Israel Adesanya has already made a name for himself in the middleweight division, but his story is far from over yet. He is on the brink of another massive comeback. We all have witnessed that he's capable of coming back from the jaws of defeat. His adversary in the octagon will not be an easy obstacle to jump over as Dricus du Plessis is coming with his guns out. The two men had a face-off inside the cage already but the long-expected duel is only coming this year.
In one month, we will have an opportunity to witness a heavy-hitting duel between two masters of hits in Adesanya and du Plessis. The latter is the current title holder in the middleweight division and he will not give up his rein easily. Israel, on the other side, knows how to win a belt, how to retain one, and how to get back after a loss. All of this is telling us that a great bout is ahead of us, so don't waste any time choosing your UFC picks for the upcoming 305 event.
UFC 305 Location, Time & Date
Fasten your seatbelts, as we're heading down south. The Australian continent is home to some very good fighters, and this is their chance to take the spotlight. For all of you who are new to the sport, Israel Adesanya is from nearby New Zealand. Putting this fun fact aside, the upcoming UFC 305 event is scheduled for an appearance at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The date is set to be the 18th of August, 2024 and it marks the third time that Perth received this honor from UFC to host one of their events.
For all of the fans of MMA, some good news is also on the horizon. Perth has signed a new deal with the UFC. According to the words of the agreement, it will be host to two UFC events every year. While the future looks bright for this sport in the Land Down Under, for now, we're going to focus on the upcoming UFC 305. Let us present to you the top fighters who will step up at the RAC Arena in Perth in one month.
Cream of The Crop at UFC 305
Every UFC event has standout stars that attract the audience. The true fans of MMA will be present without a doubt, but the casuals need name recognition and promises of a spectacle. Here are the names that will keep fans on their feet, and blood pumping, and who should be on your shortlist of UFC betting picks for the upcoming event.
Israel Adesanya
The Last Stylebender was absent from the octagon for almost a year. His last outing was last year in September. With the middleweight title on the line, Israel lost to Sean Strickland. The defeat itself wouldn't be as bad as it wasn't for an awful performance by Adesanya that made many fans doubt his comeback. During his reign, Israel was one of the more impressive champions.
The division hasn't seen anyone like him before nor after his reign ended. Israel is one of the rare fighters who managed to defend his belt on five occasions. The one time he lost it, he managed to get it back from Alex Pereira making his story as a champion even more memorable. With a fighting style that relies on the fluidity of movement and hard and direct hits, it was easy for Adesanya to gather fans all over the globe. His popularity made him one of the most recognizable faces in the industry leading to various sponsorships and brand ambassador roles such as the one he has with the betting outlet Stake.
Dricus Du Plessis
Du Plessis as the current title holder is a fighter on a hot streak. While not a big name before his UFC days he has managed to rise to the top rather quickly. This is what happens when you win your seven initial fights in the divisions raising your overall MMA tally to 21-2. Dricus is not a fighter that is blessed with perfect technique or a distinct style which is what makes him so unpredictable. So far, he has names such as Till, Brunson, Whittaker, and Sean Strickland under his belt. Due to his heroics against the latter, the world was denied another Adesanya vs. Strickland classic. For those who are still hoping for that match, be sure that du Plessis is going to do everything in his power to disappoint you.
Steve Erceg
Considering that UFC 305 is held in Perth, you shouldn't be surprised to see some top home-grown talent. Steve Erceg fits that mold. Yes, he lost his first title challenge against Alexandre Pantoja, but don't expect that to be his last one. Erceg had a stellar start to his UFC career and the title challenge bout was his first defeat. While bitter only the second defeat in his pro career, we believe that will bounce back with the thirteenth win of his career. Many pundits and fans alike believe that Steve was too early to jump at the belt, but with the performance he gave we argue otherwise. Steve Erceg should be your pick if you plan to bet on UFC and MMA.
Kai Kara-France
While a strong fighter on his good day, Kai Kara-France is currently going through a crisis with two consecutive defeats. Also, he's not a hot fighter with his last bout being one year ago against Amir Albazi. This was a controversial defeat as many fans believed that Kai was the better fighter in at least two rounds which should be enough to secure a win. At the moment, he's fully rested and healed after stepping out from the challenge of Manel Kape due to a concussion. This card should be his chance to get back on track and the latest UFC betting markets see him as the frontrunner to win his match at UFC 305.
Fight Card
UFC 305 premises a lot to both passionate MMA fans and casual onlookers. With the fight card we're about to present to you it will be evident why things are like this.
Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Adesanya lost a few fans with his title performance during his latest title bout. But, he is a champion at his core and has proven this over and over again. If you remember he suffered in the hands of both Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowicz. Yet, he came back every time, stronger, with more passion, and of course with a win. Confidence is high this time around too, and we should expect The Last Stylebender in top form. When you pair Israel's hitting prowess and du Plessis' reckless style that accumulates a lot of hits, Adesanya could find himself on the throne once again.
Du Plessis, while the reigning champion, still enters this bout as an underdog. His KO against Whittaker is the highlight of his career and is a fine accomplishment even mimicking his title bout against Sean Strickland. Yet, as we said, he is a top-end brawler without a distinctive style that could play to Israel Adesanya's strengths and decide this match even in one of the early rounds. Check out what Adesanya has to say about his upcoming fight in an exclusive interview with Stake.
Steve Erceg vs Kai Kara-France
This bout is not yet officially on the main card. Yet, sources from Australia claim that Steve Erceg is going to have an opportunity to get back on the winning lane against Kai Kara-France. Yes, Erceg is ranked lower than Kara-France, but his performance in the title challenge garnered him a lot of fans. The flyweight division is out there for the grabbing, and one of these fighters will find himself in the title bout, chasing a belt in no time. Experts believe that Steve Erceg is close to being a new UFC darling and that with a win at UFC 305, he will have another go at the belt.
Kara-France on the other hand has similar aspirations, but a different path. He was aiming at the interim belt but failed short in a duel against Brandon Moreno. As we said, he's the better-ranked fighter among the two and will be relying on his status and style that brought him there. At the moment he's seen as the underdog, but if you want to defy the bookmakers Kara-France could be your pick for a big surprise at UFC 305.
Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Fans of the heavyweight division will not leave UFC 305 disappointed with Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik bout on the card. Both are fighters focused on hitting and duels on their feet, and we can already claim that this fight will end before the final bell. The home fighter, Tai Tuivasa is entering this bout on the back of a 14-7 score. It is hard to imagine that this score had four fewer defeats just four matches ago, but that's true. Tai is on a losing streak, and in this match, he's looking for redemption.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik is a similar fighter and is hoping to add another KO win to his resume of 14 wins and 5 defeats. It is good to know that he won 13 of his 14 matches via knockout. The Perth crowd will be against him, but one precise hit could silence the crowd with ease and add another win to Rozenstruik's resume.
Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker
As you can see from the last two heavyweight bouts scheduled for UFC 305 this festival is going to be a show of heavy fighting. The local fan favorite Tafa started his career with a 5-2 score. Rather inexperienced, he is hoping to make a name for himself at this event. On the other side of the octagon, we have Valter Walker who carries a tad bit more experience. A betting favorite from Brazil holds an 11-1 professional record making him a standout fighter at UFC 305.
Both Tafa and Walker have a thing or two to prove. After being defeated in their last bouts, getting back on the winning track is imperative. Walker is a new face in UFC and with only one loss to his name, he eagerly awaits his first success. Tafa, who lost to Marcos Rogerio de Lima, will be looking to hold his ground in Perth and bring smiles to the faces of local fans.
Jack Jenkins vs. Gavin Tucker
Jenkins vs. Tucker promises to be quite an interesting duel. The Australia vs. Canada rivalry was not on our cards before UFC 305. The home-grown fighter, Jenkins holds a 12-3 MMA record and is heading at similarly ranked and successful 13-3 Tucker. Both are far from the top of the featherweight division and this bout could be the standout duel they've been looking for.
Jenkins was stripped of some luck, with an elbow injury during UFC 293 in Sydney. He's now healed, energized, and ready to hit the ground running. With the home crowd backing him, pundits believe he has enough firepower to put Tucker down to the ground and with some heavy pounding submit him to defeat. Tucker has plenty of doubters, especially after being defeated during his last two outings. For Jenkins, adding a third defeat on Tucker's memo is imperative, but it can't be done without blood and sweat.
Bottom Line
While there are plenty of good fights left on the card for UFC 305, we're only focused on the best ones. The likes of Tom Nolan, Alex Reyes, Casey O'Neill, and Tereza Bledá will also feature promising fans a fine run for their money. From the main event to the preliminary fights, fans in the Land Down Under are promised good fun and experience of their lifetimes. For local fans, all eyes will be on the likes of Israel Adesanya who is from New Zealand, his compatriot Dan Hooker if his bout gets green-lighted and local superstar in the making, Steve Erceg. Are you eagerly awaiting UFC 305?
