As the biggest no-brainer of the night, Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot took home an extra $50,000 for their all-out war on the main card. The fight came through as one of the best of 2024 with Hooker sneaking out the split decision.
Although the oddsmakers and most viewers expected a lot of wrestling from Gamrot, the fight had everything any fan could ask for. The Pole did have success with his takedowns but struggled to hold Hooker down, leading to most of the fight being a striking battle that Hooker largely controlled. Both men were bloodied and bruised by its conclusion, having both been knocked down during the 15-minute affair.
Even though he is a notorious wrestler, Gamrot showed improvement in his striking, knocking down Hooker in the first round with a counter right hand. However, the Kiwi was the fighter walking forward for most of the fight while being responsible for most of the major moments.
Hooker called for a lightweight title eliminator after the win, telling Daniel Cormier in his post-fight interview that he wants “everything” from a BMF title fight to another Fight of the Night brawl.
Performance of the Night: Kai Kara-France
Entering UFC 305, it had been over one year since Kai Kara-France had been in the UFC Octagon. Not only was he coming off a long layoff but Kara-France had more pressure on him than most other fighters on Saturday night as he looked to end a three-fight losing streak.
He did more than just win, as Kara-France landed a massive overhand left to drop Steve Erceg late in the first round, becoming the first fighter to do so. He followed up his knockdown with another one against the fence just seconds later, this time causing Erceg to cover up and end the fight.
Kara-France became the first fighter to finish Erceg in his 15-fight career, which includes a title fight with Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301. “Don’t Blink” called for a title fight with Pantoja afterward and while that may not happen, his rare power for a flyweight will always make him one of the most exciting fighters in the division.
Performance of the Night: Carlos Prates
Carlos Prates has done nothing but knock his opponents out over the past five years but none were more impressive than his masterful performance against Li Jingliang at UFC 305.
While he entered the fight as one of the biggest betting favorites of the fight card, the matchup was inarguably his toughest test to date with Jingliang being a former ranked contender.
Across his 28-fight career, Jingliang had gained a reputation for being a deceptively quick striker with a durable chin. He had never been knocked out before Saturday night, making what Prates did to him so significant. Not only did Prates knock him unconscious with a left hook but he unofficially put “The Leech” down four times with two official knockdowns.
Against a fighter who had never been knocked out before UFC 305, Prates made Jingliang look as if he had no business striking with him. Jingliang has been out-struck before but never to that degree, with nearly every significant punch Prates landed visibly stunning him and taking away his legs.
Prates is not the typical prospect to enter the UFC with high expectations as a 31-year-old veteran with six losses on his record. But if his performance at UFC 305 is any indication, he is already one of the best strikers in the welterweight division and a major title threat in the years to come.
