UFC International Fight Week usually brings alongside it a card with a highly-anticipated championship showdown, and that’s what we got with this year’s edition, UFC 317.
The main event saw the vacant UFC lightweight championship on the line as Ilia Topuria took on Charles Oliveira. Topuria won the featherweight title at UFC 298 last year and defended it at UFC 308 against Max Holloway, but he chose to vacate the title in order to move up to 155. Oliveira, meanwhile, initially won the lightweight title at UFC 262 and made one successful defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269.
Gold was also on the line in the co-main event, as UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja put the belt on the line against Kai Kara-France. Pantoja won the strap originally at UFC 290, defeating Brandon Moreno, and he retained the belt against Brandon Royval at UFC 296, Steve Erceg at UFC 301 and Kai Asakura at UFC 310. Kara-France came into this title shot off a highlight knockout of Erceg at UFC 305.
Who delivered in Las Vegas? Who fell flat? Let’s look back at the night of action together with the hits and misses of UFC 317!
Hit – Entertaining Prelims With Plenty Of Finishes
The preliminary card set the tone for the evening early, as there were several fighters who put up strong performances to start the card off with a bang.
Terrance McKinney did such to kick off the televised portion of the prelims, quickly locking Viacheslav Borshchev in a guillotine choke and submitting him in just 55 seconds. Not to be outdone, Jose Miguel Delgado landed a one-two on Hyder Amil, followed by a devastating knee that dropped and finished him.
Jacobe Smith, the heaviest odds favorite for a fight in UFC history, put away Niko Price, while Jhonata Diniz scored a decision win over Alvin Hines in the evening’s lone heavyweight bout.
Tracy Cortez got a key victory over Viviane Araujo that should elevate her into the top-10 of the women’s flyweight rankings.
And then came the final prelim fight of the evening…
Hit – Gregory ‘Robocop’ Rodrigues Goes Viral With KO Of The Year Candidate
In one of the most devastating knockouts the UFC has ever seen, Gregory Rodrigues landed a left hook that dropped Jack Hermansson to the mat, out cold. Hermansson was out for several minutes, bringing back memories in this writer to when Alistair Overeem was knocked out by Francis Ngannou at UFC 217.
It ended up being one of the top moments of the evening, and social media immediately blew up the moment the finish happened.
“Robocop” has been known for his finishes, scoring knockouts now in 11 of his 17 victories in professional MMA. He’s been a consistent presence in the middleweight division and has now won four of his last five fights. This win allows him to rebound from a loss he suffered against former title challenger Jared Cannonier in February.
This was the kind of finish that says we shouldn’t be looking away from “Robocop” out of receiving notable opportunities, and a fight against a top-15 contender at 185 should be next for him.
Having said all that…
Miss – The Debated Follow-Up Shot, Herb Dean’s Slow Response
The left hand was not the last shot of the fight. A couple of seconds after landing the left, Rodrigues followed up with a hammerfist to the face before referee Herb Dean could step in to officially stop the fight.
It was a punch that was not necessary, as Hermansson was out the minute the back of his head landed on the mat. And while one media member felt it brought back memories to when Dan Henderson landed such a follow-up shot on Michael Bisping at UFC 100, the follow-up shot became a huge contention point on social media.
In fact, plenty of people on social media said they lost respect for the moment — and Rodrigues — because of the “unnecessary” shot.
Where does the blame lay? Some say it falls on Rodrigues, as the fighter should have been able to tell Hermansson was out cold — especially given that the follow-up came seconds after the shot, not necessarily right away.
When asked about the moment in a post-fight press conference, Rodrigues implied that he was only fighting until the referee told him to stop. And in his defense, that is something fighters are told to do.
And in his defense, unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve seen a controversial finish involving compromised fighter safety and Herb Dean. Joe Rogan pointed out on commentary that Dean was out of position; however, there is a thing called using your voice. Imagine Dean has projected his voice and yelled “Stop!” At the very least, it would have cleared him from potential fault in this mess.
Fortunately, Hermansson was okay. Fortunately, “Robocop” still has his career-defining moment that will get him another big opportunity down the line. But this controversy isn’t going to go away for a while as the MMA world debates who is more at fault and we have another concern about the responsibilities of fighters and referees when it comes to protecting the athletes.
