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
Dan Hooker has a lot to gain in his first fight of 2024 when he takes on Mateusz Gamrot this weekend at UFC 305.
“The Hangman” has produced back-to-back wins in the lightweight division over Jalin Turner and Claudio Puelles to earn himself the #11 ranking.
Gamrot, on the other hand, sits at #5 having beaten the likes of Rafael dos Anjos and Arman Tsarukyan during his time in the UFC.
Had the division’s champion, Islam Makhachev, been able to make a quicker turnaround to face Tsarukyan, who solidified his status as the number one contender by beating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, there’s a world in which Gamrot wouldn’t need to take this fight.
Dan Hooker Says Mateusz Gamrot Has To Fight Him To Make Himself More Viable For A Title Shot
Hooker believes that his opponent this weekend in Perth didn’t take this fight because he wanted to go to Australia to test himself against “The Hangman.”
Other contenders may have chosen to wait knowing that once Makhachev does return from injury to fight Tsarukyan, he’s likely to be the next up when you look at the rest of the top five.
He has some impressive wins on his record, but as the Kiwi fighter pointed out during a recent interview on the FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Gamrot’s recent wins haven’t been dominant displays.
“Yeah I feel like they made him do it. I feel like he’s not doing it by choice. I feel like if it was a choice, he would sit out like he’s the next contender in line for a title shot. So obviously, Arman is potentially booked for Islam, I hear Islam’s injured and that’s like up in the air at the moment, but Gamrot’s the next guy. In the top five, a lot of the big names are coming off losses if you look down the (rankings), like (Dustin) Poirier, (Justin) Gaethje, Oliveira, are all coming off losses.
“Gamrot, like a close edging win after like pretty much his last two fights, he got dropped by ‘RDA’ and he got dropped by Jalin Turner and then managed to grab ahold of them and survive and panic and win, you know what I mean? So to say that this guy is the next in line for a title is very hard to market I guess for the UFC. So for in terms of Gamrot, he needs like, a big win over a guy with an exciting fighter with a big name, and so that’s me. But I’m in the game of opportunities.”
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).
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.
Mateusz Gamrot recently predicted that the UFC 305 main event between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya would play out much like his own showdown with Dan Hooker.
UFC 305 is set to rock the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, this weekend with a stacked array of fights. The highly anticipated pay-per-view will be headlined by a middleweight title clash, where Du Plessis defends his UFC belt for the first time against Adesanya. The co-main event features a high-stakes flyweight showdown between Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg, while the main card also boasts a pivotal lightweight bout between Gamrot and Hooker.
“The Last Stylebender” enters this fight after the longest hiatus of his UFC career, following a shocking title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023. Despite coming off a defeat and a year-long layoff, Adesanya is still slightly favored to win against Du Plessis, largely due to his dominant title reign and highly technical fighting style.
However, Gamrot believes that Adesanya has some vulnerabilities that “Stillknocks” will exploit, much like he plans to do against his own opponent, Hooker…
Gamrot Believes Adesanya’s Wrestling Falls Short Of His Striking
During UFC 305 media day on Wednesday, Gamrot offered his prediction for the main event. “Gamer” acknowledged that while Adesanya’s striking is exceptional, he falls short when it comes to wrestling and grappling. Gamrot predicted that Du Plessis will exploit these weaknesses to put Adesanya under pressure, much like he intends to do against Hooker in their own bout.
“I think Dricus [will win],” Gamrot said. “I like the guy, we have a good relationship. He is good everywhere like he’s—maybe this matchup is similar to my matchup against Hooker. So, Adesanya is a high-level striker, but his wrestling and jiu-jitsu, I think, are not super. I don’t know, but I can think about that—jiu-jitsu and wrestling are not at the same level as his striking. So if Dricus takes him down, then the fight will be much easier for him, and I think the power is much different between Adesanya and Dricus. So, my prediction is that Dricus will win this fight.”
“Gamer” is riding a three-fight win streak and is set to return to the Octagon after a commanding unanimous decision victory over Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 299 this past March.
Dan Hooker recently shared an amusing story about how he struck up an unlikely friendship with a fan, despite their first encounter involving him tossing a drink at them.
Earlier this month, “The Hangman” attended a rugby match at Go Media Stadium in Auckland, accompanied by his City Kickboxing teammate Kai Kara-France, to cheer on their prized New Zealand Warriors as they faced off against the Parramatta Eels.
As the match progressed, the Parramatta Eels started to gain the upper hand, which was already enough to frustrate Hooker. But to make matters worse, a fan began taunting, pushing him past his breaking point.
In a viral video making the rounds on social media, the UFC lightweight fighter is seen dashing through the stands before launching a drink at the fan, hitting him squarely. The fan seemed intent on continuing his taunts at Hooker, who responded by playfully pretending to hurl his shoe in retaliation.
