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UFC 305 was a memorable night for many reasons, but one moment to forget was arguably one of the worst scorecards in the sport’s history courtesy of judge Howie Booth.

The Perth crowd were animated on Saturday night, cheering on fighter’s hailing from Oceania — but they did witness some of their favorites losing. One man who failed to give his country a win was Tai Tuivasa. 

‘Bam Bam’ was outclassed for the majority of the fight and rightfully lost to Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Despite ‘Bigi Boy’ putting on a one-sided display, Judge Howie Booth thought otherwise.

Judge Booth sensationally scored all three rounds in favor of Tai Tuivasa, causing a stir among the MMA fanbase.

#UFC305 Official Scorecard: Jairzinho Rozenstruik (@JairRozenstruik) vs Tai Tuivasa

Complete Perth Scorecards ➡️: https://t.co/Nwdw7XmJlS@WestAustralia | #WAtheDreamState pic.twitter.com/wwz23VAY9F

— UFC News (@UFCNews) August 18, 2024

The general belief among fans is that Rozenstruik won all three rounds, with Tuivasa possibly making a case for the opening round when his opponent was threw less volume.

The Surinamese knockout artist significantly out-struck the home-town favorite in each round, making the judge’s 30-27 scorecard in favor of Tuivasa one of the worst in history.

Moments after the dust settled on the bout and Rozenstruik was awarded the split decision victory, news broke that Howie Booth had been relieved of his duties for the rest of the night.

The legendary Kevin Iole was just one of many who was stunned by the judges scorecard.

“Howie Booth ABSOLUTELY should be let go,” Iole said after Booth’s poor scoring of the fight. “He should not be allowed to judge another fight on this card at the very least. Outrageous.”

Howie Booth ABSOLUTELY should be let go. He should not be allowed to judge another fight on this card at the very least. Outrageous #UFC305

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) August 18, 2024

Related: Jairzinho Rozenstruik earns controversial split decision win over Tai Tuivasa

Iole continued, revealing that despite being scheduled to work the co-main event clash between Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg, judge Booth was being replaced.

“Howie Booth, who had Tuivasa winning 3-0, was scheduled to work co-main event between Kara-France and Erceg, but I have been told he has been PULLED from the bout. He’s done for the night.”

Howie Booth, who had Tuivasa winning 3-0, was scheduled to work co-main event between Kara-France and Erceg, but I have been told he has been PULLED from the bout. He’s done for the night. #UFC305

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) August 18, 2024

Ben Cartlidge stepped in for Booth, but wasn’t needed in the co-main event where Kai Kara-France put on a sparkling performance against Steve Erceg.

Interesting enough, Cartlidge was the only man to have Israel Adesanya winning two rounds to one heading into the fourth in the headlining bout.

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Drake doesn’t exactly have the best record betting on mixed martial arts, which is why Du Plessis was happy to see the Canadian rapper supporting Adesanya in Australia.

The Drake curse was in full effect on Saturday night at UFC 305 after Drizzy bet a whopping $ 450,000 on Israel Adesanya to beat Dricus Du Plessis in Perth, Australia.

A win would have paid the Canadian rapper out $ 855,000, but that’s neither here nor there because Du Plessis walked away with a fourth round submission win (see the finish here), banishing “The Last Stylebender” from the title fight circle he’s existed in for the past 12 fights over five years.

Following the win, Du Plessis took to the internet to thank Drake for his non-support.

“From the bottom of my heart once again, THANK YOU DRAKE,” the middleweight champion wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Drake is now 1-3 betting on Adesanya. He won $ 900,000 when Izzy beat Jared Cannoniner back in July 2022, but lost big with a $ 2 million bet on Adesanya beating Alex Pereira in their first UFC fight. He also placed a $ 500,000 bet on Adesanya to beat Sean Strickland. That puts him $ 2.05 million in the red betting on “Stylebender.”

He’s not complete betting poison, as some would have you think. A comprehensive analysis of all Drake’s public bets was made at the start of August 2024. His record: 16-23, which isn’t great. But after winning roughly $ 18 million and losing $ 11 million, the musician is still ahead by $ 6.5 million.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that all these bets are through Stake, a betting company which Drake now co-owns. We doubt he’s even playing with his own money. Most likely they pay him to play, and he bets with house money. Not a bad gig, being a rich superstar, huh?

