UFC 305: The return of Israel Adesanya

Michael Bolton

UFC 305 this weekend will see Dricus Du Plessis make the first defence of his middleweight title when he takes on Israel Adesanya in Perth.

A fight over a year in the making, both these fighters have made their feelings clear to one another in the build-up to this bout.

Comments made by Du Plessis regarding former African champions in the promotion have caused controversy, with Adesanya making his feelings known ahead of Saturday.

In what was built up as a title decider at UFC 290, Du Plessis defeated Robert Whittaker via TKO, with Adesanya and the South African facing off in the cage.

However, with Du Plessis injured, it was Sean Strickland who challenged Adesanya for the belt, and shocked the world when he won at UFC 293.

Along came Du Plessis at UFC 297, to defeat Strickland through split-decision, and set up this fascinating encounter.

While 11 months is not a long time away for an MMA fighter, Adesanya was very active as a champion, so it has been his longest period of inactivity.

Adesanya has never lost a fight as a contender, and as he showed at UFC 287 against Periera, when he goes out with something to prove, he is extremely dangerous.

One of the best strikers in MMA, Adesanya will likely attack from the outside, using his reach to his advantage with leg kicks and jabs.

Du Plessis will put pressure on Adesanya, and mix his powerful striking with takedowns to keep him guessing. As shown in his win over Whittaker, his is extremely well-rounded.

Should Adesanya win, he would become a three-time champion, and the first in the UFC to defeat Du Plessis.

In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France takes on Steve Erceg in the flyweight division.

Kara-France has not fought since a controversial decision defeat to Amir Albalzi in June 2023 due to injury, and will be eager to remind everyone of what he is capable.

For Erceg, this is his first fight since his competing for the title at UFC 301 against Alexander Pantoja, which he lost a close decision.

Kara-France will use his quick movement and striking as a path to victory, and has showed excellent takedown defence in previous bouts.

For Erceg, he has power of his own, with his knockout of Matt Schannell earning him a title shot.

Elsewhere on the main card, Mateusz Gamrot aims to take a step closer towards a title shot when he faces Dan Hooker in the lightweight division.

Gamrot comes to this weekend on a three-fight win streak and ranked fifth in the world, but is still yet to have that big performance that will put him in title contention,

His relentless pressure and wrestling makes him a challenge for anyone in the division, and he will be out to make a statement on Saturday.

For Hooker, he has been out with injury since his win over Jalian Turner at UFC 290, and a win this weekend could shake up the division.

Hooker will aim to keep the fight at a distance with his knees and jab, and is no stranger to a brawl if that is the direction the fight goes.