The Sphere hosts its first-ever sporting event as UFC 306 has the pleasure of hosting this once in a lifetime event in this arena. The Main Event sees Sean O'Malley defend his UFC Bantamweight Championship against the #1 contender, Merab Dvalishvili. The Co-Main Event showcases a trilogy fight between the UFC Flyweight Champion, Alexa Grasso, and the #1 contender, Valentina Shevchenko. Here is everything you need to know before this event kicks off for Mexican Independence Day.
It's the fight week we've all been waiting for! 🌞#UFC306 LIVE from @SphereVegas
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2024
[ @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC | 10pmET/7pmPT | B2YB @BudLight ] pic.twitter.com/T6p2LBpJfh
early Prelims
Raul Rosas Jr vs Aoriqileng (UFC Bantamweight Bout) - Rosas Jr has been incredible ever since he earned his way to the UFC from Dana White's Contender series, winning three of four fights with the victories ending in a stoppage. El Nino Problema has earned two submission wins against Jay Perrin and Ricky Turcios, as well as a first-round TKO win against Terrence Mitchell. The youngest fighter to ever compete in the promotion has been an eyecatcher in the Bantamweight division and looks to add another statement win in the UFC.
Aoriqileng last fought at UFC Vegas 86 where his bout with Daniel Marcos would end in a no contest after an accidental groin kick in the second round. The Mongolian Murderer has won the majority of his fights by decision but is seen as dangerous on the feet with eight of his 25 wins ending by KO/TKO. The Chinese fighter has won three of his last five fights as a victory against a rising star could see him just outside the Bantamweight rankings.
Preliminary card
Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van (UFC Flyweight Bout) - Chairez earned his first UFC win in February after a first-round submission win in a rematch against Daniel Lacerda at UFC Mexico City. Puro Chicali has stopped every fighter he has conquered with a total of four KO/TKO wins and seven submission victories. The Mexican aims to begin a winning streak and has the perfect time to do it whilst representing his country for their Indepedence Day.
Van suffered his first knockout loss in his MMA career in his last bout when he faced Charles Johnson at UFC Denver, losing in the third round. The Fearless does not usually take fights to the judges scorecards as six of his victorious bouts have ended by KO/TKO, while two have ended by submission. The Hakha-born mixed martial artist has the ultimate opportunity of redemption and could pull it off against one of Mexico's own.
Yazmin Jauregui vs Ketlen Souza (UFC Women's Strawweight Bout) - Jauregui found redemption in her last fight after defeating Sam Hughes by unanimous decision at UFC Mexico City. The Tijuana-born fighter has only lost once in MMA and seven of her 11 wins have ended by KO/TKO, proving that she is a danger on the feet. With three wins in four UFC fights, Jauregui aims to add another triumph in the promotion and climb further up the Strawweight division.
Souza has only had two fights in the UFC, suffering a first-round submission loss on her debut to Karine Silva at UFC Vegas 74, but earned a redeeming unanimous decision win against Marnic Mann at UFC Vegas 91. Just like her opponent, the Brazilian is dangerous on the feet with eight of her 14 wins ending by KO/TKO. Souza makes her debut at a UFC PPV Event, and with it being a one-time chance to fight in The Sphere, she will look to take full advantage of it.
Manuel Torres vs Ignacio Bahamondes (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Torres last fought at UFC Mexico City where he would claim a first-round submission win over Chris Duncan. El Loco has only took one fight to the distance as 16 of his 17 MMA fights have all ended in the first round with seven knockouts and submissions, as well as two submission losses. With the the Mexican currently on a six-fight winning streak, he looks to take the opportunity to defeat another impressive fighter which will put him one step away from the Lightweight rankings.
Bahamondes earned a redeeming win in his last bout at UFC Vegas 90 when he defeated Christos Giagos by first-round knockout win. La Jaula is a big threat when it comes to striking as 10 of his 15 MMA victories have ended by KO/TKO. The Chilean aims to start another win streak in his career as well as break the hearts of Mexican fans by defeating or stopping one of their own fighters.
Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont (UFC Women's Bantamweight Bout) - Aldana got back to winning ways in her last fight after defeating Karol Rosa by unanimous decision at UFC 296, redeeming her title loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 289. The Culiacan-born fighter does not often leave it to the judges scorecards as 11 of her 15 triumphs have ended with a stoppage, eight by KO/TKO and three by submission. The #5 Bantamweight contender has a great chance to impress herself on Mexican Independence Day and may possibly be back into title contention.