Hit – Payton Talbott Rebounds In Big Way
At UFC 311 in January, plenty expected Payton Talbott to make easy work of Raoni Barcelos and continue the strong start to his Octagon career. But everyone was shocked when Talbott was completely worked over in that fight en route to a dominating decision loss.
At UFC 317, Talbott righted his personal ship by scoring a statement decision win over Felipe Lima to kick off the main card action.
Talbott looked completely improved in all aspects of his game. Talbott stuffed multiple takedown attempts from Lima and was able to show great strides in his wrestling, adding in some pretty strong ground-and-pound while he had top control at points. Lima had success with his hands but continued to push, and fail, with his takedown efforts.
The loss in January must have done something for Talbott, as he looked better than he did before in this outing. Hopefully he continues to look better in his next matchup.
Miss – “Money” Moicano Tastes Defeat, Beneil Dariush Unimpressive
For a bout between two notable names at lightweight, things could have gone better for both men, as Beneil Dariush defeated Renato Moicano.
Moicano seemed to control things early on, going from getting his leg damaged by Dariush’s low kicks, to marking him up with his hands and dropping Dariush with a clean right.
But Dariush came out aggressive in the second, taking control of strong wrestling and working him over with ground pressure and strikes from the top position. Dariush employed this focused over the course of the second and third round, draining Moicano as Dariush cruised to a decision victory.
For Moicano, this is pretty unfortunate. After taking a title fight opportunity on just one day’s notice, he now has back-to-back losses after losing to Dariush. His next fight will probably come against a lower-ranked or unranked lightweight name, and a loss there could drop him out of the rankings completely.
For Dariush, there’s no question he should feel good about this win. It rebounds him from a pair of losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan and shows he’s still a name in a crowded lightweight contender scene. Considering the trouble he was in, however, Dariush didn’t demonstrate enough to be considered a serious threat to the new champion, however. Against someone like a Max Holloway, Mateusz Gamrot, or Dan Hooker, for instance, Dariush could find himself in some deep trouble.
Hit – Joshua Van’s Meteoric Rise As He And Brandon Royval Throw Down In One Of The Best Flyweight Fights
Though he wasn’t competing in one of the evening’s title fights, Joshua Van should be considered the Fighter of the Month for June 2025. After putting on a beating of Bruno Silva at UFC 316, Van, days later, agreed to step in on short notice in just a few weeks’ time to take on No. 1 ranked flyweight contender and former title challenger Brandon Royval.
The result was one of the greatest performances displayed in one of the most entertaining, exciting wars the UFC Octagon has ever witnessed — let alone within the flyweight division.
Royval looked to put the pressure on Van early, throwing a lot in volume to try and keep Van at bay. But while Royval had the quantity, Van had the quality, landing effectively whenever he did throw. Then, Van picked up his intensity in the second round, and things turned into a true bloody slugfest, with both fighters having their moments throughout the second and third rounds.
With the fight potentially falling either way in its closing seconds, and both fighters putting on personal bests for striking, Van dropped Royval, though he was unable to score the finish before the horn. Van earned the decision, and the two eared the Fight of the Night bonus (even Royval got his win bonus).
Just weeks ago, Joshua Van was on the lower end of the flyweight ranks as he continued to work his way up. Now, not only did he put on a superhero effort to take a fight on short notice and get involved in a war, he won that war and will now be next in line to challenge for the flyweight title.
Hit – Alexandre Pantoja: Greatness In Real Time
Alexandre Pantoja already looked like an all-star fighter at International Fight Week a couple of years ago when he dethroned Brandon Moreno to win the UFC flyweight championship. But the man continues to get better with each fight, and that continued as he defeated Kai Kara-France in the co-main event of UFC 317 to retain the championship.
It wasn’t even a close fight, as Pantoja scored a takedown in the opening minute and didn’t let up, controlling KKF for over four of the round’s five minutes, at one point threatening a choke. Pantoja continued to control the fight’s pace, scoring another pair of takedowns before locking up a rear-naked choke in the third round to score the submission.
