UFC 305: Du Plessis vs Adesanya Showdown

The excitement is brewing as UFC 305 gears up to take place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, with the main event featuring a thrilling middleweight title fight. The champion, Dricus du Plessis, will face off against two-time champion Israel Adesanya in what promises to be an intense battle.

Dricus du Plessis earned his title back in January with a decision win over Sean Strickland. Since then, Adesanya has been itching to get back in the octagon after Strickland ended his previous championship reign in September.

Fans tuning in can catch the main card live on ESPN+ pay-per-view at 10:00 p.m. ET. Prelims start at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the early prelims kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET. A night full of action awaits!

As the fight nears, the betting odds have tightened significantly. Initially, Adesanya was favored at -186 over du Plessis at +144. But now it’s nearly a toss-up, with Adesanya slightly ahead at -121 and du Plessis close behind at -115.

Predictions indicate that if Du Plessis can maintain the pressure and make Adesanya adapt to his style, he has a solid chance of retaining his title. Many are leaning towards a decision win for Du Plessis, based on his advantages in tenacity and output.

The co-main event features flyweights Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg, who are ready to put on a striking showcase. With tighter odds, Kara-France is currently at +130 while Erceg is at -185. Fans can expect a battle of skill and strategy as Erceg is seen as the more proficient boxer.

In another exciting matchup, Mateusz Gamrot is favored against Dan Hooker. Gamrot opened at -295 but has jumped to -385, making him a strong favorite. Although Hooker has knockout power, Gamrot’s excellent wrestling may steer him towards a decision victory.

Heavyweights Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Tai Tuivasa are also set to clash, with Rozenstruik currently favored at -240. Given Tuivasa’s shaky chin in recent fights, many insiders predict a knockout victory for Rozenstruik.

As for the opening fight on the main card, Li Jingliang will face Carlos Prates, with Prates now a solid favorite at -400. The fight is expected to be a challenging test for Jingliang, who’s known for his resilience but may struggle against Prates’ speed and striking ability.