UFC 305 Predictions: Full main card tips and predictions

| Friday 16th August 2024, 16:20pm

Friday 16th August 2024, 16:20pm

UFC 305 takes place this Sunday, August 18 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The event will be headlined by UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis’ defence against Israel Adesanya. TNT Sports 1 will televise the event.

Here is my UFC 305 main card preview ahead of a packed night of action Down Under.

UFC 305 Tips

Erceg by finish @ 3/1
Gamrot by decision @ 4/6
Prates by knockout @ 5/6

Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg

Kara-France looks to arrest a two-flight slump as he fights closer to home than he is used to. The New Zealander will still be the away fighter though, with Erceg hailing from Perth.

‘Astro Boy’ suffered his first company defeat last time out, losing to UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja. Now he looks to take his frustrations out on Kara-France in this Sunday’s co-main event.

Kara-France vs Erceg Fight Odds: Kara-France 11/8, Erceg 4/7

Kara-France vs Erceg Prediction: ‘Don’t Blink’ has been out of the cage for a year, while Erceg is coming into his third fight of 2024. That increased activity and the fact Kara-France has been in a downturn makes me lean towards the Perth boy. I’m tipping Erceg to win by finish at 3/1.

Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker

Company mainstay Hooker is matched tough here as he takes on fifth-ranked lightweight Gamrot. Both men come into the fight in fine fettle.

Gamrot has won three straight, defeating ex-UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos last time. Hooker is on a two-fight run, edging out Jalin Turner a year ago on a split decision.

Two gifted all-rounders, each man has a fairly even spread of knockouts, submissions and decisions. Wherever this fight goes, it will be a well-matched battle.

Gamrot vs Hooker Fight Odds: Gamrot 2/7, Hooker 5/2

Gamrot vs Hooker Prediction: I can see this one being a little closer than the odds have it. But I do feel that Gamrot is superior to Hooker and will prevail by decision. If you’d like to back my selection you can do so at 4/6.

Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

No pay-per-view ever feels truly complete without a battle of the big men. Our heavyweight beef this time comes courtesy of Aussie hero Tuivasa and Suriname’s ‘Bigi Boy’ Rozenstruik.

Tuivasa will be looking to shed an unwanted succession of backyard failures here. ‘Bam Bam’ has lost on his last three visits to Australia, dating back to 2018.

Rozenstruik jabbed his way to a corner retirement win over Shamil Gaziev in March. The 36-year-old now looks to string successive wins together for the first time since 2019.

Tuivasa vs Rozenstruik Fight Odds: Tuivasa 7/4, Rozenstruik 4/9

Tuivasa vs Rozenstruik Prediction: Tuivasa has lost his last four, all inside the distance. Look for Rozenstruik to make it five from five, putting the Aussie’s UFC career at risk. I’m backing Rozenstruik with a finish at 4/7.

Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates

Prates has hit the ground running since making the storied step from Dana White’s Contender Series to the big show this year. Two wins from two fights in 2024 has turned heads already.

Jingliang is not without merit, but this fight does feel a bit like the Chinese welterweight is being fed to the next big thing. Knockout wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio and Muslim Salikhov show that he is no pushover.

Jingliang vs. Prates Fight Odds: Jingliang 5/2, Prates 2/7

Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates Prediction: Eight consecutive knockout wins can become nine for Prates. Nobody has ever stopped Jingliang, until now. I’m picking Prates by knockout at 5/6.

UFC 305 Full Card

Main card

Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg

Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker

Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates

Preliminary card

Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker

Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos

Casey O'Neill vs. Luana Santos

Jack Jenkins vs. Herbert Burns