The world watched as the Octagon returned to Australia on Saturday, August 17, for a middleweight title fight between heated rivals. UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis took on former champion and the current No. 2 contender, Israel Adesanya in a five-round championship bout.
The UFC 305: DU PLESSIS VS ADESANYA Early Prelims kicked off Saturday August 17 at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT in the United States on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. The Prelims aired at 8pm ET/5pm PT on ESPN and ESPN+ and the Main Card aired exclusively on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S. at 10pm ET/7pm PT.
A Night of Grit and Glory
The night featured a number of compelling fights, with a variety of finishes and competitive battles. Here’s a recap of the fights, starting from the early prelims.
Early Prelims
- Jesus Aguilar def. Stewart Nicoll by submission (guillotine choke), 2:39, Round 1: Aguilar, the only undefeated fighter on the card, showed his jiu-jitsu skills, submitting Nicoll in the first round. Aguilar’s win moved him to 11-2, while Nicoll, the promotion’s first fighter from the Solomon Islands, fell to 8-1.
- Song Kenan def. Ricky Glenn by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28): Kenan, a fighter out of China, outpointed Glenn in a three-round decision, showcasing his superior striking and grappling. Glenn, an American fighter, has now gone 0-3-1 in his last four fights.
- Tom Nolan def. Alex Reyes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28): Nolan, a fighter from Brisbane, Australia, dominated Reyes in a lopsided decision. Reyes, an American fighter, has now lost his last three fights.
Prelims
- Jack Jenkins def. Herbert Burns by TKO (punches), 0:48, Round 3: Jenkins, a featherweight from Australia, was dominant throughout the fight, finishing Burns with a series of punches in the third round. Jenkins, who was making his return to the octagon after a broken arm, improved to 5-4.
- Casey O’Neill def. Luana Santos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26): O’Neill, a flyweight from Australia, dominated Santos in a lopsided decision, showcasing her striking and grappling skills. O’Neill improved to 10-1.
- Ricardo Ramos def. Josh Culibao by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28): Ramos, a featherweight from Brazil, won a close split decision over Culibao. Culibao, a fighter from Australia, lost his fourth fight in his last eight.
- Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa by verbal submission (heel hook), 4:56, Round 1: The fight ended in a controversial way when Tafa, a fighter from Australia, tapped out from a heel hook, despite not verbally submitting. Walker, a fighter from Brazil, improved to 5-1.
Main Card
- Carlos Prates def. Li Jingliang by KO (punch), 4:02, Round 2: Prates, a welterweight from Brazil, knocked out Jingliang in the second round, showcasing his powerful striking. Prates extended his winning streak to 10 fights.
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27): Rozenstruik, a heavyweight from Suriname, defeated Tuivasa in a split decision, extending his winning streak to two. Tuivasa, a fighter from Australia, is now on a five-fight losing streak.
- Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28): Hooker, a lightweight from New Zealand, defeated Gamrot in a hard-fought split decision. Hooker has now won three straight fights, while Gamrot has lost his last two.
- Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg by TKO (punches), 4:04, Round 1: Kara-France, a flyweight from New Zealand, knocked out Erceg in the first round, extending his winning streak to two. Erceg has now lost two straight.
- Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45): Du Plessis, the middleweight champion from South Africa, successfully defended his title against Adesanya in a dominant performance. Du Plessis controlled the entire fight, using his power and grappling to keep Adesanya on the defensive. The scorecards were telling: Du Plessis won every round by a clear margin. This was a major upset and a statement win for Du Plessis.
What’s Next for Du Plessis?
With his dominant win over Adesanya, Du Plessis has solidified himself as the top middleweight in the world. His next challenge will likely be against a top contender, such as Robert Whittaker or Alex Pereira.
The Aftermath of UFC 305
The post-fight press conference was full of excitement and emotion. Here’s a recap of the highlights:
- Du Plessis was confident in his victory and called out some potential future opponents. He was particularly interested in fighting Whittaker, who he believes is the only middleweight who can give him a challenge.
- Adesanya, on the other hand, took the loss in stride and said he would be back. He credited Du Plessis for his victory and said he needed to regroup and refocus.
- Other fighters, including Kara-France and Hooker, were also vocal in their post-fight interviews. They talked about their performance, their future plans, and the overall atmosphere of the event.
UFC 305 was a night to remember for fans of combat sports, with a number of exciting fights and unexpected results. This event was a clear sign that the UFC’s popularity continues to grow, with fans around the world tuning in to see the best fighters in the world.
The Future of the UFC
The UFC’s global reach continues to expand, with events now being held in more countries than ever before. With fighters from all over the world competing for championship glory, the UFC’s future is bright.
The UFC is more than just a sport; it’s a global phenomenon. It’s a spectacle that brings together people from all walks of life, showcasing the best athletes in the world. It is a sport that is constantly evolving, with new fighters and new challenges emerging all the time.
The UFC is here to stay, and it is only going to get bigger and better in the years to come.
The End of the Road: A Reflection on UFC 305
As the dust settles on UFC 305, one thing is clear: the middleweight division is more exciting than ever. Du Plessis has emerged as a dominant champion, and the rest of the contenders are hungry to take his belt. It will be fascinating to see what the future holds for the division, and for the UFC as a whole.