Video emerges on TikTok of Dan Hooker throwing drinks at fans at a sporting event recently 😳‼️
Thankfully, what started as a tense moment turned out to be lighthearted banter, as “The Hangman” and the fan have since patched things up and are now on friendly terms…
Hooker & Fan Plan To Catch The Next Game Together
During the UFC 305 media day on Wednesday, Hooker gave a full account of his encounter with the fan at the recent Warriors vs. Parramatta Eels game.
“So Kai invited me to watch our home team, The Warriors, and as you know, I’m a very passionate Warriors supporter,” Hooker said. “And there was another cob from the other team, the Parramatta Eels, and he was standing up there, rubbing it in. The boys were getting pumped; I think we were 20 points down at halftime, and every time they scored, he was kind of rubbing it in. So I said, ‘I’m going to start getting into this bloke,’ so we were absolutely spraying each other. It was like the most fun I’ve had at the game in a long time. And then, every time they scored, he was getting up, and he was looking at me and going, ‘Hey, you like that, Hangman?
The 34-year-old New Zealander revealed that after their playful exchange, he made amends with the fan through social media and even promised to join him for the next game at the stadium.
Usually, if you have seen me before, I throw my shoes at people, but I had my Timberlands boots on, and I don’t throw my Timberlands, so I fired a drink at them. But he messaged me after, and he’s like, ‘I wanted to grab a picture with you, where’d you go?’ And I said, ‘Oh, Kai made me leave, so I had to go home.’ But no, I messaged him. I follow him on Instagram now. I said we’ll go to the next game together, and we can just spray each other sitting next to each other.”
Hooker is currently fueled by the surge of a two-fight win streak, with his most recent triumph being a hard-fought split-decision victory over Jalin Turner at UFC 290 in July 2023. He was initially slated to make his comeback against Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night Austin last December, but an unfortunate setback forced him to withdraw after re-injuring his arm.
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!
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:
Dan Hooker recently revealed that he inked a lavish new deal with the UFC, claiming it could potentially make him the highest-paid lightweight fighter on the roster.
Hooker has been particularly exhilarated about competing on the Australasia pay-per-view card, especially since it offers him the chance to fight alongside his City Kickboxing teammates, Israel Adesanya and Kai Kara-France.
Hooker has been a constant fixture in the UFC’s 155-pound division since 2014, earning notable victories over respected fighters such as Gilbert Burns, Paul Felder, and Jim Miller. Despite these impressive wins, he has struggled to fully harness his momentum and consistently perform at the level of his true potential.
As one of the division’s seasoned veterans, Hooker is now reaping the rewards of his dedication, having recently signed a fresh deal with the UFC—a development that has sparked excitement for him…
Hooker On New UFC Deal: ‘They Don’t Pay for Playing Nice’
During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker revealed that he’s secured a fresh five-fight contract with the UFC. “The Hangman” explained that the negotiation process was lengthy.
While the exact details of Hooker’s contract remain under wraps, now that the deal is sealed, he’s confident it catapults him into the upper echelon of earners within the lightweight division.
“It’s been in the works for some time. I was on my last fight, which was supposed to be against Bobby Green and all that,” Hooker said. “So, it’s something that’s been in the background for quite a while now, but to finally get it all signed before this big deal is great. As far as I know, besides the big pay-per-view guys and the champs, I’ll probably be the highest-paid lightweight out there. You’ve got to stand your ground, brother—they don’t pay you for being nice.”
Hooker is currently riding the momentum of a two-fight resurgence after a brief and challenging stint in the featherweight division, where he endured a first-round knockout at the hands of Arnold Allen in March 2022. With a UFC record of 13-8, Hooker is determined to keep his victorious momentum going come Saturday night.
Hooker has won two straight since a difficult run of form, most recently showing that his time toward the top is far from over by stalling the ambitions of Jalin Turner. The pair put on one of the fights of the night at UFC 290 last July, both wearing the damage from a three-round battle.
“The Tarantula” got the better of the early goings, notably connecting with a brutal head kick that Hooker somehow ate and maintained consciousness. “The Hangman,” though, was able to rally in rounds two and three to fall on the right side of a split decision — a feat made only more impressive by the fact Hooker had competed with a badly broken arm for the majority of the fight.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Hooker vs. Turner fight from UFC 290 on its official YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghhoIoS5Ytc
Hooker will look to achieve a similar result come fight night Down Under, but likely without the grueling three-round nature of the contest and the severely broken arm he emerged from Las Vegas with over a year ago.
The New Zealander has, however, vowed to give Gamrot the “most exciting” fight of his career. And with “Gamer” also acknowledging the need to entertain if he’s to fight for gold soon, perhaps the Perth fans will be in for a barnburner when these two lightweights share the cage.
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker sees no way criticism of Mateusz Gamrot being in ‘boring’ fights can continue once he’s added to the equation this weekend.
Hooker spent plenty of time campaigning for a spot on the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view card, which takes place close to home for the New Zealander at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
His pleas were finally answered, and the matchup that’s put him at the event comes with it a major opportunity for “The Hangman” to climb the 155-pound ladder back toward title contention.
On August 17, Hooker will make the walk to share the cage with the man ranked six places above him, #5 contender Mateusz Gamrot.
