “Don’t Blink” falls on the side of the debate that feels his antics outside of the Octagon take him out of the equation.
And when it comes to coupling in-cage feats with a stand-up personality and good actions away from fights, Kara-France thinks Volkanovski fits the bill perfectly.
“To be the GOAT, it’s more than just the fighting. It’s the person, it’s the man behind the gloves,” Kara-France said. “Volk (is the GOAT). Bro, the amount of challenges this guy’s had to overcome. He’s fought the best guys for years. I’ll leave it at that.”
Volkanovski is currently without a fight booked, having been unseated from the featherweight throne in violent fashion by Ilia Topuria this past February.
The Australian is, however, back in training, and with his frequent City Kickboxing training partners close to his home for UFC 305 this weekend, he’s been lending a helping hand for any last-minute preparations during fight week.
Du Plessis’ “real African” comments early on in his UFC career and subsequent statements regarding being the first African-residing titleholder rubbed Adesanya the wrong way. And when the topic came up at the presser, emotions rose to the surface…
MMA Fans React To UFC 305 Presser: ‘DDP Making This Personal Was A Mistake’
After initially trading light-hearted barbs, a comment Du Plessis directed at Adesanya regarding “servants” increased tensions. “The Last Stylebender” fired back before later breaking down in tears while explaining his emotions.
The moment drew out plenty of reactions across the mixed martial arts community, with many pointing to Sean Strickland’s tears following trash talk from Du Plessis to acknowledge Adesanya as the second consecutive opponent whom the champ has made cry.
Others warned “Stillknocks” that he’s committed a grave mistake by making things so personal for Adesanya, who is returning from an 11-month layoff in pursuit of “taking heads.”
Dricus Du Plessis has lowkey the best trash talk in UFC right now. First he made Sean Strickland cry and now he is doing the same thing to Israel Adesanya. pic.twitter.com/i2bEIx7qRe
His frequent calls to secure a spot on the upcoming card Down Under were eventually answered in the form of a showdown with top-five contender Mateusz Gamrot. “The Hangman” will enter as a sizable underdog against “Gamer,” who has come under criticism in recent times for his control-heavy fight style.
And more than just Gamrot, the lightweight veteran believes a number of names high up the ladder took over the division by stifling those who have long kept up its reputation as an entertaining roster.
Hooker: Oliveira, Poirier, Gaethje, & Others ‘Stifled’ By Lightweight Grabbers
During a recent interview on the FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Hooker looked ahead to his opportunity to climb back into title contention at 155 pounds and assessed the current state of the weight class’ top five.
“The Hangman” put his upcoming opponent alongside champion Islam Makhachev and top contender Arman Tsarukyan as three names who moved toward the lightweight mountaintop by smothering any and all exciting styles.
“I guess it’s like the elites — not necessarily the elites, but lightweight is such a stacked division, there’s so many exciting fighters, (Charles) Oliveira, (Justin) Gaethje, (Dustin) Poirier, (Jalin) Turner, (Michael) chandler; there’s a lot of very exciting fighters within that,” Hooker said. “But now you can see the guys that — because obviously being an exciting fighter, wanting to go out there and perform, put on a show, put on an incredible fight for the fans, you need the other guy to oblige.
“If I go out there and say, ‘I just wanna go out there, slang some leather, put on an exciting fight,’ and the other guy’s plan is to just grab ahold of me and stifle me until he wins, then he’s gonna win,” Hooker continued. “I feel like the top echelon of the lightweight division now with Islam, Arman, and Gamrot is the guys that have just stifled the division. That’s why the lightweight division is in such a weird place now. These guys have been able to stifle the exciting guys.”
Hooker will look to put a stop to that trend and avoid being “stifled” by Gamrot at UFC 305 this Saturday night (Sunday morning local time).
Contingency plans are in place for at least one of the championship fights set for Noche UFC at the Sphere, should there be a late-notice withdrawal.
The organization will stage its second celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 14 following the success of the inaugural event in 2023. Las Vegas will once again play host, but the Octagon will be in extremely different surroundings.
Tasked with delivering fireworks inside the cage will be the four headliners, who will look to exit the Sphere with gold in their possession. That’s bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili in the main event, while flyweight queen Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko are set to complete their trilogy in the co-headliner.
Injuries and illness forcing late-notice cancellations is never ideal, not least for an event of this magnitude. With that in mind, many have suggested that backups will likely be sought for the two bouts at the top of the lineup.
And by the sounds of things, one is locked in…
Fiorot Expected To Serve As Backup For Grasso vs. Shevchenko 3
During a recent interview with Boxemag, coach Aldric Cassata claimed that the #2-ranked Manon Fiorot has been “officially” confirmed as the backup fighter for Grasso vs. Shevchenko 3 on Sept. 14.
Should her services not be required on fight night after making championship weight, the trainer suggested “The Beast” will have the chance to cash in on her earned title shot by facing the winner either at the end of this year or early 2025.
“Manon is officially backup for the belt; she will be in Vegas,” Cassata said (h/t MMA Mania). “If there is no injury (to Grasso or Shevchenko), I think the (title fight) will be at the end of the year or the beginning of next year.”
Fiorot put herself in prime position for a first championship opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage by getting the better of the highly regarded Erin Blanchfield in the main event of the Atlantic City-held UFC Fight Night this past March.
That result moved the Frenchwoman to a 7-0 record in the UFC, following decision triumphs over the likes of Tabatha Ricci, Mayra Bueno Silva, Katlyn Cerminara, and Rose Namajunas.
