Israel Adesanya is on a mission to reclaim the UFC Middleweight Championship for the third time at UFC 305 as he faces off against the current titleholder, Dricus du Plessis. Adesanya, once a dominant force in the division, is looking to bounce back from a stunning upset loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Meanwhile, du Plessis, fresh off capturing the title from Strickland, is making his first title defense, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash between two elite fighters.
For bettors, this matchup offers intriguing angles. Adesanya’s quest to regain his belt makes him a compelling option, especially given his extensive experience and striking prowess. However, du Plessis, who has shown a versatile skill set with an unbeaten UFC record, presents slightly better value to bettors (-105 odds).
UFC 293 was initially slated to feature Adesanya defending against du Plessis but due to the latter's recovery from a grueling win over Robert Whittaker, Strickland stepped in and shocked the world by defeating Adesanya. Now, with the stage set for their long-awaited showdown, the betting lines are tight, reflecting the intensity and unpredictability of this fight.
The co-main event features a dynamic bout between former flyweight title contender Steve Erceg and former interim title challenger Kai Kara-France. Bettors should watch for potential fireworks, as this fight could steal the show with its fast-paced action.
With the odds still shifting, this is a perfect opportunity to explore different betting options, from straight wagers to more complex prop bets. We'll share our best bets in another article, but for now, lets dive into the live odds for the full card.
Dricus du Plessis (-105) vs Israel Adesanya (-115) - Middleweight Title Bot
Kai Kara-France (+140) vs Steve Erceg (-166) - Flyweight
Mateusz Gamrot (-355) vs Dan Hooker (+280) - Lightweight
Tai Tuivasa (+190) vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik (-230) - Heavyweight
Li Jingliang (+280) vs Carlos Prates (-355) - Welterweight
Junior Tafa (-125) vs Valter Walker(+105) - Heavyweight
Josh Culibao (-135) vs Ricardo Ramos (+114) - Featherweight
Casey O'neill (+124) vs Luana Santos (-148) - Women's Flyweight
Jack Jenkins (-700) vs Herbert Burns (+500) - Featherweight
Tom Nolan (-1200) vs Alex Reyes (+750) - Lightweight
Kenan Song (-198) vs Ricky Glenn (+164) - Welterweight
Stewart Nicoll (-225) vs Jesus Aguilar (+185) - Flyweight
We mentioned that we have a best bets article ready for UFC 305, but if you are looking for predictions, we have you covered. Find our staff predictions for each of the main card bouts below.
du Plessis over Adesanya
Erceg over Kara France
Gamrot over Hooker
Tuivasa over Rozenstruik
Prates over Jingliang
The action starts with the early prelims on UFC Fight Pass at 6:30 PM EST. The Prelims will begin at 8:00 PM EST on ESPN and ESPN+. The main card is a PPV (available through ESPN+) at 10:00 PM EST.