With the hype that it constructed all through Combat Week, UFC 305 delivered on its expectations. All however one battle on the principle card gave followers precisely what they have been hoping for, leaving the sold-out RAC Enviornment happy on the finish of the occasion.
Dricus Du Plessis defended his middleweight title in opposition to Israel Adesanya in the principle occasion earlier than burying the hatchet along with his bitter rival instantly afterward. With a fourth-round submission, Du Plessis was the third fighter on the principle card to finish his battle with a end, following Carlos Prates within the pay-per-view opener and Kai Kara-France within the co-main occasion.
Though the principle occasion delivered on all facets, the Fight of the Night award was given to lightweights Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot within the third battle of the principle card. Hooker squeaked out the break up choice in a back-and-forth bloody dogfight to leap into the highest 5 of the 155-pound division.
With the fights now concluded, listed here are our predictions for who every winner of the UFC 305 predominant card will face subsequent.
Dricus Du Plessis
Subsequent battle prediction: Sean Strickland
Predicting the subsequent battle for a defending champion is often an easy process however is even simpler for Du Plessis. Throughout his post-fight interview following “Dana White’s Contender Collection” on Tuesday, White all however assured that Strickland would battle the winner of the UFC 305 predominant occasion.
The battle will likely be a rematch of the UFC 297 predominant occasion that made Du Plessis the brand new middleweight champion. After a five-round affair, “Nonetheless Knocks” took dwelling the break up choice win, although it was one which many, together with White, felt that Strickland ought to have received.
White additionally stated that if Du Plessis defended his title in opposition to Adesanya, he would get a future title protection in South Africa. That continues to be to be seen however his subsequent protection will doubtless be a rematch with Strickland.
Kai Kara-France
Subsequent battle prediction: Kai Asakura
Kara-France alluded to this matchup in his post-fight interview, saying he’s the “real Kai” of the UFC. As a possible No. 1-contender battle, there are few different flyweights the UFC may put collectively that make extra sense.
Assuming Amir Albazi comes out of his hiatus to be the subsequent challenger for Alexandre Pantoja, Asakura will want at the least one battle within the UFC earlier than instantly leaping into the title image.
Asakura may actually slot right into a title battle for his debut because the Rizin bantamweight champion on the time he left for the UFC. Nevertheless, that’s not how the UFC has dealt with comparable conditions previously.
Anderson Silva, Michael Chandler, Manel Kape and Michael “Venom” Web page — all big-name fighters the UFC signed in free company — all needed to battle at the least as soon as within the Octagon earlier than becoming into the title image.
Dan Hooker
Subsequent battle prediction: Charles Oliveira
Per Oscar Willis of The Mac Life, Hooker was approached by Hunter Campbell after his win over Gamrot a few potential battle with Oliveira for him subsequent. With Hooker now being a top-five contender within the division, the battle makes sensible sense.
For some time, Hooker was thought of a gatekeeper within the light-weight division after shedding 4 of his 5 fights from June 2020 to March 2022. That has all ended with an unlikely three-fight win streak he has put collectively starting at UFC 281 that has now included two gutsy victories in Combat of the Evening-worthy performances.
Since shedding the belt, Oliveira has misplaced two of his final three fights however remains to be the No. 2-ranked contender within the division. Each fighters are fashionable and there’s no purpose the UFC ought to halt the momentum Hooker at present has. Even when this battle doesn’t occur, Hooker needs to be in a No. 1-contender battle in his subsequent outing.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Subsequent battle prediction: Marcin Tybura
It was not fairly, however Rozenstruik reentered the highest 10 of the heavyweight division with a methodical win over Tai Tuivasa in a surprisingly lackluster bout. That’s now back-to-back wins for Rozenstruik, giving him his first win streak since 2019, although he didn’t achieve the favor of the UFC with the win.
With heavyweight missing depth, there usually are not plenty of fighters within the prime 10 who Rozenstruik has not already fought. If Derrick Lewis beats Alexandr Romanov at UFC Edmonton, that’s actually a viable possibility for him.
Of the names at present within the prime 10, Tybura stands out as a fighter who has not fought Rozenstruik but and is ranked one spot above him at No. 9.
Coming off a loss to Serghei Spivac, Tybura will definitely have to battle again within the rankings and presents a special problem to Rozenstruik as a wrestler. Given the efficiency on Saturday evening, it appears unlikely that the UFC would wish to give “Bigi Boy” a contender ranked any greater.
Carlos Prates
Subsequent battle prediction: Michael “Venom” Web page
Prates referred to as out Khaos Williams, who reciprocated his callout on social media after changing into the primary fighter to knock out Li Jingliang. Ought to that battle occur, it might not be something anyone would complain about, however after his efficiency at UFC 305, Prates is a man everybody desires to see climb the ranks.
On the time he final fought earlier than his prolonged layoff, Jingliang was a borderline top-15 contender within the division. Prates smoked him as if he was an novice. The time is now for the previous Muay Thai fighter to get his shot in opposition to a ranked fighter, and he has a myriad of choices within the again finish of the rankings. As one other high-level striker, Web page makes good sense.
With Web page’s unorthodox karate model, he’ll current a special strategy than every other that Prates has ever confronted earlier than. Likewise, Web page has by no means fought a striker as disciplined and highly effective as Prates. After shedding to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303, Web page might want to battle an unranked opponent, and no different possibility is best for him than Prates.