While riding a three-right winning run and sitting inside the top five at lightweight, Gamrot remains out of the championship equation for the time being. Some have concluded that’s down to a less than fan-friendly fight style, with his recent wins over Jalin Turner and Rafael dos Anjos in particular receiving backlash.
Given his penchant for firefights and entertainment, though, Hooker expects to serve as the remedy for Gamrot’s control-heavy approach…
Hooker: Exciting UFC 305 Fight ‘Not Gonna Be Because Of’ Gamrot
During an interview with The AllStar, Hooker looked ahead to his home continent assignment and assessed the man across from whom he’ll stand inside the Octagon on Saturday night (Sunday morning local time).
Hooker has seemingly noted the views some in the community have of Gamrot and his usual route to victory. With him boasting the total opposite, “The Hangman” expects “Gamer” to be in for a totally new type of showdown come fight night.
“This is going to be the most exciting fight Gamrot’s ever been in. Let me just say that,” Hooker said. “That’s not gonna be because of him. That’s gonna be because they locked him in a cage with me.”
Gamrot has differed from those comments in terms of who will be responsible for the fireworks this weekend.
While his opponent may be the one known for putting on barnburners, UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot has vowed to be the one thrilling the masses this weekend.
Gamrot is set to feature in one of the most notable matchups on the lineup for Saturday’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia. Inside the RAC Arena, “Gamer” will face off against one of Oceania’s fan favorites, Dan “The Hangman” Hooker.
For that to be the case, however, Gamrot knows more than a win will be required on August 17. And having had his grappling-heavy wins over Jalin Turner and Rafael dos Anjos criticized by some in recent times, “Gamer” is planning fireworks Down Under…
Gamrot On UFC 305 Goals: ‘I Need New Highlights’
During a recent interview with Home of Fight, Gamrot looked ahead to his second Octagon assignment of 2024 and described his goals for the UFC 305 showdown.
More than just exiting Perth with another triumph added to his streak, “Gamer” is looking to do away with criticisms of how his recent fights have been won by putting an entertaining exclamation mark on his performance opposite Hooker.
“I know that I can beat him only with my wrestling. But I know this time I need to give a more entertaining fight. I want to finish him on the ground,” Gamrot said. “But of course, this is mixed martial arts. In the beginning, you fight on the feet. I need to put my hands to him. I want to give a really good fight. I know I am number five in the rankings. If I want to fight for the belt in the future, I need to finish him.
“I need new highlights,” Gamrot continued. “Of course, this is for myself. For me, the most important is winning. A win is a win. But I know how is politics in the UFC, and the people love when you go to the cage and you finish the opponent. If this is three rounds, I will be also happy, you know? But I would like for myself to do something special. I know if I finish him, my way to the top will be really closer.”
With Gamrot boasting a main event victory over the Russian-Armenian contender on his record, another victory this weekend to cement his spot in the top five would no doubt go a long way to securing him his first shot at gold on MMA’s biggest stage.
Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has insisted Mateusz Gamrot won’t have it all his own way in the grappling department against Dan Hooker this weekend.
The lightweight fan favorite had long been calling for a spot on the high-profile card, and he got his wish alongside a major opportunity to climb back up the ranks.
“The Hangman” is set to fight six places up the ladder against Gamrot, the #5-ranked contender at 155 pounds. The Polish fighter has been on a charge in the division, using his smothering wrestling game to get the better of names like Arman Tsarukyan, Jalin Turner, and Rafael dos Anjos in recent years.
In Hooker, though, Volkanovski thinks Gamrot will run into a hurdle too tall…
Volkanovski Backs Hooker To Withstand Gamrot’s Wrestling, Find A Finish At UFC 305
During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski broke down and provided his picks for the major matchups set to play out at UFC 305 in Perth this Saturday (Sunday morning local time).
Among a number of Volkanovski’s frequent training partners over at City Kickboxing set to compete at the event is Hooker, who will enter his matchup with Gamrot as the underdog.
The brawling striker has long had wrestling pointed to as a deficiency in his game, with champion Islam Makhachev being the last to expose it back in 2021. But while “Gamer” has shown a strong ground game, Volkanovski believes it takes more than what he can offer to get past Hooker’s defenses.
“Gamrot is obviously gonna be coming for them takedowns. He’s a very, very, heavy wrestler, grappler,” Volkanovski said. “Look, Dan Hooker is hard to take down. Dan Hooker is no joke when it comes to wrestling defense and then submissions as you’re trying to take him down. You’ve seen the work Dan Hooker can do.
“I swear, even the last times I’ve been training with him, he’s still got it. 10 years in the UFC and I think he looks better probably now than he did before. The last time I trained with him, he was looking good,” Volkanovski continued. “Last time Dan Hooker faced someone like (Gamrot), it was Islam Makhachev. Remember, short notice, and I feel Islam’s a little more trickier with takedowns. … Gamrot’s gonna be more aggressive with the wrestling … I just feel like Hooker can do enough to make that hard. … Hooker has got incredible timing for the takedown defense. … Hooker might find the finish here.”