Pantoja has now defended the flyweight title on four occasions. And he has continued to make strides while making defenses, and that has been notably on display in consecutive title defenses now (see his defense against Kai Asakura from UFC 310 in December as well).
Pantoja will now be taking on Joshua Van next. This should be an exciting showdown, and a win should further the argument that Pantoja is one of the UFC’s best champions — and perhaps should have a much higher spot in the men’s pound-for-pound rankings (if he shouldn’t already).
Hit – Ilia Topuria Already Building His Legacy
A 9-0 record in the UFC now, with seven of those victories coming via a finish. An undefeated fighter. Jaw-dropping wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway to win and retain, respectively, the UFC featherweight championship.
And now, more history for Ilia Topuria, as he becomes the first undefeated fighter, and 10th UFC fighter overall, to win a UFC title in a second weight division. And he did so in more highlight fashion.
Topuria and Charles Oliveira both land strong strikes early before Oliveira attempted to take control with his expert-level grappling. Topuria, however, countered a takedown attempt and ended up on top. Oliveira tried to threaten a leg lock, but Topuria got out of it. Then, on the feet, Topuria landed a devastating one-two that dropped Oliveira out cold — becoming the first fighter since Cub Swanson all the way back in 2012 to score a first-round knockout of “Do Bronx.”
Alexandre Pantoja appears to continue to evolve as a fighter even while on top of his division, defeating Kai Kara-France in one-sided fashion to retain the UFC flyweight championship in the co-main event of UFC 317.
Pantoja worked Kara-France into swinging early, which Pantoja took advantage of by level changing and scoring a takedown. After working his way to Kara-France’s back and threatening a choke, Pantoja continued to control the action from up top, threatening an arm-triangle choke at another point during the opening frame. Pantoja, who had over four minutes of control time during the round, got to the back and threatened another choke before the end of the round.
Pantoja continued to get the better of Kara-France in the second round, scoring another takedown and controlling the pace throughout. It was a bit notable, however, that Pantoja’s pace seemed to slow as the round got closer to the end. Pantoja charged at Kara-France again in the third, clinching up and getting to KKF’s back after another takedown.
Pantoja then worked his way into locking up a rear-naked choke, scoring the third-round submission win and retaining the title.
Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France To Keep Flyweight Gold At UFC 317
I really enjoy Joshua Van’s fighting style, but I have a feeling Pantoja might rely heavily on his wrestling, which could turn the fight into a bit of a snooze. #UFC317
Anaconda-like work from the champ on the ground to secure that RNC in the third! Nasty, nasty. Pantoja embodied a champ through and through with that performance. Wrecking ball.
Pantoja won the championship by defeating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 two years ago. Prior to tonight, he had retained the belt against Brandon Royval at UFC 296, Steve Erceg at UFC 301, and Kai Asakura at UFC 310.
Kara-France earned the title shot tonight with a knockout of Erceg at UFC 305.
UFC 317 took place tonight from the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira faced off for the lightweight title. While in the co-main event, Alexandre Pantolja looked to defend his flyweight belt against Kai Kara-France.
UFC 317 Results: Main Card
Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira via KO: R1, 2.27
Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via submission: R3, 1.55
Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Brandon Royval via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott def. Felipe Lima via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Preliminary Card
Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues def. Jack Hermansson via KO: R1, 4.21
Featherweight: Jose Miguel Delgado def. Hyder Amil via KO: R1, 0.26
UFC 317 is almost here, and we here at MMANews are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, June 28. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 7PM ET/4PM PT (moved back from the original 6:30PM ET start time due to Ewert vs. McVey falling off).
The headline attraction for the event will feature the vacant UFC lightweight championship on the line, as Ilia Topuria faces Charles Oliveira.
In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja will defend the UFC flyweight championship against Kai Kara-France.
The pay-per-view card will also feature Brandon Royval facing Joshua Van, a lightweight contenders clash between Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano, and a bantamweight battle between Payton Talbott and Felipe Lima.
UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 317 as of June 28 (fight day) at 12pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuria (-425) vs. Charles Oliveira (+330)
Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja (-230) vs. Kai Kara-France (+190)
Flyweight: Brandon Royval (+110) vs. Joshua Van (-130)
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush (-115) vs. Renato Moicano (-105)
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott (+140) vs. Felipe Lima (-166)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Jack Hermansson (+180) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (-218)
Featherweight: Hyder Amil (+120) vs. Jose Delgado (-142)
Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araujo (+170) vs. Tracy Cortez (-205)
Lightweight: Terrance McKinney (-155) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (+130)
Early Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Niko Price (+1200) vs. Jacobe Smith (-2400)
Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz (-485) vs. Alvin Hines (+370)
It’s UFC International Fight Week, and we find ourselves just a couple of days away from this year’s card that coincides with the celebrations — UFC 317. And what better way to help hype things up further with a pre-fight press conference?
The seventh UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, June 28. UFC 317 will be headlined by former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria stepping up in weight to face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira with the vacant 155-pound title on the line.
The co-main event will also see gold on the line, as Alexandre Pantoja looks to defend his UFC flyweight championship for a fourth time, as he goes toe-to-toe with Kai Kara-France.
Watch The UFC 317 Pre-Fight Press Conference
The main card will also see a flyweight contenders’ battle between Brandon Royval and Joshua Van, more lightweight action from Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano, and a bantamweight scrap between Payton Talbott and Felipe Lima.
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
UFC 317 co-main event star Kai Kara-France appears to be ready for war as he prepares to lock horns with Alexandre Pantoja this weekend.
On Saturday night, Kai Kara-France will challenge for the undisputed UFC flyweight championship. He will attempt to prove that he’s the very best at 125 pounds, and while many are picking against him, being the underdog has never been a problem for KKF. He’s ready and willing to showcase himself for the world to see in what promises to be an electric title fight.
As we know, Kai Kara-France is part of the City Kickboxing team. He’ll hope that he can join the ranks of Israel Adesanya by earning gold under their umbrella, but it certainly won’t be easy. In a recent interview, he spoke candidly about how he’s feeling heading into fight night.
Kai Kara-France is ready for UFC 317
“Landing down, two to ten toes down in Las Vegas—fought here many times before, so it’s a place of business for me. I don’t come here to holiday; I come here to win and to win belts. It’s been a great camp. I feel like I’m coming into my career best, 32 years young, just ready for this—ready to represent my people, my culture, being from Auckland, New Zealand, and being of Māori heritage. I’m expecting a firefight, a dogfight, and yeah, I can’t wait to do what I do best.”
Buckle up everyone – because this has the potential to be an incredibly fun showdown.
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is ready to channel his inner Muhammad Ali as he prepares to battle Kai Kara-France at UFC 317.
In the co-main event of UFC 317, Alexandre Pantoja will square off against Kai Kara-France. It’s a fight that has been a long time coming, and while Pantoja has done a great job as champion at 125 pounds, many people believe that Kara-France has a real chance of winning the belt for the very first time.
Of course, it’s hard to say whether or not it’s going to happen, but we’re all just excited to see how it plays out when they stand across the cage from one another. Alexandre Pantoja has overcome some huge tests in the past, and he’s able to recognize an opponent’s strengths.
In a recent interview, Alexandre Pantoja spoke about one of the big dangers that awaits him on International Fight Week.
Alexandre Pantoja previews Kai Kara-France fight
“If I’m seeing Kai Kara-France as a Mike Tyson, maybe I need to be more like Muhammad Ali. I need the movement. But I know, if he tries to hit me, I have a very good chin. I prove that 100 times. I don’t want to prove that a lot. I want to move my head more. That’s something I really work on.
“But I have strong hands too. It’s going to be an amazing opportunity for me to prove myself. For every word, I have strong hands too. If you want to hit me, you need to know I’m going to hit you too. Maybe it’s going to be a good opportunity to knock someone out.”
The card for April’s UFC 314 pay-per-view is beginning to take shape, and it looks to have had its first title fight added.
Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is slated to return to the Kaseya Center in “The Magic City” on April 12, when its fourth numbered event of 2025 will go down.
While the lineup is in its early days of being formed, one of the most prominent spots on the card has seemingly been filled, with UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5) taking the co-main event for his fourth defense of the title.