It remains to be seen whether Fiorot will need to don the custom, Mexico-inspired fight kits to compete at the Sphere this fall. If not, it would appear that the Sept. 14 victor already has their next opponent set.
Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya knows the mistakes Dricus Du Plessis’ past opponents made that he cannot afford to replicate this weekend.
Adesanya, on the other hand, will be targeting a record third title crowning in the division — a feat yet to be achieved by any middleweight. To do so, the Nigerian-New Zealander must achieve another first.
The South African champ is yet to taste defeat on MMA’s biggest stage, going 7-0 to secure his place on the throne. Among those to fall to Du Plessis’ rise are the great Robert Whittaker and recent titleholder Sean Strickland.
But “The Last Stylebender” believes he knows how to avoid joining that list of victims, and the errors made by the likes of “The Reaper.”
Adesanya Won’t Play Into Du Plessis’ ‘Game’ At UFC 305
During an interview for UFC.com, Adesanya looked ahead to his opportunity to make history in Perth, which comes 11 months on from his shock title defeat to Strickland in Sydney last time out.
While he and Du Plessis certainly have their differences, both have expressed glimpses of praise for one another’s ability. And “The Last Stylebender” recently threw his opponent’s “spirit” and “toughness” into that mix while identifying the areas in which the South African’s past UFC rivals have failed to give him the necessary respect.
“They underestimate his spirit, his toughness,” Adesanya said. “He’s a tough guy. Also, they play his game. He makes it really dirty. And when I say dirty, it’s not in a bad way. He makes it really ugly and messy and then shoots on them and strikes from all angles and a different pace and cadence. I’ve looked at it, I’ve watched it for a while, and I look forward to exploiting it. He’s going to try to exploit me, but again, we shall see.
“When it’s time to go, when I lock in, and I’m really locked in, I destroy people,” Adesanya continued. “And this one, I’ve been really locked in for this fight and I’m going to destroy this guy.”
Having identified what he needs to be wary of, Adesanya will hope to make good on his promise to make Du Plessis’ reign a short one come fight night Down Under.
We’re deep into UFC 305 fight week, meaning it was time for the top fighters set to be in action on August 17 to take to the stage and answer some questions.
Setting the stage for the headliners will be Perth’s own Steve Erceg and Adesanya’s fellow City Kickboxing standout Kai Kara-France. The former will look to bounce back from his narrow title defeat to Alexandre Pantoja in Brazil this past May, while his Kiwi opponent returns over a year on from a setback opposite Amir Albazi last time out.
Also of note on the main card is the chance for Dan Hooker to return to the lightweight title picture against top-five contender Mateusz Gamrot, a likely guaranteed knockout when Tai Tuivasa and Jairzinho Rozenstruik collide, and the comeback of “The Leech” Li Jingliang.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Friday afternoon local time for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 305 edition saw the final eight fighters set to be in action with mic in hand.
Check out a stream of the presser below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, followed by the highlights and faceoffs.
UFC 305 headliner Dricus Du Plessis secured his first shot at gold on MMA’s biggest stage by getting the better of an all-time great of the middleweight division in Robert Whittaker.
Before unseating Sean Strickland this past January, Du Plessis earned his spot as top contender by shocking the world with his performance against Whittaker, who is widely regarded as one of the best the weight class has seen.
Despite being 5-0 in the Octagon at the time, the South African former KSW champion had plenty of detractors doubting his unorthodox style and its chances against the division’s elite. But Du Plessis made good on his confidence by stopping “The Reaper” in round two during International Fight Week in July 2023..
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Du Plessis vs. Whittaker fight from UFC 290 on its official YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09aqaUUBW4Y
Du Plessis will now need to upset the odds once again if he’s to add a successful defense to his résumé in mixed martial arts.
In addition to maintaining his spot on the middleweight throne and further enhancing his legacy in the division, victory in Perth would keep the South African’s UFC 0 intact. That’s not to mention stopping Adesanya from a historic three-time crowning.
The former two-time middleweight champion and City Kickboxing standout will headline the upcoming pay-per-view in competition for the gold he formerly held, and which is now in the possession of Dricus Du Plessis.
While “The Last Stylebender” will enter as the favorite, “Stillknocks” is no stranger to upsetting the odds. And having done so against the likes of Robert Whittaker already, many are stuck on who to back at UFC 305.
Having trained with the champ himself, Chandler is in a similar predicament. But he ultimately sees one aspect that should give Adesanya the advantage on fight night…
Chandler: Adesanya’s ‘Mind & Fight IQ’ Higher Than Du Plessis’
During an interview with Lucky Block, Chandler looked ahead to this weekend’s PPV headliner, which finally brings a bitter and sensitive rivalry between Du Plessis and Adesanya to the Octagon.
The former three-time Bellator titleholder has experience witnessing Du Plessis’ talents firsthand after the South African spent time at Kill Cliff FC in Florida. Nevertheless, what he saw evidently wasn’t enough to convince him that the champ has a firm edge over Adesanya and his fight IQ.
“I’ve trained with Dricus a couple of times a little bit down in Florida, and I’m also friends with Izzy. That’s a tough one for me stylistically,” Chandler said. “If DDP can get those takedowns and hold Izzy down, which he’s done before, he can have some success. But does he get held down for five rounds? I don’t think that happens, so obviously Izzy needs to stay outside and throw those big shots.
“I think Izzy’s mind and fight IQ is higher than that of DDP’s, not that DDP has a small one. I just think Izzy’s is very, very high, and it’s why he’s had a tendency to not be a huge fan favorite stylistically,” Adesanya continued. “But the guy goes out there and wins, so it’ll be very interesting, but I think Izzy has the slight advantage in that fight.”