Hooker will look to prove Volkanovski’s prediction correct come fight night Down Under. And should he accomplish that feat, a return to the lightweight top five and title contention should be on the cards for the veteran New Zealander.
Fight week for the UFC 305 pay-per-view this Saturday night has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.
Saturday’s lineup is topped by a championship clash, with middleweight kingpin Du Plessis (21-2) looking to add a first successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, this past January. He earned that shot with a monumental triumph over the highly regarded Robert Whittaker during last year’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
If “Stillknocks” is to continue his rule atop the 185-pound mountain, he must record a victory over the returning Adesanya (24-3). “The Last Stylebender” will be making his comeback 11 months on from losing the middleweight gold in shocking fashion to Strickland in Sydney.
The Nigerian-New Zealander will be back competing on Australian soil once again, with Perth’s RAC Arena potentially hosting his historic crowning as three-time champ should he hand his South African rival the first loss of his career on MMA’s biggest stage.
Ahead of that contest Down Under, fans can catch a preview in the full episode of UFC 305 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.
UFC 305 Countdown: Full Episode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLfQ6aHxELY
And below, check out the full card for this weekend’s numbered event.
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 this week for all the updates and news on UFC 305!
While the aftermath of the July 27 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the welterweight title picture to the 185-pound championship conversation.
There will also be high stakes and Oceanic interest in the co-headliner, as former flyweight title challengers Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg collide in the latter’s home city in pursuit of staking their claim for a shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s belt down the line.
Hooker, Tuivasa, ‘The Leech’ Set The Stage For Title Headliner At UFC 305
Before Du Plessis defends his championship in Adesanya’s home continent and the City Kickboxing standout’s teammate “Don’t Blink” makes his comeback, a number of other high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major card.
Prior to that, Australia’s own Tai Tuivasa will look to bring his patented post-knockout shoey celebration back to the Octagon for the first time since his victory over Derrick Lewis in February 2022. That result marked “Bam Bam’s” fifth straight win and left him at #3 in the heavyweight rankings, but he’s since lost four in a row, the most recent of which came against Marcin Tybura at the Apex this past March. The same month saw his next opponent, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, return to winning ways at the expense of Shamil Gaziev.
And opening the main card is the return of Li Jingliang, who hasn’t made the walk since a controversial defeat to Daniel Rodriguez in their short-notice 180-pound catchweight contest at UFC 279 in September 2022.
See below for the full UFC 305 card, as it stands.
Main Card:
Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Israel Adesanya (middleweight championship main event)
Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg (flyweight co-main event)
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker (lightweight)
Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight)
Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates (welterweight)
Preliminary Card:
Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker (heavyweight)
Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos (featherweight)
Casey O’Neill vs. Luana Santos (women’s flyweight)
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 15, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Hooker says Adesanya sparring isn’t on his wish list right now
Anik never lets his relationships affect his commentary
Blaydes says he’s keeping things simple ahead of Aspinall rematch
Dan Hooker Says Israel Adesanya Is Hitting Too Hard For Them To Spar One Another
When Israel Adesanya returns at UFC 305 to try and recapture the middleweight title against Dricus Du Plessis, he will do so off the back of his longest break between fights since signing with the promotion.
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, his City Kickboxing teammate Dan Hooker spoke about how Adesanya has been bulking up outside of training camp.
The lightweight contender, who has sparred with the former middleweight champion for a long time, said that his fellow New Zealander is starting to pack too much of a punch for him to trade shots with.
“I can’t even be bothered sparring him at the moment like the way he’s hitting. I think he’s like 105 kilos [around 230 pounds], I’m just like f******, kicked me in the leg and I was like ‘get f*****!’. He’s had some time off, he was carrying some injuries, he spent a lot of time just packing on some size and like a lot of strength bro and he’s hitting like a truck man. I can’t even be bothered sparring him… like he’s hitting too hard.”
Jon Anik Says Relationship With Belal Muhammad Won’t Affect His UFC 304 Commentary
It’s only natural for UFC commentators to have relationships and friendships with some of the fighters that are signed to the roster.
This is especially difficult in a sport like MMA where the highs are so high and the lows are so low but Jon Anik always looks to separate his work from his personal feelings.
Anik spoke in a recent interview with InsideFighting about how he always looks to serve the moment and both fighters as best as he can, regardless of whether he has personal connections to them.
“No, I feel like once the athlete hits the tunnel, any of those types of feeling or emotions go away. As I’ve said repeatedly, Dominick Cruz is probably the guy I’m closest to, I mean Belal’s obviously right there on his heels as are other athletes.
“you establish a lot of interpersonal relationship and you can’t help that but it certainly doesn’t affect the call. I can assure you and everybody else if Leon Edwards head kicks Belal Muhammad into oblivion, my call is going to reflect that and there was nothing hard about me screaming with veins popping out of my mouth, ‘Stipe gets his revenge’, even though he did it against Daniel Cormier.”