Per Benny P — an insider when it comes to Oceanic fighters who has broken news such as Khamzat Chimaev’s withdrawal from the Robert Whittaker fight last June and, more recently, Jack Della Maddalena’s upcoming headliner in London versus Leon Edwards — Pantoja will run it back with Kai Kara-France (25-11, 1 NC) at UFC 314.
Per Sources Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara France will co main UFC 314 on April 12th in Miami Florida for the UFC Flyweight championship pic.twitter.com/Ld5WB3LToz
His first challenger of 2025 looks set be a familiar face in Kara-France, whom the Brazilian defeated by decision in a quarterfinal bout on The Ultimate Fighter 24 back in 2016.
Despite suffering consecutive losses to Moreno and Amir Albazi ahead of his return to action in 2024, “Don’t Blink” looks to have earned his first shot at an undisputed belt at UFC 314 with a thunderous first-round knockout of Erceg at UFC 305 in Perth last August.
With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 314 on April 12 are as follows:
Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Kai Kara-France (flyweight championship)
Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales (welterweight)
Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes (light heavyweight)
Virna Jandiroba vs. Yan Xiaonan (women’s strawweight)
Former UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev has looked to give Kai Kara-France a lesson in mathematics.
Mokaev and Kara-France once looked on a collision course as they plied their trade under the same banner. But that changed this year when the UFC opted not to renew the former’s contract following his controversial fight week in Manchester and subsequent decision win over Manel Kape at UFC 304.
With that, “The Punisher’s” plans to challenge Alexandre Pantoja were squashed, and he’s been made to work his way back to the Octagon elsewhere. That journey began on the front foot this month when Mokaev landed a quick submission at Brave CF 91.
Kara-France, meanwhile, is widely expected to be the man opposite Pantoja in 2025 following his emphatic knockout of recent title challenger Steve Erceg in Perth this past August.
“[Mokaev] is boring, bro. This is fighting. It’s not wrestling. It’s not hugging. Don’t pull someone’s pants down in the middle of a fight,” Kara-France said. “No one pays all this money to see someone just dry hump someone on the ground.”
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take the always vocal Mokaev long to hit back.
In a post on X, “The Punisher” poked holes in Kara-France’s assessment by noting his higher finishing rate on MMA’s biggest stage. He also remarked on the City Kickboxing fighter’s feud with Kape, which almost boiled over at a press conference in Australia last year.
More finishes than you in the UFC bro
Only been in ufc 2 years, had 7 fights and 4 finishes with 2 heavy injuries
“More finishes than you in the UFC, bro,” Mokaev wrote. “Only been in the UFC 2 years, had 7 fights and 4 finishes with 2 heavy injuries. You have been in the UFC 8 years now, do the maths. Kape owns you btw.”
For now, the pair’s animosity can’t be settled inside the Octagon.
But should Kara-France unseat Pantoja next year and Mokaev find himself back under the UFC banner courtesy of a few more standout performances with Brave CF, perhaps the matchup will be back on the table soon enough.
During a recent interview with Sky Sport NZ, “Don’t Blink” stated that the 31-year-old Japanese fighter did not deserve a shot at UFC gold. He expressed that it feels unjust for dedicated fighters in the 125-pound category, who have put in the hard work to rise through the ranks, to be overlooked for a title shot.
“They’ve got the wrong Kai,” Kara-France said. “After my fight, I was calling for the title shot, and I was thinking, ‘Sweet, I’ve got it,’ and then I heard they’re bringing in a guy from Japan, and his name’s Kai. Bro, he hasn’t even fought yet. I don’t think he deserves it. You’ve got to at least show your worth or do something for guys who have been grinding for years in the UFC division, fighting the best guys.
We’ve proven that we belong here, so I don’t know. That’s just how I feel about it. It’s weird that you can come in off no fights in the UFC and get a title shot. Hey, but if it’s going to bring in more attention to the flyweight division, you know, a bit of controversy, if this guy deserves it, yeah, he can go out there and prove it.”
Kara-France challenged for the interim flyweight title against former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 in July 2022 but fell short, suffering a third-round TKO. The 31-year-old Kiwi has been a fixture in the UFC since 2018, compiling a respectable 8-4 record.