UFC 305 is now only a couple of days away, and what better way to get hyped for the upcoming pay-per-view than with some MMA News staff predictions?
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, August 17, 2024. The main card begins at 10 PM ET, while the preliminary card kicks off at 6 PM ET.
Elsewhere on the main card, Dan Hooker attempts to climb into lightweight contention against Mateusz Gamrot, Heavy-hitting Aussie Tai Tuivasa looks to get back in the win column, and Chinese fan favorite Li Jingliang makes his comeback from a two-year injury layoff.
UFC 305: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 305 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Tyriece Simon, Andrew Starc, and Pranav Pandey have provided their picks for the five major matchups set for Saturday night (Sunday morning local time).
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through four cards.
Thomas Albano (16-3)
Tyriece Simon (14-5)
Ryan Jarrell (13-6)
Kyle Dimond (12-7)
Andrew Starc (5-4)
Pranav Pandey (0-0)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 305.
Welterweight: Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates
Images: Jeff Bottari/UFC/Zuffa LLC & UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: A few years ago, there would have been a better conversation as to whether Jingliang could wear on his opponent and use his experience to really push him in the second half of the fight. For me, the two years away won’t do “The Leech” any favors in this fight and Prates has looked absolutely wicked so far inside the Octagon. I think Prates is going to keep climbing here but I think he might need the judges to do so given his opponent’s experience and toughness. (Prediction: Carlos Prates)
Ryan Jarrell: This will be a fun fight to start off the main card. Jingliang has a lot more tape to watch as a UFC fighter and has had the more difficult opponents in the past as well. This will be the fight that shows just how dangerous Prates is in this division. I expect him to rise to the occasion and put the veteran away. I don’t expect it to be easy, but I think Prates will chip away until he finds an opening to finish the fight. Give me the Brazilian for the win late in the fight via TKO. (Prediction: Carlos Prates)
Thomas Albano: It’s been almost exactly two years since we’ve seen “The Leech” in action, but it’s great to see Jingliang finally return. The only problem? He’s taking on a really dangerous up-and-comer in Prates. Despite the layoff, Jingliang may still be one of the best 25-30 welterweight names in the world, and he is a major step-up in competition for the Brazilian. Prates is just 2-0 in the UFC after earning a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series, but he’s built up his name through knockout wins in his time in the Octagon thus far – as well as a pair of fights with the LFA.
Jingliang is a good all-around fighter, but he’s definitely better known for his striking. The problem is, while he is a great striker and has competed against some of the best, can he match Prates’ intensity with his strikes – and can he take those strikes? This will be a fun scrap that probably won’t go the distance. I’ve been wanting to go with Jingliang, but seeing what Prates has done thus far – as well as the hype about him from several of my colleagues in the MMA sphere – I’m swayed. (Prediction: Carlos Prates)
Tyriece Simon: One of the big factors coming into the fight will be whether Jingliang will struggle due to ring rust. He’s been out of action for nearly two years, and Prates isn’t an easy opponent for a comeback. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum is on a nine-fight win streak, and I think he’ll be victorious on Saturday.
I believe Prates will pressure Jingliang early and make his opponent’s return uncomfortable. The Brazilian knockout artist likes to aim for the body, making his opposition drop their hands for a power punch to the head. I fully expect Prates to have the same game plan for “The Leech,” and I think he’ll get another knockout in the first or second round. (Prediction: Carlos Prates)
Andrew Starc: Prates has knocked out his two previous opponents since making his UFC debut in February. 10-year UFC veteran Jingliang, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since his split decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez almost two years ago. I think the much younger, rangier and powerful striker Prates will make easy work of “The Leech” here. (Prediction: Carlos Prates)
Pranav Pandey: “The Leech” returns to the Octagon after a grueling two-year hiatus, hungry for a victory. However, the odds are stacked against him in what appears to be a challenging matchup. My concerns for Jingliang are twofold: his form after such a long layoff and his reach disadvantage. While Prates might not yet be a household name, he’s an imposing figure in the welterweight division — a towering presence with a striking pedigree that boasts eight consecutive knockout finishes.
“The Nightmare” could indeed live up to his moniker for Jingliang, as his clinical striking ability is nothing short of devastating. Unfortunately, I struggle to see a scenario where the Chinese veteran emerges victorious in this bout. (Prediction: Carlos Prates)
Consensus: 6-0 Carlos Prates
Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: When you look at Rozenstruik’s record, he tends to only lose against the very top heavyweights in the division. Everything about this fight is pointing me toward Tuivasa being caught with a huge counter as he tries to pressure his opponent. If this was an Apex main event, my pick would be solidified in solid gold, but something about Perth, Australia, is tempting me the other way. In the interest of picking an underdog on this main card, I’m going all in on “Bam Bam” in the hopes that he can raise the roof. (Prediction: Tai Tuivasa)
Ryan Jarrell: This will be a very fun fight for as long as it lasts. Tuivasa is fighting on home turf and that should give him some extra juice to potentially pull off the upset. “Bigi Boy,” however, is the safe play here. He is more technical and carries a ton of power to go with his technicality. I expect him to avoid the early surge from Tuivasa and catch him at some point late in the first or second and finish this fight. (Prediction: Jairzinho Rozenstruik)
Thomas Albano: Just like how I think this fight will play out, I’m not making my analysis and prediction long. These are two heavyweight knockout artists who are struggling to show they still belong in the contender rankings. Both have had their highs and lows over the last five years or so in the UFC, and both are going to come out flashing their power, looking to capitalize on the first mistake to get the devastating knockout. While Rozenstruik has had ups-and-downs of late, he’s coming in with two finishes in his last three fights. It’s been much tougher for Tuivasa, who has lost four straight, and given what “Bigi Boy” can do to people, it’s probably going to get rougher for him. (Prediction: Jairzinho Rozenstruik)
Tyriece Simon: Tuivasa finds himself in yet another must-win bout against a dangerous opponent. “Bam Bam” is on a four-fight skid and will lose his spot in the top 10 of the rankings with a defeat at UFC 305. Rozenstruik is currently the betting favorite to win, and I think he has a great chance.
