Looks like we’ve got our Main Event for UFC 305 in Perth this August
After months of speculation, we may have just learned UFC 305’s main event with UFC superstar Israel Adesanya seemingly confirming he will face middleweight champion and rival Dricus Du Plessis in an Instagram post posted on Monday.
“Never stole shine never lost mine. UFC 305. Du Plessis vs Adesanya. August 17.” Reads the photo.
UFC 305 is set for Sunday 18 August AWST and will broadcast on Saturday the 17th in the United States.
Adesanya is a former two-time UFC middleweight champion and lost the title in his last fight at UFC 293 in Sydney to Sean Strickland. Strickland would go on to lose the title to Du Plessis.
South Africa’s first UFC champion, Du Plessis’ appearance in Perth is set to coincide with the Springboks taking on the Wallabies on August 17th.
Confirmed UFC 305 fights
Joining Adesanya and Du Plessis on the card is Queensland lightweight Tom Nolan, who will take on American Alex Reyes.
Nolan entered the UFC at 6-0, and although he suffered a loss in his UFC debut, he quickly bounced back to his winning ways when he knocked out Victor Martinez in the first round in May of this year.
Scottish Australian flyweight Casey O’Neill is also confirmed for the card as she takes on Tereza Bleda.
O’Neill is currently on a two-fight skid with a professional record of 9-2.
UFC 305 Rumoured fights
Both Perth based fighters Jack Della Maddalena and Steve Erceg are rumoured to fight on UFC 305, however neither has been confirmed yet.
In a video posted by UFC president Dana White, a whiteboard containing the card for UFC 305 can partially be seen in the background.
Looking further into the image, Erceg and Della Maddalena’s names appear to be visible on the list.
Erceg, who’s only UFC loss is a razor close decision to flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, is rumoured to face top flyweight and New Zealand based fighter Kai Kara-France in a bout with serious title implications.
Erceg was originally sceptical when asked if he would face Kara-France, however Kara-France has publicly called for the fight with Erceg for 305.
In an Instagram post from May 29, Della Maddalena revealed he is battling a serious infection in his arm which he contracted following surgery he received for breaking it at UFC 299 against Gilbert Burns.
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In this post he said he is unable to fight at UFC 305, however his appearance on the whiteboard have kicked up rumours that the Perth local may be on the card.
In an interview with Combat TV, New Zealand lightweight Dan Hooker revealed that he, Adesanya and Kara-France are all booked for the card.
Sources close to the situation say that Hooker was offered to Beneil Dariush, however Dariush turned down the fight due to Australia’s high tax rate.
It is now rumoured to be Drakkar Klose to welcome Hooker back to the octagon.
Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images