After signing an exclusive deal with the UFC, Asakura vacated his two-time RIZIN bantamweight championship, where he was a standout for nearly six years. He compiled an impressive record of 13-3 in the promotion, securing victories over notable opponents like Kyoji Horiguchi, Juan Archuleta, and Manel Kape.
Former UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev appeared to enjoy watching Steve Erceg experience a difficult night at the office this past weekend.
Erceg was among the home fighters in action at the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, taking to the Octagon amid crowd adoration inside the RAC Arena. Unfortunately for the recent flyweight title challenger, he joined the likes of Tai Tuivasa and Junior Tafa on the list of unsuccessful Aussies on fight night.
The difficult result for Erceg came just three months on from a competitive battle with champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in Brazil, where he came inches away from upsetting the odds and capturing the flyweight gold.
But Erceg has now had his pursuit of a second title opportunity quickly stalled, and Mokaev, for one, seems to be taking joy from that fact…
Mokaev Cries Karma After Erceg Flattened By Kara-France At UFC 305
While Erceg isn’t one for trash talk and heated feuds, he did recently get on the wrong side of Mokaev after giving his take on the Dagestan-born Brit’s sudden UFC exit.
The free agent was quick to dismiss those allegations, and he reiterated that Erceg is a ‘liar’ while reacting to an image of the Aussie following his first knockdown at the hands of Kara-France at UFC 305.
After this past weekend’s result, Erceg has slipped to #8 in the flyweight rankings. Mokaev, meanwhile, lost his place high up the pecking order following the completion of his contract at UFC 304 in Manchester, where he got the better of Manel Kape in a lackluster affair.
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.”
UFC 305 took place tonight from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Dricus Du Plessis put his middleweight title on the line against former champ Israel Adesanya. While in the co-main event, Kai Kara-France took on Steve Erceg in a flyweight matchup.
UFC 305 Results: Main Card
Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya via submission: R4, 3.38
Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg via TKO: R1, 4.04
Lightweight: Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Heavyweight: Jairzinho Rozenstruik def Tai Tuivasa via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 27-30)
Welterweight: Carlos Prates def Li Jingliang via KO: R2, 4.02
Preliminary Card
Heavyweight: Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa via technical submission: R1, 4.56
Only one fighter missed weight at the weigh-ins, with Jesus Aguilar tipping the scales 1.5 pounds over the flyweight limit.
The early preliminary card begins at 6:30 PM ET, the preliminary card at 8:00 PM ET and the main card at 10:00 PM ET. Make sure to catch all the UFC 305 results and highlights as they happen below!
Preliminary Card Highlights
Jesus Aguilar earned the first finish of UFC 305 with a guillotine submission of Stewart Nicoll in the first round of their flyweight bout.
Valter Walker earned a technical submission win after an apparent verbal tap by Junior Tafa at the end of the first round of their heavyweight matchup.
Kai Kara-France is back in the win column by knocking out Steve Erceg in the first round at UFC 305. The fight started slow with both fighters making reads. However, an overhand left from the New Zealander in the final minute dropped Erceg, eventually ending the fight.
Kara-France was on a two-fight losing streak heading into his UFC 305 co-main event bout. Although his split-decision loss to Amir Albazi was criticized by many, he needed a win to re-enter the title picture.
With his UFC 305 win, Kara-France has reminded fans of his threatening style and ability to finish the fight spontaneously. On the flip side, many of Erceg’s supporters have admitted to expecting a better striking display from “Astroboy”.
Fans Back Kai Kara-France To Fight Alexandre Pantoja For The UFC Flyweight Championship Next
Wowwww statement made by Kara-France. He’s got some power at flyweight, a rematch with the champ awaits #UFC305
After bagging his thirteenth first-round finish, “Don’t Blink” asked for a title fight in his post-fight interview. Fans admire his explosive fighting style, and a win over Erceg could be enough for the UFC to hand him a title shot.
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
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.
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.
Kai Kara-France recently suggested that Muhammad Mokaev’s grappling-centric approach was a key factor leading to his release from the UFC.
Mokaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape in their heated grudge match at UFC 304 last month. The intense rivalry between the two flyweight contenders spilled over into an eventful fight week, marked by several unsightly confrontations and even a brief physical altercation.