An interesting aspect of this fight is that “Bigi Boy” has only lost to fighters with a reach advantage over him. I think he’ll try to attack Tuivasa’s legs in the first round and look for a hook or a short jab when his opponent tries to come within distance. I don’t believe the Australian heavyweight is exceptionally more agile than Rozenstruik, which could make it challenging to land a significant punch for a knockout. Tuivasa is tough and has the power to get a knockout, but I lean toward Rozenstruik being victorious. (Prediction: Jairzinho Rozenstruik)
Andrew Starc: Both fighters are coming into this with less than spectacular records – particularly Tuivasa, who’s lost his last four. Yes, those came against the best of the division, but I’m not sure even a home crowd is going to propel Tuivasa to recapture that form that saw him make a run for the title two years ago.
He is, however, likely fighting for his UFC career here. That said, it’s probably going to be a slugfest that won’t see the second round, and I can’t see Tuivasa coming out on top. (Prediction: Jairzinho Rozenstruik)
Pranav Pandey: Expect both fighters to be hunting for that perfect, fight-ending shot right from the start. Given that both are navigating through a challenging phase in their careers, they may approach this bout with extra caution. However, I think Tuivasa’s recent string of losses has served as a wake-up call. He’s the sharper, more precise striker, and his agility could give him the edge. But he’ll need to be wary of charging in recklessly against a counter-puncher like Rozenstruik, who thrives on punishing his opponents’ mistakes.
This fight isn’t likely to see a second round — in fact, I’d bet on a finish within the first. If “Bam Bam” plays his cards right, he could very well redeem himself and get back on track. (Prediction: Tai Tuivasa)
Consensus: 4-2 Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: This one is probably the main card fight I’m the most confident in and that’s no slight on Hooker, who I love watching. I’m just super high on Gamrot and believe his style is a problem for “The Hangman.” Hooker is a good striker and has some dangerous submission threats, hence the nickname, but “Gamer” is just so relentless that it makes it hard to capitalize on these opportunities. Tee Polish fighter will need to be careful of walking into a knee or guillotine choke, but I think his pressure isn’t going to give Hooker too much time to set this up, even if he has moments on the feet, like the Gamrot vs. Jalin Turner fight. (Prediction: Mateusz Gamrot)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a tough matchup to call. Both of these guys are extremely dangerous fighters. The length of Hooker worries me from a betting perspective, because he holds a sizable advantage in both reach and height. Having said that, Gamrot will win this if he fights smart. That’s what I am expecting to happen and we should see “Gamer” notch his eighth win in the UFC. (Prediction: Mateusz Gamrot)
Thomas Albano: With everyone else in the lightweight title picture outside of injured champion Islam Makhachev and #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan coming off a loss, this fight presents a huge opportunity for Gamrot. With Tsarukyan saying he wants to have an interim title fight before the year is over, a win for “Gamer” here could clinch him the spot as the opponent in that potential fight if he comes out unscathed. That said, Hooker isn’t the easiest opponent.
“The Hangman” has come up short against top competition in the division (ex: Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler), but he’s gritty, durable, a tactician, and an entertaining striker who can put on a strong performance at any time. And while Gamrot has a clear wrestling advantage, it shouldn’t be discredited that Hooker has good wrestling defense that could force the fight standing at times. And the longer the fight is on the feet, the better Hooker’s chances. That said, Gamrot’s wrestling pedigree is probably going to be too much. This one should be a fun war, but I lean to ward the Polish contender getting a clear win and a big opportunity next. (Prediction: Mateusz Gamrot)
Tyriece Simon: Hooker has finally found his groove in his last two fights after four years of inconsistency. His last win over Jalin Turner showed he’s still a formidable opponent in the lightweight division. That said, Gamrot presents a dynamic matchup that I think will give ‘The Hangman’ issues.
The “Gamer’s” ability to mix up his striking with takedown attempts will be a key to the fight. Hooker is a difficult opponent to finish, but I think he can lose Saturday night by being outworked to a decision loss. The threat of takedowns could open “The Hangman” up for Gamrot to land some significant strikes and sway the judges in terms of activity. The fight can go either way, but I believe Gamrot will win on the scorecards. (Prediction: Mateusz Gamrot)
Andrew Starc: I can’t see Hooker stopping Gamrot’s relentless wrestling. Of course, there’s always a chance the Kiwi could snag a KO via a well-timed knee or with the devastating striking he’s known for. Hooker certainly has ‘the dog in him’, as they say, having shown that in his last outing against Jalin Turner. But that win was over a year ago, during which time Gamrot has racked up victories over Rafael Fiziev and Rafael dos Anjos. The Polish fighter will likely get the decision here. (Prediction: Mateusz Gamrot)
Pranav Pandey: This fight promises to be a gritty battle to determine who can outlast the other. By all accounts, Gamrot appears to have the upper hand, with his wrestling style posing a formidable challenge for most opponents. However, Hooker’s defensive wrestling is robust enough to give him a legitimate shot at victory. “The Hangman” also wields sharp offensive leg strikes, a crucial weapon for deterring takedowns and punishing wrestlers who dare to shoot in.