Dumont currently stands on a four-fight winning streak with all of those bouts ending by unanimous decision as her most recent victory came against Germaine De Randamie at UFC Vegas 90. The Immortal rarely earn a finish in any of her fights as she only holds two submission victories out of 11 wins in her MMA career. The #8 Bantamweight contender has a great chance to move up into the top five and be one fight away from a possible title shot.
Main Card
Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne (UFC Flyweight Bout) - Rodriguez made his UFC debut in his last bout, winning by second-round submission against Denys Bondar at UFC Mexico City. Lazy Boy is a danger on both the feet and ground with seven of his 16 victories ending by KO/TKO, and five of them ending by submission. The Mexican Flyweight looks to continue his impressive start to his UFC campaign as he tries to put the 125-pound division on notice.
Osbourne has been very unfortunate, losing his last two fights by submission with his most recent one happening against Jafel Filho at UFC Vegas 88. The Jamaican Sensation never likes to take the fight to a decision has nine of his 12 victories have ended with a stoppage, five KO/TKO wins and four submissions. With only one win in his last four fights, Osbourne is in desperate need of a victory to revive his career and keep himself in the UFC.
Daniel Zellhuber vs Esteban Ribovics (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Zellhuber is on a three-fight winning streak with his last fight ending by unanimous decision against Francisco Prado at UFC Mexico City. Golden Boy has only had a submission as a stoppage win in the UFC, which is surprising to say that he has earned 10 stoppage wins out of 15 MMA triumphs. The Mexican Lightweight will try to continue building his unbeaten streak and rise towards the top 15 in the 155-pound rankings.
Ribovocs pulled off a crazy knockout win in his last fight, defeating Terrence McKinney in just 37 seconds of the first round at UFC St Louis. Out of El Gringo's 13 wins in MMA, seven have ended by KO/TKO while five opponents have been finished by a submission as the Argentine does not like to take the fight to the full distance. Another knockout win for Ribovics will not only increase his two-fight winning streak, but it could see him contest for a spot in the Lightweight rankings in his next fight.
Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes (UFC Featherweight Bout) - Ortega pulled off an incredible comeback victory in his last bout as he defeated former Interim UFC Featherweight Champion, Yair Rodriguez, by third-round submission at UFC Mexico City. T-City is a deadly submission artist with half of his 16 MMA victories ending by submission. The #3 Featherweight contender has the chance to defeat a rising star in the UFC and put himself in title contention for a potential third shot at UFC Gold.
Lopes is currently on a four-fight winning streak and has looked even more impressive since he entered the UFC, especially when he faced Dan Ige after making a different weight multiple times before the fight as he won by unanimous decision at UFC 303. The Brazilian has stopped most of his conquered opponents with a total of 10 KO/TKO wins and 12 submissions out of 25 triumphs in MMA. The #13 Featherweight contender has the biggest opportunity to shoot up the rankings and possibly earn the next shot for the 145-pound title.
Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko (UFC Women's Flyweight Title Bout) - Grasso remains unbeaten in six fights after her last bout ended in a split draw against Valentina Shevchenko in the rematch at Noche UFC. The Guadalajara-born mixed martial artist has proven to be one of the best in the Women's Flyweight division, undefeated in the division with six fights as two of those bouts have ended by submission. The Queen of the Flyweights aims to end the trilogy against Shevchenko and find new competition in the division.
Shevchenko is still in search of revenge against Alexa Grasso after losing by fourth-round submission at UFC 285, as well as her split draw with the champion at Noche UFC. Since her move to Flyweight, The Bullet has defeated nine opponents with four KO/TKO wins and one submission, as well as earning eight title victories during her reign as champion. The #1 Flyweight contender has her final chnace to regain UFC Gold as she looks to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Sean O'Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili (UFC Bantamweight Title Bout) - O'Malley last defended the Bantamweight title at UFC 299 where he defeated Marlon Vera dominantly by unanimous decision. Suga has proven to be a dangerous knockout artist with 12 of his 18 victories ending by KO/TKO. The UFC Bantamweight Champion headlines his third consecutive PPV event as he tries to continue his rise as the biggest star in the promotion and become the first fighter to knockout Merab Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili is on a 10-fight winning streak with his last bout ending by unanimous decision against Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. The Machine loves to take fights to the judges scorecards as nine of his 10 UFC triumphs have all ended by unanimous decision. The #1 Bantamweight contender has proven that he deserves his first shot for a UFC title as he finally has the chance to capture what most fighter could only dream of doing.
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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