Despite earning his seventh consecutive victory in the Octagon, UFC CEO Dana White revealed during the UFC 304 post-fight press conference that “The Punisher” would not be re-signed.
Mokaev acknowledged that his conduct was out of line and issued a public apology to the UFC through a series of posts on X. Despite his remorse and even offering to fight for free, the MMA promotion remained steadfast in their decision, leading to his removal from the official flyweight rankings.
Kara-France Takes Aim at Mokaev After UFC Release: ‘This Is The Hurt Business’
During the UFC 305 media day on Wednesday, Kara-France shared his thoughts on the current landscape of the UFC flyweight division and his upcoming bout against Erceg. The former interim title challenger emphasized that the division is wide open, with a title shot up for grabs for anyone who delivers a strong performance against top-tier opponents.
“It’s a funny time for flyweights, especially as contenders, because it’s wide open—anyone can beat anyone, and anyone can get a title shot,” Kara-France said. “When I told my coach Eugene [Bareman] and my manager Ash [Ashley Belcastro] I want to fight on this Perth card, Steve’s name came across the table, and straight away we knew this was the fight to take. We want to fight the guys that just fought for the belt, and that’s how I took it back to fighting for a world title—take him out in his hometown, and look, whoever’s the champ when it’s time to go, that’s the clear pathway.”
“Don’t Blink” went on to comment on Mokaev’s departure from the UFC, suggesting that it was largely due to his fighting style. He emphasized that in MMA, it’s not just about winning—it’s about putting on a show. Fans and the promotion want to see fighters who are willing to leave it all in the Octagon and truly entertain.
“There’s been a lot of guys that have come through and done really well. Mokaev is a guy that was obviously winning, but this isn’t wrestling, this isn’t grappling, this isn’t doing the bare minimum just to win—this is an entertainment sport, this is the hurt business. If you’re not in there to entertain and lay it all on the line, people want to see that heart, that courage, that willingness to go all in and get the knockout. Or not just the knockout, but go in there and show why you should be co-headlining, not on the prelims. That’s why Steve and I are in this position because that’s what we do—we go out there and fight, not just talk about it and build it up.”
Kara-France is returning to the Octagon after a year-long hiatus following a controversial split-decision loss to Amir Albazi in June 2023. The 31-year-old New Zealander is currently on a two-fight skid, which also includes a TKO defeat at the hands of Brendon Moreno during their interim title clash at UFC 277 in July 2022.
“Don’t Blink” is eager to reverse his fortunes and reclaim his spot in the title conversation with a decisive victory over Erceg this weekend.
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:
When the UFC was announced to be returning to Australia on August 17, two top flyweights were sure to be in action at UFC 305.
The #4-ranked Kai Kara-France has had the opportunity to fight close to home several times during his UFC career but not since February of 2020.
#7-ranked Steve Erceg, on the other hand, has travelled with the Octagon to Canada, the United States and Brazil but this will be his first time fighting under the UFC banner with home fans backing him.
Unfortunately for those fans, there may be a bit of a divide caused by this Australia versus New Zealand clash that Erceg would have rather skipped over if that had been an option.
Steve Erceg Says His Respect For Kai Kara-France Makes Fighting Someone Else More Desirable
In a recent interview on Just Scrap Radio for BJPenn.com, Erceg revealed how this match-up wasn’t desirable for him at first.
There was no way he was going to miss out on the opportunity to fight in his hometown of Perth and given that his last fight was for the title, it was always going to be a highly-ranked opponent.
With both he and Kara-France pushing for this card, pairing them together makes a lot of sense. But the two men have been aware of one another for a long time during their climbs up the regional scenes.
Erceg spoke about how his opponent has always been someone he admired so fighting another name at the top of the rankings would have been his chosen route.
“I mean I’m excited I’m getting to fight a good guy. I would have preferred it to be someone not from this region just cuz yeah, somebody I’ve looked up to for a while. I was an amateur when he was a pro in like the top of the Australian-New Zealand MMA scene so I wanted to avoid him if I could but he got offered and I’m not going to turn people down. He’s in the same boat that I am, we’re both looking for the same thing so if it has to be, it will be and we’ll find out who the better guy is.”
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!
