UFC 306 is just around the corner and it already promises to be one of the most spectacular events in recent times. For one, it is closely tied to Mexico Independence Day. What this means is that both the main and preliminary cards are going to be filled with the best fighters the Land of The Royal Eagle has to offer. Secondly, its venue is out of this world. The UFC 306 event is going to be held at the Las Vegas Sphere. Dana White knows a thing or two about entertainment and this is a guaranteed spectacle in our books.
The only downside to it is the fact that Dana stated that Las Vegas Sphere is an expensive venue. Because of this UFC and Sphere will not make a thing out of it, but it is a one-off situation. Nonetheless, UFC 306 also branded as Riyadh Season Noche UFC due to sponsorship reasons already promises to be a night to remember. For all the locals this event will be known simply as Noche. Considering the passion Mexican fighters carry with them to the ring, and the close connection to their independence day, every bout is going to be a personal encounter.
We're promised some good fights although the entire card is not scheduled yet. After all, there's plenty of time to go around until the 14th of September and UFC 306 night. As for now, we're going to talk about the scheduled fights, and about a few that are yet to be confirmed. We believe that there will be enough information inside this article for you to make a few smart decisions regarding your UFC 306 picks. For starters let us talk about the fight that will headline the entire event:
Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili
As far as bantamweight goes, this is the fight all fans want to see. The reigning champion Sean O'Malley will defend his title against Merab Dvalishivili when the two meet inside the octagon in Las Vegas Sphere. For O'Malley, this is going to be the second bout where his belt is on the line. At UFC 299, earlier in March, he was able to keep off Marlon Vera and keep his belt for a while longer. The time for another test came earlier than expected, and as far as we're concerned September 14th can't come fast enough.
Many believed that Vera had Sean's number, but O'Malley proved doubters wrong after losing his previous bout against Vera and in the process, his score improved to an impressive 18-1-0. Among those 18 wins, 12 have come via knockout. The 29-year-old American fighter won his title against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 and remains confident that he will remain the owner after UFC 306.
O'Malley will not have an easy task against Dvalishvili. The Georgian MMA master is on a hot streak of ten consecutive wins. As if the feat alone wasn't impressive enough, the names he defeated in the process are. He exchanged blows and won against former champs such as Henry Cejudo, Jose Aldo, and Petr Yan among dozens of other fighters he defeated. Cejudo was the last domino to fall after UFC 298 and aided Merab to push his record to 17-4-0.
Both Merab and Sean are eager to enter the octagon which is evident by the trash talk exchanged in previous months. Dvalishvili started back in March by claiming he had the means to knock out O'Malley and send his career to an early grave. O'Malley is not one to keep his mouth shut, so he exclaimed that he knows more than one way to beat any opponent and that Merab is no different. Sean also added that the doubters who claimed that he's evading Merab are simply wrong and that the time has come for him to beat Dvalishvili who he called 'a little man' in the process.
Having this type of exchange before the bout helps elevate the fans and keep them engaged for the upcoming fight. The two fighters started on time, and we're already gearing up for their Sphere duel. How about you? Which of these two men is going to be among your UFC betting picks in the upcoming Riyadh Season Noche UFC?
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko
UFC 306 Noche holds plenty in store as far as title defenses go. Alexa Grasso will be holding her head high when she enters the ring to face Valentina Shevchenko in September. The two ladies have a history between them and we're in for another epic duel between these two warriors. Third's the charm, and Shevchenko will be looking to capitalize on this old saying. This rivalry has been more than spirited, and this match is just another chapter in the fighting book these two wrote.
It appears that the biggest UFC stage in the women's flyweight division is reserved for Alexa and Valentina. This is their third consecutive bout, and every time the title was on the line. Grasso holds a record of 16-3-1 with that one draw coming precisely against Shevchenko. Valentina on the other hand holds a 23-4-1 record with that draw stinging more than any defeat. Their first encounter occurred in March of 2023 and at that time the win by Grasso was seen as a massive surprise. Shevchenko was submitted at UFC 285 and she was flyweight champ no more. Alexa, the first-ever Mexican champion in this category defended her title at last year's Noche celebrating the inaugural tournament and Mexican Independence Day at the same time. While both fighters gave their best the bout ended in a split draw leaving both the fighters and the fans disappointed with the outcome.
Now their story is reaching its pinnacle in what pundits are calling a trilogy on par with Lord of The Rings. This is one of the matches that doesn't have a clear-cut favorite as the odds are set at -120 on Grasso and -106 on Shevchenko. If you're into UFC betting then you already know that it is going to be hard to pinpoint the winner this early before the bout. Regardless of whom you're supporting, the Las Vegas Sphere will be the home venue to one of the most memorable fights in recent women's flyweight division.