Curtis Blaydes Isn’t Adjusting His Approach For Fighting Tom Aspinall At UFC 304
In the co-main event in Manchester, Tom Aspinall’s interim heavyweight title will be on the line when he faces Curtis Blaydes in a rematch.
Blaydes, who is now a 22-fight veteran, has faced the majority of the top names at heavyweight at this stage.
Rather than working specifically on his opponent’s approach, Blaydes simply looks to bring the best version of himself to England in order to come away with the win.
“Conditioning (has been the focus in camp). That’s the same old,” Blaydes said. “I don’t adjust for anyone. I have prepared for this fight the same way I prepare for everyone. I don’t like to add extra adjustments, extra things to think about. There’s already a whole lot, we don’t need to add anything else.
“Just a normal, standard fight camp,” Blaydes continued. “Eight weeks of sparring, drilling, running, icing; normal stuff.”
Alex Pereira’s recent successful defense of his light heavyweight title at UFC 303 has added the Brazilian’s name to the ever-growing list of fighters who have successfully changed weight divisions within the UFC.
Today we take a look at some of the most notable examples (along with a few that didn’t fare quite as well).
CONOR McGREGOR
The original ‘champ-champ’. The first man to simultaneously hold championship belts in two different weight divisions. “The Notorious” signed with the UFC back in 2013 having won both the featherweight and lightweight titles in Cage Warriors and within two-and-a-half years he knocked out Jose Aldo to claim the 145-pound belt.
Image: Conor McGregor IG
Less than a year later, he put on perhaps the best display of his career when he beat Eddie Alvarez at the iconic Madison Square Garden to claim the 155-pound strap. He has also competed in the welterweight division, fighting Nate Diaz twice and Donald Cerrone. His recent (now postponed) comeback bout against Michael Chandler had been set to take place over five rounds at 170 pounds.
DANIEL CORMIER
“DC” enjoyed huge success fighting as a heavyweight prior to signing with the UFC in 2013. He beat Antonio “Big Foot” Silva and Josh Barnett to win the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix in 2012 and began his UFC career with wins over former heavyweight champion Frank Mir and Roy Nelson, before making the decision to move down to 205 pounds as his teammate Cain Velazquez was the heavyweight champion at the time.
https://youtu.be/4NCHPFS7VzQ?si=PPthrGer2lHnEjBH
Cormier submitted Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in 2015 to claim the vacant light heavyweight title, and three years later, he made the decision to move up and challenge then-champion Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title. He shocked the world by knocking out Miocic in the first round, although the Cleveland-born firefighter gained his revenge by beating Cormier twice in 2019/2020, retiring him from the sport.
Image: Robert Whittaker Instagram
ROBERT WHITTAKER
“Bobby Knuckles” signed with the UFC back in 2012 off the back of some impressive performances on The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes and had mixed results during his time competing in the welterweight division. He won three of his first five fights, but losses to Court McGee and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson convinced Whittaker to test the waters at 185 pounds.
What followed was an eight-fight winning streak, wins over the likes of Yoel Romero and “Jacare” Souza and the UFC middleweight title. Whittaker lost the belt to Israel Adesanya in 2022 but is still riding high in the division and finds himself in the title picture once again after his recent knockout victory over Ikram Aliskerov.
HENRY CEJUDO
The 2008 Olympic gold medalist won his first four fights inside the Octagon to earn a shot at then-UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson back in 2016. Although Cejudo was knocked out in the first round, he soon worked his way back into title contention with some impressive victories over Wilson Reis and Sergio Pettis.
The rematch was a much closer affair, and “Triple C” ended Johnson’s record-breaking title reign and emerged victorious by way of a contentious split decision. A year later he moved up to 135lbs to challenge Marlon Moraes for the vacant UFC bantamweight title. He finished Moraes and then beat former champion Dominick Cruz in his first title defence in 2020, before relinquishing his belt and announcing his retirement, in what seemed like a power play due to contract issues with the UFC.
3 Fighters Who Moved Down A Weight Division…With Disastrous Results!
TJ DILLASHAW
TJ Dillashaw enjoyed two separate runs as UFC bantamweight champion. He shocked the MMA world when he destroyed Renan Barao at UFC 173 to capture the 135-pound belt. After losing the title to Dominck Cruz two years later, he regrouped and beat Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker to earn another shot at gold.
He knocked out former teammate Cody Garbrandt (who had won the belt from Cruz a year earlier), and after finishing “No Love” again in a rematch, made the decision to cut to 125 pounds to challenge Henry Cejudo for the flyweight title.
The decision proved disastrous. Dillashaw was knocked out after just 32 seconds, and a couple of months later it was announced he had been suspended for two years by USADA due to testing positive for EPO in the lead-up to the Cejudo fight.
He returned after his suspension ended and beat Cory Sandhagen to earn another shot at the 135-pound belt but went into the fight against Aljamain Sterling carrying a serious shoulder injury and was finished easily. He has since walked away from the sport.
