UFC 305 took place on August 17 inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, as UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis defended his belt against former champion Israel Adesanya.
UFC 305’s main event showcased a high level title fight between UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (22-2-0) and former champion Israel Adesanya (24-4-0).
Click here to watch Dricus Du Plessis’ post-fight press conference. Footage via ‘TheMacLife’ on YouTube.
UFC 305 Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya
Fans worldwide viewing UFC 305 had the pleasure of witnessing a fantastic fight between the two African fighters.
The South African champion Du Plessis showed his champion heart as he produced an extremely gritty performance that involved pressuring the former champion.
Looking at the fight, Du Plessis opened the first round with various strikes and a singular takedown attempt. Ranging from low kicks to high kicks, the defending champion looked to strike with Adesanya.
Du Plessis ultimately out-landed Adesanya in the first round. As for the second, Adesanya was the sharper and more selective striker as he outlanded Du Plessis.
However, Du Plessis secured three separate takedowns throughout the second round. Du Plessis also was able to take the back of Adesanya, where he threatened a rear naked choke.
Moving to the third round, Adesanya began to show his advantage in the striking realm as he butcher the body of the charging Du Plessis. The challenger out-landed the champion in this round while neutralizing the takedown threat.
The fourth round would be Adesanya’s most impressive round on the feet as he had Du Plessis whiffing for air on big swinging punches. Additionally, Adesanya began landing precise uppercuts through Du Plessis’s shell while tacking on more bodywork with punches.
However, in the most Dricus Du Plessis fashion possible, the South African champion turned it up a notch as he landed thudding right hands that helped slow Adesanya down enough for Du Plessis to grab hold and drag him to the canvas.
Once on the canvas, Du Plessis quickly took the back of Adesanya and wasted no time in securing a tight rear naked choke.
Result: Du Plessis via Submission R4 (Face Crank)
Moving forward from UFC 305, light heavyweight champion expressed his desire in coming down to middleweight to challenge for Du Plessis’ belt.
UFC 305 Co-main Event: Kai Kara France vs. Steve Erceg
UFC 305’s co-main event featured elite flyweights No. 4-ranked Kai Kara France (25-11-0, 1NC) and No. 7-ranked Steve Erceg (12-3-0) meeting in the center of the cage.
In this UFC 305 flyweight matchup, the more experienced fighter in Kara France was able to work his game as he kept his chin tucked while threatening massive knockout punches in close distance.
Erceg looked to be one step behind Kara France, outlanding Erceg at a 2 to 1 ratio before finding a devastating left hand that sat Erceg down to the canvas.
Erceg, despite the odds, managed to ward off the relentless Kara France. He showed his resilience by getting back on his feet, only to be met with a barrage of follow-up punches that forced the referee to intervene and call the contest.
Result: Kara France via KO/TKO R1
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
UFC 305’s fight of the night featured lightweights No. 5-ranked Mateusz Gamrot (24-3-0, 1NC) and No. 11-ranked Dan Hooker (24-12-0) engaging in a three round war.
This slugfest of a fight at UFC 305 saw Hooker constantly pressing forward on the talented wrestler Gamrot.
As Hooker would constantly trek forward, Gamrot was able to land his massive punches on the incoming kickboxer.
The first round featured Gamrot out-landing Hooker while also securing two separate takedowns on the New Zealand fighter.
The second round showed a difference in Pace and output for Gamrot as the Polish fighter began to slow down, and Hooker began to grow in confidence, swinging massive punches with Gamrot’s back to the cage.
The third and final round of this war showed both fighters’ undeniable will and spirit as the two continued to exchange in the boxing pocket. This round was extremely close as they were practically tied in strikes landed while Gamrot secured a singular takedown.
After fifteen minutes, the judges gave a slight nod to Hooker.
Result: Hooker via split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 28-29)
Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
UFC 305’s heavyweight matchup between No. 10-ranked Tai Tuivasa (15-8-0) and No. 12-ranked Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-5-0)
Rozenstruik displayed superior kickboxing skills in this fight over all three rounds against the Australian knockout artist Tuivasa.
Rozenstruik had a clear advantage in hand speed and punch placement as he stunned Tuivasa numerous times.
Every round in this fifteen-minute fight featured Rozenstruik outlanding Tuivasa by at least a 2 to 1 ratio.
Tuivasa’s face wore all the accumulative damage, while Rozenstruik’s looked spotless. Over three rounds, it was clear to fans around the world who had won. However, one of the ringside judges somehow scored the fight in favor of Tuivasa for all three rounds.
The 30-27 scorecard for Tuivasa at UFC 305 might go down in history as the worst scorecard ever produced in the world of mixed martial arts. The shock and outrage it sparked led the UFC to take immediate action, manually removing judge Howie Booth from scoring for the rest of the event.
Result: Rozenstruik via split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 27-30)
Other Fights on UFC 305
Main Card:
- (170 lbs.) Li Jingliang (19-9-0) vs. Carlos Prates (20-6-0): Prates via KO/TKO R2
Prelims:
- (265 lbs.) Junior Tafa (5-3-0) vs. Valter Walker (12-1-0): Walker via Sub R1
- (145 lbs.) Joshua Culibao (11-4-1) vs. Ricardo Ramos (17-6-0): Ramos via Decision
- (W 125 lbs.) Casey O’Neill (10-2-0) vs. Luana Santos (8-2-0): O’Neill via Decision
- (145 lbs.) Jack Jenkins (13-3-0) vs. Herbert Burns (11-6-0): Jenkins via KO/TKO R3
Early Prelims:
- (155 lbs.) Tom Nolan (8-1-0) vs. Alex Reyes (13-5-0): Nolan via Decision
- (170 lbs.) Song Kenan (21-8-0) vs. Rick Glenn (22-9-2): Song via Decision
- (125 lbs.) Stewart Nicoll (8-1-0) vs. Jesus Aguilar (11-2-0): Aguilar via Sub R1
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