In what promises to be an electrifying event, UFC 306 is set to ignite The Sphere in Las Vegas on September 14, coinciding with Mexican Independence Day weekend. This highly anticipated card will be the second Noche UFC event, delivering a lineup that promises memorable moments and intense competition.
Main Event: A Clash of Styles
The main event features a compelling matchup between UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. O'Malley, recognized as one of the best strikers in the UFC, will face Dvalishvili, known for his exceptional grappling skills. This fight promises to be "a thrilling encounter between one of UFC's top strikers and one of its premier grapplers."
Dvalishvili enters the octagon with a personal vendetta, seeking to avenge the loss of his close friend and former champion Aljamain Sterling. The betting odds slightly favor Dvalishvili at -130, with O'Malley trailing closely at +110.
Co-Main Event: A Heated Trilogy
The co-main event features UFC women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso taking on Valentina Shevchenko. Grasso currently leads the trilogy 1-0-1, with their last encounter ending in a draw during the inaugural Noche UFC card. Both fighters are determined to "settle the score once and for all," with Grasso slightly favored at -115 against Shevchenko's -105.
Featherweight Showdown
Another exciting bout pits Brian Ortega against Diego Lopes. Originally scheduled for UFC 303, this match had to be scrapped just hours before the fight, adding an extra layer of anticipation for fans eager to see how this featherweight showdown unfolds. Lopes, slightly favored at -170, will face Ortega, who stands at +140.
Other Notable Bouts
The event also features Raul Rosas Jr. taking on Aoriqileng in the bantamweight category, with Rosas Jr. heavily favored at -600. In the women's bantamweight category, Norma Dumont will fight Irene Aldana, where Dumont holds a slight edge at -130.
Additionally, Ignacio Bahamondes will battle Manuel Torres in the lightweight division, with Bahamondes favored at -150. The flyweight category will see Edgar Chairez against Kevin Borjas, both holding odds of -150 and +125, respectively. Ronaldo Rodriguez will face Ode Osbourne, both also reflecting similar betting odds.
Rounding out the card, Yazmin Jauregui is significantly favored at -375 against Ketlen Souza in the women's strawweight division, and Daniel Zellhuber is favored at -180 against Esteban Ribovics in another lightweight matchup.
Event Details
UFC 306's main card is scheduled to kick off at 10 p.m. ET, ensuring fans are in for a night of high-octane and unforgettable action.
As UFC president Dana White aptly put it, "UFC 306 is set to deliver a unique sporting spectacle." The anticipation builds as fight night approaches, with each bout promising to contribute to an night of thrilling competition and unforgettable moments.