CODY GARBRANDT
Cody Garbrandt came into that first bantamweight title fight with TJ Dillashaw unbeaten at 10-0 and riding high off the back of a career-best performance against Dominick Cruz. The two losses he suffered at the hands of Dillashaw seemed to affect him badly. He was also knocked out by Pedro Munhoz in his next fight, and although he would claim a highlight reel finish over Raphael Assuncao in 2020, a defeat to Rob Font soon afterwards convinced him a change was needed.
Image: Cody Garbrandt Instagram
With no discernible path back into the bantamweight picture, “No Love” decided to make the cut to 125 pounds for a fight against Australian flyweight contender Kai Kara-France at UFC 269. Another first-round knockout defeat followed, and Garbrandt stepped away from the spotlight for a much-needed break.
His return to the bantamweight division has been a little less calamitous. Wins over Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher, followed by a submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300, have hinted that perhaps his future lies slightly outside of the title picture for now, but most definitely should be at 135 pounds.
DAN HOOKER
“The Hangman” picked up a string of impressive wins in the UFC’s lightweight division between 2017 and 2021, beating the likes of Paul Felder, Al Iaquinta, Gilbert Burns, and Jim Miller. His record at 155 pounds during that five-year spell sits at eight wins and four defeats, but losses against the biggest names in the division such as Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev convinced the Australian to think about a move down to featherweight.
Image: UFC.com
His featherweight debut against Arnold Allen in London, England ended disastrously. At six-feet tall, Hooker looked frail and weakened at 145 pounds and Allen destroyed him in little over two minutes. Hooker has since returned to the lightweight division and reeled off victories over Claudio Puelles and Jalin Turner.
One thing we know for certain: finding the right weight class is of paramount importance for a fighter. It can be the defining factor between a promising career and a championship legacy in the highly demanding world of the UFC.
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Dan Hooker has finally locked in a fight with Mateusz Gamrot for UFC 305 after a determined search for an opponent. The update of the bout first broke out when Hooker recently announced it on his Instagram story.
The lightweight banger is set to take place at the upcoming UFC pay-per-view event scheduled for August 17 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Dan Hooker's long search for a #UFC305 foe ends with Mateusz Gamrot in Perth.
Hooker last fought against Jalin Turner at UFC 290 in July 2023, where he endured a broken arm yet persevered through the entire match to secure a split-decision victory. The 34-year-old New Zealander was previously set to fight Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night Austin in December, but a reinjury to his arm forced him to withdraw from the bout.
“The Hangman” is currently riding a two-fight win streak after an unsuccessful attempt in the featherweight division, where he suffered a first-round knockout against Arnold Allen in March 2022.
Meanwhile, Gamrot is on a three-fight win streak. “Gamer” is set to make his return to the Octagon following a dominant unanimous decision victory over Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 299 this past March.
A win would be massive for Ulberg but it could also lead to a big moment for his team due to the implications of beating the former champion.
Dan Hooker Says City Kickboxing Is Excited About The Idea Of Carlos Ulberg Challenging Alex Pereira
Victory against Hill on June 29 could tee Ulberg up for a title shot later on in the year and that means one thing.
Assuming that the champion doesn’t defend his belt beforehand and lose it, this would lead to the City Kickboxing team going up against Alex Pereira once again.
The New Zealand-based gym are very familiar with “Poatan” given his four previous encounters with Israel Adesanya but with Ulberg potentially getting himself in the mix at 205 pounds, they have a new match-up to think about.
On Sky Sports New Zealand, Dan Hooker spoke about Ulberg going on to challenge Pereira if he wins on June 29 and how the team feels about the idea of that happening in the near future.
“That puts Carlos Ulberg one fight away from a title fight against Alex Pereira so I think… we’re all excited about that cuz yeah, Israel didn’t even know and then Israel, I told him. I said he’s fighting Hill and then he goes ‘and then Alex!’ and then Izzy just got goosebumps man, he was so excited for Carlos.
“So excited just thinking about that fight as well because like in our opinion, not only do we think Carlos beats Hill, we think he beats Alex as well. We think that’s one heck of a fight but we feel like Carlos has the edge over Alex as well and the amount of camps we’ve done preparing for Alex, we got a pretty solid game plan for that here at City Kickboxing.”
Surging featherweight prospect Arnold Allen showed why he’s a future title contender with a spectacular first-round victory over Dan Hooker in the co-main event of UFC London.
Fighting in front of a rapturous hometown crowd at the O2 Arena, Allen swarmed Hooker early with a flurry of strikes. Hooker countered and dazed the Englishman before Allen unloaded on the New Zealander once again until the ref stepped in to award a TKO victory.
It was Allen’s ninth straight victory in the UFC, where he remains undefeated. The #7 ranked featherweight is now 18-1 in his professional MMA career. For Hooker, the loss was his second in a row, having previously lost to Islam Makhachev as a lightweight.
You can catch all the highlights of the co-main event below.