If Hooker can keep the fight upright for an extended period, he has the potential to outstrike Gamrot or even secure a stoppage. That said, while striking may not be Gamrot’s forte, “Gamer” possesses an ironclad toughness, and his resilience could very well be the key to grinding out a win if the fight goes the distance. All factors considered, I believe Hooker’s previously broken arm might hinder his ability to throw strikes with full force, opening the door for Gamrot to capitalize. This weakness could be the very advantage “Gamer” need to turn the tide in his favor and claim the win. (Prediction: Mateusz Gamrot)
Consensus: 6-0 Mateusz Gamrot
Flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg
Images: UFC.com & Eternal MMA
Kyle Dimond: I think it’s gone under the radar how utterly brilliant this fight is. I think maybe people have forgotten just how close Kara-France has been to some huge victories in the past. He’s a massive test for Erceg and I’m surprised to see him as the clear underdog. That being said, I do think Erceg might have this one. Both men have got dangerous hands but I believe the Australian might be able to win the exchanges by being a bit tighter and not extending like Kara-France will. It’s another tough one to call though and I can see it being a very close decision at the end of three rounds. (Prediction: Steve Erceg)
Ryan Jarrell: If you didn’t believe in “AstroBoy” before the Pantoja fight, I bet you do now! Erceg is the real deal and is incredibly well rounded as a fighter. Kara-France is a great fighter and brings a lot of experience into this fight. I just believe the length and versatility that his Australian opponent brings to the table will be the difference. Give me Michael Scott to win a decision here. (Steve Erceg)
Thomas Albano: Kara-France has consistently been a bridesmaid, never the bride, always falling a fight short of receiving an undisputed title opportunity. Meanwhile, this will mark Erceg’s first fight since falling short in a title fight with Alexandre Pantoja – a fight in which had it not been for some bad fifth-round IQ, Erceg could have pulled off the major upset and be the champion now.
The two are going to look to deliver, and this will probably be one of the best fights of the night. Kara-France has some great striking and has experience against some of the best fighters in the division. Having said that, Erceg nearly beat the best of them all, and his short run in the UFC so far has shown that he has great striking himself, as well as solid wrestling. The Australian is slowly developing into an all-around great flyweight (to the point Pantoja, following their fight, said he will be the UFC flyweight champion one day), and that’s why I’m leaning to him in this three-round battle. (Prediction: Steve Erceg)
Tyriece Simon: This fight is the hardest to predict on the main card. Erceg is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Pantoja, as the champion outperformed him with his grappling and striking. I’m not sure Kara-France will have a similar game plan, but he generally doesn’t commit to as many takedowns in a fight as the champion. I think both fighters will try to stand with each other, and I lean toward this benefiting Erceg the most.
He’ll have the height and reach advantage to keep his opponent at a distance with his jab. “AstroBoy” must be mindful of Kara-France’s feints, as it caused him trouble in fights against the likes of Matt Schnell. However, I think Erceg’s reach advantage, hand speed, and power could lead to him doing enough to edge out a decision win. (Prediction: Steve Erceg)
Andrew Starc: Kara-France is on a two-fight skid and will be facing a man fighting on home turf in Erceg. “Don’t Blink” hasn’t fought in over a year, having last lost via split decision to Amir Albazi. Half of the much more active Erceg’s wins have come via submission and he’s also a very good striker to boot. While he’s not nearly as experienced as Kara-France, I think the Aussie will outmatch the Kiwi here. (Prediction: Steve Erceg)
Pranav Pandey: This matchup has all the ingredients for an intense and tightly fought battle, given that both fighters are nearly evenly matched in terms of skill and versatility. While Kara-France brings a wealth of experience and a polished striking game to the table, his return after more than a year out of the Octagon could be a significant factor in this fight. However, Kara-France undoubtedly packs more firepower than his opponent.
On the other hand, Steve Erceg comes in with fresher legs and momentum. “Astroboy” showcased remarkable prowess and tenacity in his title fight against champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301, which speaks volumes about his potential in this clash. The Aussie undoubtedly secures a distinct edge with his grappling skills, and if he can withstand “Don’t Blink’s” relentless assault, I envision him emerging victorious in this fight. (Prediction: Steve Erceg)
Consensus: 6-0 Steve Erceg
UFC Middleweight Title: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya
Image: Will Russell/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: This certainly feels like one of the biggest fights of the year on paper, even if the hype does seem to have died down a bit as of late. It’s a fight that I could honestly go back and forth on for hours. Adesanya is notoriously very effective against larger, more physical opponents who want to walk him down, land big shots and get a hold of him. The difference between Du Plessis and the likes of Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori is that he’s so much more unique. His movement is totally the opposite of their very traditional and plodding styles.
