What mattered most at UFC 305 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia? Here are a few post-fight musings …
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Carlos Prates announces his arrival at welterweight
Carlos Prates got a big step up in competition against Li Jingliang, and he let it be known that he’s now a serious name to watch in the welterweight division with a highlight-reel finish.
Prates (20-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) asked for a spot on this card because he wanted to visit his daughter, who lives in Sydney, as well as fight on his birthday. He delivered himself the biggest present possible when he became the first to knock out Jingliang in MMA competition.
The Brazilian has finished his opponent in 18 of his 20 career victories and it’s clear now that his striking and power are going to be a threat to any opponent who steps into the octagon with him. There’s a lot of compelling prospects on the rise at 170 pounds right now, and Prates might be near the top of the list after that performance.
The outrageous 30-27 scorecard for Tai Tuivasa
Jairzinho Rozenstruik convincingly handled Tai Tuivasa over the course of three rounds in their heavyweight bout. At least in the eyes of everyone but judge Howie Booth, who turned in an all-time bad scorecard.
After Rozenstruik (15-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) outlanded Tuivasa by a 91-to-37 margin in significant strikes over the course of three rounds, pretty much every knew Rozenstruik was going to get the win. Booth was watching something completely different to the rest of the world, however, and decided to give Tuivasa all three rounds and a 30-27.
It’s hard to properly explain the level of incompetence needed to turn in such a score. Booth needs to go back to Day 1 of judging training if he thought that was the way the fight went. It’s legitimately indefensible, and thank goodness his cageside colleagues had sanity and the right man in Rozenstruik got his hand raised.
Dan Hooker overcomes the odds
Dan Hooker
Dan Hooker was eager and willing to take on one of the more difficult matchups in the division in Mateusz Gamrot, and he came out with his hand raised to boost his profile in the lightweight division to previously unforeseen heights.
Two of the three judges saw the fight in Hooker’s (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) favor for the split decision upset win. The result simply cannot be understated for Hooker’s career, and he showed massive improvements against the type of opponent who has historically gave him struggles.
After living up to his promise to pull an exciting contest out of Gamrot for the Fight of the Night, Hooker is poised for another top-five matchup in the lightweight division, and we shall see who the promotion pits him against, because the options are few.
The end of Israel Adesanya at a championship level?
Israel Adesanya has given so much of himself to the sport and the UFC, and it’s been a pleasure to watch. Unfortunately, his submission defeat to Dricus Du Plessis might mark the end of his time competing for UFC titles.
Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) is now on the first two-fight losing skid of his career and in a difficult position after being definitively finished by Du Plessis in their main event clash, and now there’s stronger questions about his future than ever before.
He made it very clear post-fight that he will not be retiring and wants to continue competing. Perhaps he can string together some victories that will put him in a championship fight, but given how the top of the division is playing out, it’s clear the matchups are just getting more and more difficult for him.
It’s hard to tell if Adesanya has truly lost a step from his prime form or if the competition has just risen to and above his level. But with his mission to forge on, we will find out what he still has in the next performance.
It’s time to stop doubting Dricus Du Plessis
Dricus Du Plessis is one of the great unicorns in MMA history. By all appearances he shouldn’t be having the degree of success he’s found inside the octagon, but he just keeps on proving his doubters wrong and getting his hand raised.
If there were any lingering questions about Du Plessis’ (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) legitimacy as a champion after claiming the middleweight belt by split decision against Sean Strickland in January, he proved he is a more than worthy and deserving champion by tapping out Adesanya in the fourth round of their grudge match.
Du Plessis’ awkward style where he looks fatigued should seemingly not produce the type of results he’s having, but here we are. He’s logged a first defense of his belt, and he has to be considered the favorite against anyone in the division right now.
The South African has already beaten three of the past four champions in his division in Adesanya, Strickland and Robert Whittaker, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how much longer he can keep this going.
Pay forward your respects to this champion, because that belt truly belongs with him.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.