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Dana White and company are going big for UFC 306.

With UFC 305 in the books, all eyes in the MMA world now turn to UFC 306, which goes down September 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Taking place the weekend before Mexican Independence Day, the event has been branded Riyadh Season presents Noche UFC, and in the new trailer that was released on Saturday, UFC CEO Dana White promises the card will be “the greatest live sporting event of all-time.”

Headlined by a bantamweight title fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili, the card also has a women’s flyweight championship trilogy bout between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event. All four championship fighters are featured prominently in the new promo, while voice over from White promises fans will “never see anything like this again in your life.” The trailer also highlights the featherweight bout between Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega, which serves as the featured bout of the evening.

Check out the new UFC 306 trailer above.

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Former undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland has already been pegged for a title rematch with Dricus du Plessis ahead of UFC 305 overnight, however, now that the South African has prevailed, the ex-champion has made his feelings on an immediate rematch clear.

Strickland, the current number one ranked contender, most recently returned to winning ways in the co-main event of UFC 302 back in May in New Jersey, landing a decision win over former title challenger, Paulo Costa.

The win returned the former gold holder to winning-ways following a prior January loss to the above-mentioned, du Plessis at UFC 297 in January – in hugely controversial circumstances.

As for du Plessis, the Pretoria native continued his stunning, roughshod run through middleweight elites overnight in the main event of UFC 305 in Perth, settling his longstanding grudge with common-foe, Israel Adesanya.

Battling the City Kickboxing striker over the course of four rounds, du Plessis would land the first defense of the middleweight title – courtesy of a stunning rear-naked choke win, marking an end to their bitter feud in the wake of their matchup.

Dricus du Plessis called out by Sean Strickland at UFC 305

And while he has suggested a pairing with former champion and prior opponent, Robert Whittaker should come first, du Plessis has already been welcomed as a foe by a host of suitors – most notably, Sean Strickland.

“Time for war Dutchman,” Sean Strickland posted on his official X account in reaction to Dricus du Plessis’ win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. 

And while Strickland has welcomed a rematch with du Plessis, the undisputed middleweight kingpin has already been sought out by incumbent light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira – who has vowed to return to his old stomping ground of 185lbs to make good on a title fight with the South African. 

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

PERTH — UFC heavyweight Valter Walker reacts to his UFC 305 win over Junior Tafa and Tafa’s post-fight slap, and demands to fight Justin Tafa next.

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As he often does, Sean Strickland is relishing the thought of going to war inside the octagon, this time against UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.

‘Stillknocks’ put on a gritty show when he headlined UFC 305 on Saturday. In a closely contested affair, it was the South African who came out on top, retaining his title and subsequently becoming the first man to earn a submission victory over Israel Adesanya.

While there are a number of options for him in and around his division, Dricus Du Plessis will likely be facing Sean Strickland next, and Strickland is riled up at the thought of the fight.

The pair met earlier this year, where the current champion managed to earn a split decision win. Strickland will be hoping to avenge a loss that he believes was undeserved.

As the curtain came down on an electric UFC 305 main event, the former titleholder jumped on social media and subtly called for a rematch against Du Plessis.

“Time for war, Dutch man.” Strickland said on X after Du Plessis continued his title reign at UFC 305.

Time for war Dutch man……

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) August 18, 2024

Sean Strickland last made the walk to the octagon two months ago, in his decision victory over Paulo Costa. Shortly after his win, the controversial middleweight made a bold statement.

Strickland insisted that he believes he has done enough to earn a shot at gold next, and claimed that he is prepared to wait for his chance.

Related: Alex Pereira calls for Dricus Du Plessis matchup after UFC 305

“I keep getting asked to fight Whittaker,” Strickland said two months ago. “I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat Dricus. Whittaker lost to both.”

“I am the number 1 contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa. I will wait.”

I keep getting asked to fight whittaker. I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat dricus.

Whittaker lost to both.

I am the number 1 contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa.

I will wait…..

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) June 25, 2024

Despite Alex Pereira inserting his name into the hat, Strickland isn’t the only one who believes he deserves a title shot next.

UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that, no matter what happened between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis this past weekend, Sean Strickland would get the winner.

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