Everything you need to know about UFC 305: du Plessis Vs Adesanya

ACC UFC contributor Felix Heath-Collins with everything you need to know ahead of UFC 305: du Plessis Vs Adesanya.

UFC 305 is stacking up to be the greatest night in Kiwi MMA history. The final three fights on the main card feature three of the greatest fighters we've ever had. Let's break it down.

First up, we've got Auckland's own "Hangman," Dan Hooker (23-12) facing off against Poland's Mateusz "Gamer" Gamrot (24-2).

Dan Hooker is one of the most entertaining fighters in our country's short combat sports history. At his best, he's an unstoppable tank that breaks his opponents under his striking pressure before leaving them defeated, and - often times - unconscious. Never miss a Hooker fight.

Mateusz Gamrot is an incredibly well-rounded fighter with potential as a future champion. But he isn't known for jaw-dropping, unbelievable spectacles like Hooker. He's a forward-momentum mixed martial artist with an emphasis on "mixed". He's got strong elements of striking, grappling, and submissions. A Jack of all trades, but a master at none.

In this fight Hooker is looking to face his stylistically hardest challenge so far: a man without clear weaknesses. There is a top-5 ranking on the line for Hooker so I predict them charging into each other early in the fight. And I don't expect Gamrot to be standing when the second round is over.

The co-main event sees fan-favourite Aucklander Kai "Don't Blink" Kara-France (24-11) in foreign territory against surging Aussie prospect Steve "Astro Boy" Erceg (12-2).

Kai Kara-France, the 5th-ranked flyweight in the UFC, is returning for his first fight in 13 months with an eye on the title. He's a lethally fast, yet deceptively powerful flyweight. With two high-level knockouts to his name, Kara-France truly lives up to his "Don't Blink" moniker. Kara-France has been inactive since he lost via TKO to former champion Brandon Moreno, followed by a split decision loss in mid-2023. Now Kara-France is now looking to put his name back in title contention by derailing the fresh-faced Aussie.

Steve Erceg made his UFC debut seven days after Kara-France's last fight in 2023. He's a dangerous submission specialist with a well-rounded striking style. In just 11 months with the UFC, Erceg has collected two unanimous decision victories and a second-round knockout before losing a one-sided decision against the current flyweight champion Alexandre "The Cannibal" Pantoja. Now, he needs to regain some momentum before challenging the champion again.

Kara-France is the easy pick to win for his experience and record of knockouts against high-level opponents. I predict him winning a one-sided, unanimous decision. But with a year out of the octagon, Kara-France has got a difficult test against the hungry prospect Erceg, in front of a likely-hostile Perth crowd.

Finally, the main event is a highly-anticipated (and speculated) battle between the two best middleweights in the world. Nigerian-Kiwi sports superstar Israel "The Last Stylebender" Adesanya (24-3) seeks to reclaim his belt against the South African champion Dricus "Stillknocks" Du Plessis.

Adesanya is arguably the greatest middleweight in MMA history, with his only real competition coming from Anderson "The Spider" Silva. An internationally recognised household name, Adesanya is among the greatest current athletes in the world. He's a dynamic, fluid striker who absolutely tore a hole in the middleweight division during his middleweight title run. After losing his title via unanimous decision last year to now-former champion Sean "Tarzan" Strickland, he wants it back.

Current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is a force of nature. He's not the greatest striker, the greatest wrestler, or the greatest submission threat. But he brings a near-infinite reserve of energy and forward momentum that has seen him climb to the highest peak in the sport. He just has to defend his belt against the greatest to ever hold it.

I predict Du Plessis charging forward before coming into contact with the sublime counter-striking skills of Adesanya. If Du Plessis can't apply his smothering pressure early, I don't see him surviving the first three rounds.

UFC 305 goes down this Sunday, with the main card starting at 2:00 PM. Don't miss out!