The UFC returns to Perth, Western Australia on Sunday, August 18.
Last time the UFC took over RAC Arena, Islam Makhachev and Alex Volkanovski turned in a classic for the lightweight title, with the Australian coming up just short in his bid to become a simultaneous two-division world champion.
We take a look at who will be in action this time around
MORE: What’s next for McGregor and Chandler after UFC 303 bout scrapped?
UFC 305 fight card: Confirmed bouts
Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
Australian lightweight Tom Nolan (7-1) has gone 1-1 in the UFC since graduating from the Contender Series.
Queensland’s “Big Train” takes on American Alex Reyes (13-4), who had a five-year UFC absence following a spinal infection which had doctors wondering if he’d ever walk again.
Casey O’Neill vs. Tereza Bleda
King Casey (9-2) will hope to arrest a two-fight skid when she faces Czech prospect Bleda.
O’Neill had emerged as a future contender in the flyweight division before a ruptured ACL stopped her in her tracks.
The Scotland-born, Gold Coast-raised 26-year-old will hope to get some momentum back in Perth.
UFC 305 fight card: Unconfirmed bouts/rumors
In all the chaos of Conor McGregor and Khamzat Chimaev’s recent withdrawals, UFC boss Dana White may have inadvertently leaked some of the UFC 305 card, or at least their possible plans.
Keen-eyed fans noticed that some fighters’ names were visible in the background of a social media post.
🚨 Looks like Dana White accidentally leaked some of the UFC 305 fights in Perth.
You can clearly see names on the wall behind Dana:
Israel Adesanya
Song Yadong
Jack Della Maddalena
Steve Erceg
Drakkar Kloseh/t @xetinfomma pic.twitter.com/gQhELZ4xM8
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 16, 2024
It’s yet to be locked in, but Australian fight fans can be almost certain of seeing Dricus du Plessis attempt to make the first defence of his middleweight crown against two-time champion Israel Adesanya.
The pair faced off in the cage following du Plessis’ victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 but Adesanya lost the belt to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in Sydney, seeing South Africa’s du Plessis challenge and defeat Strickland to claim the title.
Also in action, local boy Steve Erceg looks to fight for the first time since his valiant effort when dropping a points defeat to Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title at UFC 301.
Several unconfirmed reports have suggested Erceg is being lined up to face Kai Kara-France in a trans-Tasman showdown.
Another popular fighter from New Zealand, Dan Hooker, looks like he might get his wish to fight at UFC 305, with whispers around a lightweight bout with Drakkar Klose growing louder.
One man who won’t be in action is welterweight contender and Perth product Jack Della Maddalena.
Having defeated Gilbert Burns and calling for a clash with Shavkat Rakhmonov, Della Maddalena picked up a nasty infection after surgery on a fractured arm, requiring several more surgeries and significant recovery time.
The card also looks like coming too soon for Alex Volkanovski, who is lining up a return towards the end of the year following his KO loss to Ilia Topuria.