That’s the million-dollar question for me: can Du Plessis make Adesanya second guess himself? Sean Strickland did it by staying in his face and being defensively sound, and I wonder whether the champion can do it with his awkward timing. The big thing that does concern me on Du Plessis’ side is offensively, is Strickland landed on Adesanya because he’s so efficient and consistent. Du Plessis, on the other hand, tends to throw a lot with some explosive but wild technique. This is where I think Adesanya can win this fight. While the South African is far from predictable, he also fights with recklessness. Admittedly, I have flipped on this being a winning or losing factor for him throughout this week alone. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Ryan Jarrell: This fight is way bigger for the legacy of Adesanya than it is for Du Plessis. The former champion cannot afford to lose this fight if he wants to remain behind Anderson Silva on the all time 185-pound list. I understand how dangerous “Stillknocks” is and how tricky of a fighter he is to figure out. But he leaves a lot of openings and is no where near as technical as Adesanya is. Because of that, and the fact that the Nigerian-New Zealander’s back is against the wall in this fight, I just can’t pick against him. I believe we will see the best version of Adesanya at UFC 305 and he will catch the champion to reclaim the title. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Thomas Albano: Though several people may feel that this fight’s hype has been lost – given everything from Adesanya’s loss to Strickland and year-long layoff – I don’t think that’s completely the case. He and Du Plessis still are heated with one another, and what is not to love about a guy who is looking to show why he is the true king of the division taking on someone who has been twice before – and someone who is looking to join Randy Couture as the only ones to win the same UFC division title three times.
Du Plessis’ biggest question mark as he rose up through the UFC ranks has been his cardio. He is a fighter who is all about bringing it early and getting the job done early – and that left people concerned about him as fights went past the first round. Some of that, however, seemed to be dispelled upon his fight with Strickland. He’s never dealt with someone who can be awkward, free-flowing, and creative with his striking like Adesanya either. And the former champ’s opponent history versus Strickland’s? It may be a valuable argument that he’s taking on a bigger challenge in his first defense than when he challenged for and won the title at UFC 297 earlier this year.
But, Adesanya probably has more to lose here. It’s been a year since we’ve seen him in action. The reason for the layoff was a needed rest, as he’s just 4-3 in his last seven fights. And it’s a very reasonable argument to say that Adesanya’s performances over the last few years have (for the most part) not matched up to his previous outings. We know what his potential is, but can he fulfill it against someone who is younger and hungry to stake his claim as the best 185lber in the UFC, or even in all of MMA (especially given plenty of people still feel Du Plessis should have been given a loss to Strickland)? Plus, the South African has his own power, aggression, and awkwardness that could spell some trouble for “The Last Stylebender.”
Given the bad blood and high stakes in this one for both men, this one isn’t going to go to the scorecards. Either Du Plessis is going to use his striking and pace the fight effectively to get the win, or Adesanya is going to bring the creative destruction he is known for to claim back his throne. Given how long I’ve been on the DDP hype train, as much as I enjoy watching Adesanya fight and Du Plessis is actually the underdog, I am going to go with the former. (Prediction: Dricus Du Plessis)
Tyriece Simon: I truly believe this fight is Adesanya’s to lose. “The Last Stylebender” is the better striker and will have the reach advantage to pick apart the champion at a distance. He can control the fight if he can use his footwork to avoid getting into close exchanges with his rival. However, an important factor in the fight will be if Adesanya’s inactivity from the competition will affect him. He seems like he is in the best shape of his career. That said, Du Plessis should aim to test if “The Last Stylebender” has a little ring rust by putting him on his back foot early with feints and kicks to the body.
The former middleweight champion sometimes tends to lean back to avoid strikes, so “Stillknocks” could find success doubling up on a jab and finish with his hook, head kick, or a takedown attempt. Du Plessis will need to pressure and mix up his offense to throw off the Nigerian-born, New Zealand-based kickboxer. Ultimately, I believe “The Last Stylebender” will get his hand raised by countering his opponent for a knockout or winning a decision. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Andrew Starc: Du Plessis has made a point of saying Adesanya has nothing to fight for anymore, but I disagree – particularly with respect to this matchup. The desire to regain the title notwithstanding, I feel Adesanya’s motivation to get back at Du Plessis for his ‘African champion’ comments will see him extra focused on the win here – not to mention he’ll be wanting to make right for his last performance.
Adesanya has also had a long layoff to shake off the burnout he claimed to be suffering after a busy few years. It really could go either way though, and it’s hard to tell how Adesanya will handle Du Plessis’ unconventional style, but I think the Kiwi will get it done by decision. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Pranav Pandey: To my mind, this fight stands as a quintessential 50-50 showdown, teetering on the edge of unpredictability. We can expect some heavy strikes to fly in the opening rounds, as both fighters will be eager to assert dominance early. The outcome of this fight largely depends on the adjustments Adesanya made during his hiatus. “The Last Stylebender” is a master at maintaining range while delivering with surgical precision. However, Du Plessis’ unconventional and relentless approach, where he thrives on getting in his opponent’s face, suggests we’re going to see plenty of close-quarters exchanges. In these moments, I believe the reigning champion could leverage his power effectively.
Izzy has faced this kind of challenge time and again throughout his career, consistently emerging victorious against formidable power punchers. I’m confident he’s done his homework and won’t rush in, instead dictating the pace of the fight with his precise, calculated approach. Adesanya seems poised to wear down “Stillknocks” in the later rounds, using his signature touch-and-go point fighting. Whether it’s through a late finish or a dominant unanimous decision, I foresee “The Last Stylebender” having his hand raised on Saturday. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Consensus: 5-1 Israel Adesanya
That’ll do it for our UFC 305 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 305 card below.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Israel Adesanya
Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg
Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Welterweight: Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates
Preliminary Card:
Heavyweight: Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker
Featherweight: Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill vs. Luana Santos
Featherweight: Jack Jenkins vs. Herbert Burns
Early Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
Welterweight: Song Kenan vs. Rick Glenn
Flyweight: Stewart Nicoll vs. Jesus Aguilar
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 305!
