On Saturday night, Dana White aims to deliver on his bold promise of creating “the greatest sporting event of all time” for combat sports fans. The highly anticipated pay-per-view event, UFC 306, will be held inside the Sphere, featuring spectacular theatrical effects and presentations to honor Mexican Independence Day.
WATCH: O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Fight Anywhere
In the main event, Sean O’Malley looks to defend his bantamweight title for the second time following his dominant victory over Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. O’Malley is set to face an exciting clash of styles as he squares off against number one-ranked Merab Dvalishvili, who will bring his grappling-heavy approach to the octagon. Dvalishvili, who started his UFC career with two losses, has since secured 10 consecutive victories, though only one was finished inside the distance. Meanwhile, O’Malley has suffered just one loss in the UFC, with six of his 10 wins coming by KO/TKO.
WATCH: O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Fight Anywhere
The co-main event on September 14 showcases a high-stakes trilogy for the women’s flyweight title. In March 2023, Alexa Grasso stunned the MMA world by submitting Valentina Shevchenko to become an instant sensation. Six months later, Shevchenko tried to reclaim her title but was denied in a split-decision draw.
Grasso and Shevchenko have only faced each other over the last 18 months, and their rivalry deepened when they served as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Season 32, building anticipation for their showdown at UFC 306.
O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili Preview:
Campbell: This matchup offers a perfect contrast in styles. Dvalishvili will rely on his relentless wrestling, averaging six takedowns per three rounds, to keep O’Malley on the mat. O’Malley, on the other hand, will try to make Dvalishvili pay for closing the distance by using his precise striking from range. Dvalishvili’s best work is done at close quarters, so he must be careful in managing how and when he engages. He’ll also need to make the most of his ground-and-pound when O’Malley is on his back. Fortunately, Dvalishvili’s legendary cardio gives him the stamina to execute his game plan over five rounds, making this a very winnable fight for him if he can weather O’Malley’s striking.
UFC 306 fight card, odds
- Sean O’Malley (c) -145 vs. Merab Dvalishvili +125, bantamweight title
- Alexa Grasso (c) -140 vs. Valentina Shevchenko +120, women’s flyweight title
- Diego Lopes -185 vs. Brian Ortega +155, featherweights
- Daniel Zellhuber -225 vs. Esteban Ribovics +185, lightweights
- Ronaldo Rodriguez -145 vs. Ode Osbourne +120, flyweights
- Norma Dumont -115 vs. Irene Aldana -105, women’s bantamweights
- Manuel Torres -125 vs. Igancio Bahamondes +105, lightweights
- Yazmin Jauregui -500 vs. Ketlen Souza +380, women’s strawweights
- Joshua Van -220 vs. Edgar Chairez +180, flyweights
- Raul Rosas Jr. -600 vs. Aoriqileng +440, bantamweight
