What’s up fight fans! It’s PPV week in UFC land, as we head over to Perth, Australia. A great card awaits headlined by the former middleweight champ Israel Adesanya trying to take back his world title from current champ Dricus Du Plessis. These two guys have some bad blood to settle, going all the way back to when DDP vowed to become the first “real” African champion. Taking a shot at Adesanyas history and dismissing his heritage. They shared the cage after DDP beat Robert Whittaker in 2023, and traded racial slurs among other things! So it’s fair to say these guys can’t stand each other! Plus with a undercard that’s filled with fireworks, this should make UFC305 one for the ages! Let’s get into it!

Opening the main card……

LI JINGLIANG Vs CARLOS PRATES

We start in the welterweight division as Brazils surging “The Nightmare” Carlos Prates, takes on Chinas UFC veteran Li “The Leech” Jingliang!

I love the play on Prates here. I’ll certainly be using him as a parlay piece. He has a big reach advantage of around 7 inches, throws shots from all angles, and has a solid takedown defence. The Leech has solid striking, with some decent grappling chops. But nothing that Prates can’t really handle. On top of that Prates has won his last 3 fights in the UFC, whilst Li is 2 wins/3 loses in his last 5 fight. Someone’s going to sleep!

PREDICTION – Carlos Prates to win via KO.

Next up we head to the big boy division as 2 ranked heavyweights GET IT ON!

TAI TUIVASA Vs JAIRZINHO ROZENSTRUIK

Now first off I will say I love Tai Tuivasa. He’s a great guy who’s given us all some great memories. But he’s lost his last 4, and most recently got submitted by Marcin Tybura. Yes that’s right. Tybura is the dude who Spivac subbed in Rd 1 last Saturday. Jairzinho isn’t exactly flying, going 2/3 in his last 5 fights. However to me, Jairzinho looks like he’s committed and trying to do the best with what he’s got. So I’ll be leaning that way. Tuivasa on the other hand, looks like he’s had one to many shoeys. If this was a drinking contest, I’d ride with him. This fight could quite simply be over in RD1, with the winner being whoever lands 1st. It won’t shock me if that’s the case. But I am still taking the big guy who hasn’t been finished 4 times in his last 4 fights. LETS GO JAIRZINHO!

PREDICTION – Jairzinho Rozenstruik to win via KO.

Moving along, it’s all about the 155 Lightweight division. Aussie Aussie Aussie! OI OI OI! Banger on deck. An yes I know neither of the below are Aussies. I just felt like chanting it.

MATEUSZ GAMROT V DAN HOOKER

Now I had to be really careful when making this pick and not just go with my heart straight away! As Dan Hooker is one of my favourite fighters of the last 10 years. The man is just box office! Not because he always wins, but because he’s always in great fights. Gamrot knows all of the above and he’s has a great route to victory. That’s to wrestle, wrestle and wrestle. On top of that, Gamrot just happens to be one of the best wrestlers in the division, if not the whole of the UFC. So Dan might spend some time on his back. On the feet Hooker has all the advantages, and if he can keep this at kickboxing range, he’s certainly in this fight. Sadly I just think eventually in every round, Gamrot will get this to the mat. I don’t think he can submit Hooker, but I expect Gamrot to total up enough control time and ground and pound to get the nod on the judges scorecards. PS Dan, I still love you.

PREDICTION – Mateusz Gamrot to win via DEC.

CO MAIN EVENT TIME! An it’s an Aussie v Kiwi match up. What more could we want! Oh and it’s FLYWEIGHTS too! Bound to bring the heat!

KAI KARA-FRANCE V STEVE ERCEG

Now if this fight isn’t an absolute barn stormer I’ll run naked round my town centre whilst the pubs are kicking out! That’s how confident I am in this been a great fight!

Kai Kara hasn’t fought for a year, and is coming in off 2 loses against Moreno and Albazi. Erceg lost out on a world title in his last fight against Pantoja, losing a razor thin decision in Brazil. Both guys will want to get back to winning ways here.

I expect the action to literally take place all over. I can see takedowns, wild strikes and eventually a finish. A that’s the difference between these guys. Erceg has an incredible submission game and eventually I think he will catch Kai Kara somewhere. Giving the Aussies a chance to give their homeboy a standing ovation, plus putting him right back in with a deserved rematch against Pantoja.

PREDICTION – Steve Erceg to win via SUB.

ITS TIMMMEEEEEEE! 5 ROUNDS FOR THE UNDISPUTED UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!

(C) DRICUS DU PLESSIS V ISRAEL ADESANYA

As I was writing this article, Dana White announced that the winner would face number 1 contender Sean Strickland next. So either way we have a big rematch on deck.

But first off, this fight is just as huge giving the history of both fighters. Plenty of bad blood and for Adesanya in particular critics to silence.

If DDP is smart he will lean on his wrestling. If his ego takes over, and I suspect it will. He will try and out strike one of the best strikers in the history of MMA. Adesanya isn’t going to change his game plan, we are just going to find out if the loss to Strickland was just an off night. Or that he has dramatically fallen off and it might be time to hang it up. For this writer I think Izzy still has it. He proved in his rematch with Alex Pereira that he can come back from a big loss. I think Izzy will be dialled in, and if Strickland can bust up DDPs face. I’m absolutely certain Adesanya can. No matter what happens, I think this is going to be a fantastic main event! You can’t count DDP out. He’s incredibly tough and has some great skills. I just think his ego will take over, and it will end with him getting pieced up by Izzy for 5 action packed rounds.

PREDICTION – Israel Adesanya to win via DEC.