Brilliant job by Arnold Allen to not force the finish there. Gathered himself before putting Dan Hooker away. Big things ahead for Almighty. Must be something to be in that building tonight… #UFCLondon
Dan Hooker is ready to let people see how good he really is.
Hooker is beginning a familiar new journey in the UFC after many years of fighting. Hooker is making a return to featherweight as he prepares to make a run at a UFC title. In the past few years, Hooker has experienced an up-and-down path. He was able to string a few wins in a row and get himself closer to a title shot than he had ever been in the past, but was then met with a few losses.
These losses added up and led him to rethink his path. Now he is back at 145 pounds and ready to show the world that he is, in fact, one of the best in the world.
“Nothing in particular,” Hooker told Submission Radio when asked if there was something he was looking to showcase. “I just think, go out there and let it all shine out. Let all this hard work that I’ve been putting in for the last decade just shine through. I’ve been doing this for so long, I’ve got so much experience. It’s time to let all that hard work shine.
Dan Hooker (Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“So that’s it. I’m not holding on to anything too tight. Wherever the fight goes, whether we’re striking or grappling, and mixing it up with the wrestling, I’m excited. I’m just excited to get out there and have a great contest with a pretty incredible martial artist.”
Hooker began his UFC at featherweight before making the jump to lightweight. After losing to a few top-flight athletes, Hooker is hoping that this change will finally lead him to the UFC title shot he has been looking for. Allen is currently ranked seventh in the featherweight division and a win over him would certainly place Hooker solidly in the top ten.
Do you think Dan Hooker will excel at featherweight?
Michael Bisping isn’t sure what Dan Hooker’s motivations are for making the move to featherweight ahead of the UFC London card.
Hooker will make his return to 145 pounds against the red-hot Arnold Allen at UFC London this weekend. He opted to make the move out of the lightweight division following losses in three of his last four fights.
This will be Hooker’s first fight at featherweight since falling via a unanimous decision to Jason Knight in Nov. 2016. He went on to move to 155 pounds and win seven of his next eight fights.
During the BT Sport UFC London live preview show, Bisping questioned why Hooker would opt to move back down to featherweight at this point in his career.
“Well, I don’t know. I think he’s trying to find himself,” Bisping said of Hooker. “I mean, obviously he’s lost three out of his last four against very, very good opposition, so no shame in that. But he went up to 155, now he’s come back down to 145. He says that that’s his natural weight class. I don’t know if it is. I think maybe he’s looking for, not easier competition because it’s not easier, but maybe smaller guys? Maybe less wrestlers? I don’t know.”
Hooker has also had to adapt to the wild past couple of years that his gym, City Kickboxing, has had to go through during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of his fight against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, Hooker had issues getting to the U.S. from New Zealand and showed up to fight week just days before the scheduled bout.
Another interesting angle to Hooker’s move is a potential title fight down the line with his teammate and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. While he is getting ready to face ‘The Korean Zombie’ at UFC 273, Volkanovski hasn’t ruled out a future matchup with Hooker if he moves into title contention.
First thing’s first for Hooker, who faces a tough challenge in Allen who has won 10 bouts in a row. If he’s able to get past Allen at UFC London, Hooker could be well on his way to making his second stint at featherweight into a potential career-changer.
How do you think Dan Hooker will perform in his featherweight return?
UFC fan favorite Dan Hooker is looking forward to taking Arnold Allen’s featherweight momentum this weekend at UFC London.
After falling to some of the top names at lightweight, leaving him 1-3 across his last four in the division, Hooker will return to 145 pounds for the first time since 2016 on Saturday.
In his way of a successful return to the weight class will be Arnold Allen. The #7-ranked contender is unbeaten in the UFC at 8-0, a record that includes victories over Nik Lentz and Sodiq Yusuff. The “Almighty” Englishman will be hoping to surge into the title picture by adding the established name of Hooker to his résumé next.
But while Allen’s goal is to take an unblemished 9-0 slate towards the top five, “The Hangman” is looking to nab that win streak from the 28-year-old’s grasp.
Hooker: “I’m Taking That Win Streak”
Despite recording wins over high-level names like Gilbert Burns, Al Iaquinta, and Paul Felder at lightweight, Hooker believes featherweight is the weight he can thrive at. He’s looking to show that, as well as a decade of hard work, when he shares the Octagon with Allen inside London’s O2 Arena on March 19.
And while leaving with a victory over the Ipswich native is the aim, the New Zealander believes a triumph on Saturday will see him exit the Octagon with a whole lot more than a sole success.
“Man, he’s on an eight-fight win streak. I saw one of those things (graphics) pop up, and there’s only Max Holloway ahead of him,” noted Hooker at UFC London media day on Wednesday. “I saw José Aldo’s win streak was only a six-fight win streak. So you have to say, an eight-fight win streak puts him up there. He’s the second-longest win streak in featherweight history. So, that is to be respected. He just hasn’t had that name. The guys that he’s beaten have obviously been world class and incredibly talented, but they just didn’t have that drawing power.