The featherweight veteran has stepped in on short notice, replacing the injured Gavin Tucker to share the cage with Australia’s own Jack Jenkins.
It’s a key matchup for the 36-year-old Burns, who has lost three consecutive bouts by way of TKO since extending a win streak to five with a submission of Evan Dunham in early 2020.
Herbert has no doubt been getting plenty of brotherly support and encouragement in the lead-up to UFC 305. But also a reality check, with “Durinho” ensuring “The Blaze” knows what’s on the line…
Gilbert Burns: UFC 305 Fight Do Or Die For Brother Herbert’s Octagon Career
During a recent episode of his Show Me The Money podcast, Burns looked ahead to the upcoming numbered event, paying particularly close attention to his sibling’s scheduled appearance inside the cage.
“Durinho” acknowledged the stakes that surround the fight for Herbert given his losing skid and less than impressive displays, noting that his UFC career will be over if he doesn’t have his hand raised Down Under.
“My brother’s coming into a very hard moment, to be honest,” Burns said. “He had a shoulder injury (and) two LCL surgeries back-to-back. Last fight he lost by TKO; no confidence going into the fight, a lot of uncertainty. And (now) coming off three losses, bro. So he must win.
“It’s gonna be hard. I cannot be impartial on that fight; it’s my little brother,” Burns continued. “He must win this fight to keep his job. If he loses, we know he’s out, he has no chance. I talked to him yesterday night…he’s fighting 8 AM on Sunday there. … He’s acclimating very, very good. But Jack Jenkins, that guy has a good heart, couple crazy leg kicks, hits hard, durable. For sure I hope my brother wins, but the conversation we had before he leaves was like, ‘Bro, make sure you leave everything in that cage.’”
Burns will hope to return to his brother with a first victory since 2020 and a crucial rebound performance following a difficult run of knockout setbacks.
Should the Brazilian 36-year-old accomplish that feat at the expense of the home fighter this weekend, he would set the stage for his brother’s own key contest down the line. Gilbert is set to headline a UFC Fight Night at the Apex opposite Sean Brady early next month.
UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis got a good laugh out of Darren Till’s recent attempt to impart some wisdom to Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis is currently on Australian soil for his first defense of the 185-pound gold, which he wrested from the grasp of Sean Strickland at the UFC 297 pay-per-view in Canada this past January.
Having had his attention turned to the tweet, Du Plessis had one poignant question — if you know how to do it, what stopped you at UFC 282?
Du Plessis Laughs Off Till’s UFC 305 Advice For Adesanya
During a fight week interview with Fox Sports’ mainevent, Du Plessis was asked if he had seen Till’s attempt to pass down some helpful tips to Adesanya from his experience sharing the cage with the current champion.
“See, I did hit him hard,” Du Plessis said. “And he seemed to forget — he said he beat me after two rounds. I think in the first round, the strike (count) was 61 strikes for me and zero for me. Then the second round, he had a good round until I took him down. In the third round, I just outstruck him, took him down, and finished him.
“I mean, I appreciate it, Darren Till is trying other — I know he got taken down by a boxer in the boxing ring. I assume he’s trying a different career path of coaching, so let’s see how that goes,” Du Plessis sarcastically continued. “He should probably mention, ‘Try to defend the takedown or your neck,’ because he didn’t. What’s the guy saying? It was ridiculous. If you saw it that good, why didn’t you do anything about it?”
Till’s gaze has evidently remained on the upcoming showdown between his former opponent and Adesanya Down Under.
More recently, “The Gorilla” once again commented on Du Plessis’ style after seeing a clip from the South African’s open workout in Perth. The ex-UFC fighter described the champ’s striking as “so sh*t that it works.”
His striking is so shit but it works it’s so shit that it works in should say 😂 https://t.co/4uyXss5KIx
While that occasion saw the lightweight gold on the line, championship stakes on August 17 will come at middleweight, with reigning kingpin Dricus Du Plessis putting his belt on the line for the first time against Oceania’s own Israel Adesanya.
Elsewhere on the main card, fan favorite Dan Hooker gets the chance to climb into the top five at 155 pounds by stalling the title ambitions of Mateusz Gamrot, hard-hitting Aussie Tai Tuivasa throws down with Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and “The Leech” Li Jingliang makes his comeback opposite the fast-charging Carlos Prates.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, August 17, 2024. The main card begins at 10 PM ET, while the preliminary card kicks off at 6 PM ET.
Ahead of it, a number of UFC 305 fighters appeared for the open workouts at the Crown Nightclub in Perth Works on Thursday. You can check out a selection of highlights from the various workouts below:
Having had his losing skid extended to four by Marcin Tybura this past March, “Bam Bam” is in desperate need of a bounce-back performance Down Under. To get it, the hard-hitting fan favorite will need to land first when he and Jairzinho Rozenstruik inevitably go hell for leather on fight night.
“Bam Bam” completed his fight camp over in Dubai. But before getting it started in mid-June, he got a taste of sparring Pereira, the reigning 205-pound kingpin, during the Brazilian’s Australia tour.
Suffice to say, that marked about as rude a welcome back to training as imaginable…
Tuivasa After Sparring Pereira: ‘F*ck, I Better Go Train’
During his appearance at UFC 305 media day, Tuivasa was asked about his experience sparring with Pereira a couple of months back, specifically the power that came his way from “Poatan.”
The Aussie admitted that he served as a punching bag, highlighting that the training session came just prior to his UFC 305 fight camp when he wasn’t in the best shape.