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
A fight that has been long in the making. Finally, it appears to be set in stone for the upcoming UFC 306 Noche. The bout between these two featherweight monsters has all the makings of a nice little MMA rivalry. After their match for UFC 303 was canceled, both men are now more than ready to fight. The only question remaining is whether they'll fight in the featherweight division or will be moved to 155 pounds like it was meant to be at UFC 303.
Either way, it is going to be a fun fight between a former title challenger Ortega, and an upcoming star in Lopes. Ortega is not shy of having a good go on his opponents and his 16-3 MMA record is a testament to this. Across him in the octagon is going to be Lopes who is 4-1 in the UFC while he had quite a few bouts in his long MMA career where he holds a 25-6 record. UFC 303 fight between them was canceled due to Ortega's illness but now both are more than ready for UFC 306 on September 14th. Interestingly, Ortega still had a match at UFC 303 beating Dan Ige who stepped out in one of the shortest notices in the history of MMA and lost by unanimous decision not that anything can be taken out of his effort.
In recent times, Lopes' stakes are on the rise after he collected four wins in a row, making him a slight favorite by outlets such as Stake. Ortega is also entering this bout after a win against Yair Rodriguez, in what appears to be his last fighting inside of this division as he prepares a transfer to lightweight. Maybe it is time for him to make a change as of now, he is not the treat he once was in the featherweight division. The odds reflect this and his stand at +142 while his opponent, Diego Lopes is favored to win by -170. Of course, anything is possible in the octagon so it's better to wait and see what happens, or try to win more on the same bet by putting your money on the underdog here.
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aori Qileng
We told you the UFC 306 card is going to be filled with top-notch Mexican fighters. One of those who is more than proud of his Mexican heritage is Raul Rosas Jr. Raul will show his best version on September 14th when Mexico Independence Day is going to be celebrated the UFC way. Noche in Las Vegas at the Sphere would mark a standout win for Rojas Jr. If he manages to put a dent in Aori Qileng's aspirations to win.
Rojas Jr. is one of the youngest fighters in the UFC. At 19, he already holds an impressive 3-1 record in the UFC, while his MMA one is at 9-1. The Mexican prodigy will be looking to make it 4-1 during the Noche. Despite his undeniable talent, it will not be an easy task to defeat Aori Qileng who is a standout fighter from China. During his career in MMA, Aori raked up 25 wins paired with 11 defeats. He is a recent addition to the world of UFC and holds a 3-3 record within the company.
The only thing holding this bout back is the fact that it wasn't officially announced by the UFC. Yet, sources close to respectable MMA Junkie claim that people behind Raul Rosas Jr. have confirmed that it's happening. Raul has all the reasons in the world to aim for this contest as he is on a two-win streak and continues to aim at a third one. All three of his wins have come via submission and his only loss too.
Qileng, who is a decade and more older than Rosas Jr. is also looking to continue his UFC career on a high note. Out of his last five bouts, he won three and is no stranger to quality fighting. He had been resting since February when his bout against Daniel Marcos ended prematurely after he received a kick in the groin. So, both men will be gearing up for this one, and we can't wait too.
Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza
Once again, during the UFC 306 Noche, the Mexican pride will be tested. This is the bout Yazmin Jauregui insisted on happening and she got her wish fulfilled. Sphere in Las Vegas will witness a duel between Mexico and Brazil in what both ladies are seeing as a chance to add to their UFC legacy. Jauregui is a Tijuana native, so fighting during the Noche, with Mexico Independence Day looming over her could add a dose of pressure but also an injection of confidence and extra motivation.
Yazmin was the one insisting on being scheduled for the September 14th outing, and now she will have it her way. At the moment she holds all the momentum as she won her previous bout this year in February, at Mexico City against Sam Hughes. Souza is also entering this bout on a high note after managing an easy win against Marnic Mann. This is her first full year in the UFC, and looking to add to her legacy will have nothing to do with Mexicans celebrating at the Las Vegas Sphere.
Summary
There's still plenty of time left until the Riyadh Season Noche UFC headlined by O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili. The card is expected to be expanded, as there are plenty more bouts to be added. Of course, changes are possible too, to the fights we already mentioned. Whatever happens, having a UFC event at the Sphere guarantees fun and spectacle and we can wait till September 14th to witness what Mexico, Las Vegas, and UFC have in store for us.
