UFC 306: O’Malley vs Dvalishvili – A Spectacular Mexican Independence Day Event

Las Vegas – UFC celebrates Mexican Independence Day with a once-in-a-lifetime event at Sphere in Las Vegas, headlined by two blockbuster world championship bouts. UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley collides with surging No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili, plus, UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso runs it back with former titleholder Valentina Shevchenko.

UFC 306: O’Malley vs Dvalishvili, also known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, takes place Saturday, Sept. 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The night’s action will start at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT with the first fight on ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (English and Spanish).

Riyadh Season Noche UFC, the first live sports event to take place at Sphere, will utilize the venue’s next-generation technologies. This includes Sphere’s 160,000 sq. ft. and 16K x 16K resolution interior display plane – the world’s highest resolution LED display –  that wraps up, over, and around the audience creating a fully immersive visual environment; the world’s most advanced concert-grade audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, which delivers audio with unmatched clarity and precision to every guest; and the venue’s haptic seats, so fans can “feel” the experience.

Fight fans will see No. 6 men’s pound-for-pound fighter O’Malley (18-1 1NC) fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. looks to continue his reign atop the bantamweight division. Among the biggest stars in MMA, he has delivered thrilling KO victories against Aljamain Sterling, Thomas Almeida and Eddie Wineland. O’Malley now plans to stop Dvalishvili’s momentum to secure his second successful title defense.

Dvalishvili (17-4) fighting out of Long Island, N.Y. by way of Tbilisi, Georgia hopes to achieve his dream of capturing UFC gold by securing his 11^th consecutive win. A relentless competitor, he holds victories over former UFC champions Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and Jose Aldo. Dvalishvili now aims to dethrone O’Malley and become Georgia’s second UFC champion.

Also on the card, No. 1 women’s pound-for-pound fighter Grasso (16-3-1) fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico plans to defend her flyweight championship in dominant fashion. Currently riding a six-fight unbeaten streak, she also holds memorable wins over Viviane Araujo, Joanne Wood and Maycee Barber. Grasso now intends to steal the show by once again finishing Shevchenko.

Shevchenko (23-4-1) fighting out of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan is determined to reclaim her spot atop the 125-pound ladder. Among the greatest fighters in UFC history, she has earned spectacular finishes over Julianna Pena, Jessica Andrade and Jessica Eye. Shevchenko now has her sights set on dethroning Grasso with another highlight-reel performance.

Additional bouts on the card include, No. 3 ranked featherweight contender Brian Ortega (15-3 1NC) fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif. battles rising No. 12 Diego Lopes (24-6) fighting out of Puebla, México by way of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Raul Rosas Jr. (9-1) fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. takes on Aoriqileng (25-10 1NC) fighting out of Shanghai, China in an exciting bantamweight bout.

We will see No. 4 bantamweight contender and former title challenger Irene Aldana (15-7) fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico faces No. 10 Norma Dumont (11-2) fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil). Manuel Torres (15-2) fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico goes for his seventh consecutive win when he meets Ignacio Bahamondes (15-5) fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Santiago, Chile at lightweight.

Daniel Zellhuber (15-1) fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico goes for his fourth consecutive win when he locks horns with Esteban Ribovics (13-1) fighting out of Cordoba, Argentina at lightweight. Edgar Chairez (11-5 1NC) fighting out of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico looks to build off his recent victory when he takes on Kevin Borjas (9-3) fighting out of Lima, Peru at flyweight.

Ronaldo Rodriguez (17-2) fighting out of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico squares off with Ode’ Osbourne (12-7 1NC) fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Milwaukee, Wisc. in a flyweight bout. Yazmin Jauregui (11-1) fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico meets Ketlen Souza (14-4) fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil at strawweight.

Roberto Villa

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.