“Yeah, it was kind of my first training session back and I got the sh*t punched out of me,” Tuivasa said. “I think I left a few days after that to Dubai and was like, ‘F*ck, yeah, I better go train.’”
In terms of Pereira’s power, though, Tuivasa appeared to dismiss the suggestion that the former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champ packs the kind of dynamite in his fists that he’s not used to experiencing in the heavyweight division.
“His power was, you know — I fight at heavyweight, so we can take a punch or two,” Tuivasa continued. “It was more I hadn’t been training, went in, and I was f*cking running out of breath and getting the sh*t punched out of me. But that’s the sport we do, and it was all fun and games.”
And when it comes to avoiding power shots, practice against Pereira could come in handy given who Tuivasa is slated to share the Octagon with this weekend.
While known for his KO abilities himself, “Bam Bam’s” opponent Rozenstruik is similarly ferocious in the standup realm, recording 13 of his 14 wins by knockout and notably sleeping Allen Crowder with a single jab after just nine seconds in 2019.
When they were originally set to square off in 2023, “The Last Stylebender” occupied the throne at 185 pounds. But when “Stillknocks” couldn’t turn around in time for UFC 293 in Sydney, Sean Strickland took his place and shockingly dethroned Adesanya.
A victory over “Tarzan” later and the South African is back with his sights set on the Nigerian-New Zealander. This time, however, circumstances are reversed, with Du Plessis now the hunted following his crowning this past January.
With that in mind, Adesanya sees a fighter trying to act the part in an unfamiliar environment…
Adesanya On Du Plessis Showdown: ‘I’ve Been Here Before’
During a recent fight week interview with ESPN MMA, Adesanya looked ahead to his attempt to make history as the first three-time middleweight champ this weekend Down Under.
“The Last Stylebender” will be making his comeback having remained away from the cage for the 11 months since his title loss to Strickland. According to Du Plessis, his challenger no longer has the hunger and already has one foot in retirement.
“(I saw) a pufferfish. He was just pompous, trying to like, big himself up,” Adesanya said. “This is his first rodeo. This is not my first rodeo. I’ve been here before. I’ve defended my belt multiple times. It’s his first rodeo, so he was trying to — even at the Welcome to Country ceremony yesterday, I found it really weird how I’m listening to the elders speak and he’s trying to meme-mug me. I’m like, bro, pay respect to the original people of the land.”
Adesanya will look to prove that he’s built for these kinds of high-stakes situations by making good on his promise to make Du Plessis pay for some of his controversial past remarks.
Such a feat would only add to his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage, with his past accomplishments already leaving him as the consensus second greatest of all time at 185 pounds behind Anderson Silva.
The stakes will be high at 125 pounds when the UFC makes its return to Edmonton, Alberta, this coming November 2.
Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion hasn’t been in “The Big E” since staging UFC 240 at Rogers Place in 2019. The venue will once again be the host for in-cage action when the Octagon heads back to Canada, this time in the form of a UFC Fight Night.
While announcing the event to Sportsnet this week, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that elite flyweights Erin Blanchfield (12-2) and Rose Namajunas (13-6) will headline proceedings in “The Great White North.”
“Cold Blooded” currently sits at #3 in the rankings but is coming off her first UFC defeat, having been outpointed by Manon Fiorot in the Atlantic City main event this past March.
Derrick Lewis Gets Co-Main Billing At UFC Fight Night Edmonton
Before Namajunas, a former two-time UFC strawweight champion, and Blanchfield do battle to close out the show, another notable name will be in action on Nov. 2.
White also announced the co-main event for the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Edmonton, and it’ll see heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis (28-12, 1 NC) return against fellow ranked contender Alexandr Romanov (17-3).
“The Black Beast” will be in pursuit of his first win streak since a knockout of Curtis Blaydes secured him a title shot back in 2021. He’s since gone 3-5, most recently rebounding from a five-round loss to Jailton Almeida in Brazil last November by stopping Rodrigo Nascimento in the UFC Fight Night St. Louis main event this past May.
Romanov, meanwhile, is sat two places below Lewis in the pecking order at #13. Defeats to Marcin Tybura and Alexander Volkov initially stalled his planned surge toward the top 10. And although he was able to bounce back at the expense of Blagoy Ivanov in 2023, he was most recently comfortably submitted by Almeida at UFC 302 in Newark.
With the recent announcements, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Edmonton on Nov. 2 are as follows:
Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas (women’s flyweight main event)
Derrick Lewis vs. Alexandr Romanov (heavyweight co-main event)
Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
Marc-André Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (middleweight)
Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson (bantamweight)
Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrović (women’s flyweight)
UFC 305 fighter Mateusz Gamrot broke into contention in the lightweight division by emerging from a high-level main event with his hand raised just over two years ago.
The #5-ranked contender at 155 pounds will return on the main card of this weekend’s pay-per-view event at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where he’s tasked with getting the better of Dan Hooker if he’s to make it four wins on the bounce and maintain his position in the title picture.
Before a defeat to Beneil Dariush stalled his surge toward the top, “Gamer” established himself high up the division by getting the better of memorable UFC Fight Night main event opposite Arman Tsarukyan, who has since risen to #1 in the rankings.
The pair of European standouts battled it out across a competitive five rounds of action inside the Apex, with the Polish fighter ultimately falling on the right side of all three scorecards.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Gamrot vs. Tsarukyan fight from UFC Vegas 57 on its official YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7I1oollANg
Gamrot will hope to similarly impress with his performance this weekend and stake his claim for a first-time shot at the lightweight title.