“It’s a win-win situation for the UFC. Either they get a guy on a win streak that beats someone with some name value, or they get a guy with some name value who—I’m taking that win streak. After this, I’m gonna be on a nine-fight win streak. So I’m excited to move on to the future on my nine-fight win streak,” Hooker jested.
Ahead of UFC London, fan favorite Dan Hooker has revealed one heavy weight that’s been lifted off his shoulders since his last Octagon appearance.
This weekend sees a host of returns. While the promotion is returning to England’s capital for the first time since 2019, Hooker will be heading back to the featherweight division for the first time since transitioning to lightweight in 2017.
While a return to his old stomping ground is reason enough to be excited, on March 19, Hooker will be fighting for the first time without the cloud of travel uncertainty looming overhead.
Hooker Excited To Embrace Post-Fight “Freedom”
Fighters across the world have dealt with adversity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But not many have had the kind of struggles that have plagued Dan Hooker.
Those issues were well publicized prior to UFC 266 last September. Hooker, who fought and defeated Haqparast at the US-held event, was forced to train away from his gym due to the lockdown in place at the time, even encountering the police when he attempted to use his facility.
Coupled with that were visa issues. When the veteran made a social media appeal calling for the process to be completed in time for the event, it seemed his fight was in jeopardy. Eventually, he made it to America the day before the weigh-ins.
As if that wasn’t hard enough, Hooker has also spent extended periods away from his family due to his inability to re-enter the country following his bouts. However, that is no longer the case.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour on Monday, Hooker revealed his relief at the opening of borders in New Zealand for the country’s citizens.
“Freedom. We’re like, we’re back. There’s (still) restrictions, but not to our training. Our training will never be shut down again. We’re through it. Our border is now open for New Zealand citizens, so I can go and fight, and I can come home, which is just unreal. It’s unreal the weight that that lifts off your shoulders.”
While he often appeared calm and unfazed by his lengthy stays in the US and away from his wife and child, “The Hangman” admitted it played on his mind during his fights.
“You play it pretty cool when people are like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna go over and fight and then you’re not gonna be home for four months,’ and you’re like, ‘Yeah, yeah. I’m not gonna think about that.’ Of course, that plays on your mind when you’re fighting, especially—I’m not saying it’s any kind of excuse, but with the kind of fights I get myself into take a certain amount of time to recover from, months.
Dan Hooker
“And that’s the part of fighting that people don’t see. They see you on the television and a couple days after the fight, every now and then when you post something on social media, but I’ve had some fights in my career that have taken months to recover from. Being back home, being on your couch, being surrounded by your friends, your family, having my child there, my wife there; that is everything. That helps you heal.”
Following his clash at UFC London, Hooker will be able to immediately fly out and reunite with his family, who he’s yet to see in 2022.
“Of course, it would play on your mind when you’re going away to fight and you can’t do any of that, you can’t see any of those people, and you’re going to be stranded in a foreign country with no friendly faces for months on end. It definitely changes the ingredients. But now it’s all changed. We’re back to normal. I fly straight back home. It’s just like, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca1hxwEBQ8c/
With travel stress gone and the anticipation for a new venture at featherweight, we could well see a new Dan Hooker take to the cage on March 19. If he makes a successful return to the division, featherweight will have the addition of another top contender.
Do you expect Dan Hooker to make a successful return to featherweight by defeatingArnold Allen this weekend?
UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has discussed City Kickboxing teammate Dan Hooker’s return to featherweight and the prospect of facing him down the line.
Volkanovski has ruled over the 145-pound weight class since dethroning Max Holloway in late 2019. In defending his title twice, first in a rematch with “Blessed” and then in a grudge match with Brian Ortega, the Australian has extended his win streak in professional MMA to 20 and his unblemished UFC record to 10-0.
While there remain a number of challenges for “The Great” to see off, including upcoming opponent “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, Volkanovski will soon see a new name enter the shark tank at featherweight.
After a struggle for form at lightweight, Hooker, who, like Volkanovski, fights under the City Kickboxing banner, will be returning to 145 pounds this weekend. Soon after his transition down a class became public knowledge, “The Hangman” gave his thoughts on a potential meeting with teammate Volkanovski, suggesting they’d cross that bridge when they get to it.
Now, in an exclusive interview with MMA News, the champion has shared a similar sentiment to Hooker’s.
“It doesn’t really cross your mind until people ask you about it, really. At the same time, this is a sport,” Volkanovski told MMA News’ James Lynch. “You can’t expect these guys not to be in your division. Now he’s chose that division and he thinks that’s the best decision for his career, and I support that.
“Whatever happens, if further down the track we need to do it, then we’ll do it, you know. That’s just how it is. That’s fine. That’s all good. I wish nothing but the best for him and I’m sure he wishes nothing but the best for me. So, if our paths do cross, we’ll worry about that then,” concluded Volkanovski.
Hooker’s First Step To Contention Takes Place This Weekend
After a test weight cut appeared to confirm his departure from the lightweight division late last year, the announcement of a featherweight opponent hammered home Hooker’s return to 145 pounds.
