UFC 306 fight day is almost here for the MMA community, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Ticket prices are exorbitant, the MSG Sphere serves as the backdrop, and Las Vegas, Nevada, is once again confirming its status as the fight capital of the world.
After months of preparation, trash talk, and backstory, Sean O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1, 1 NC UFC) will finally defend his second title against longtime No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC). Dvalishvili has taken his own unique path to get to this point. Not only has he won 10 fights in a row, but his last three fights have come against former UFC champions that he may not have had to fight if Aljamain Sterling hadn’t been fighting for the title.
O’Malley, on the other hand, who has been with the UFC for nearly seven years, has finally found the means to become a superstar like Conor McGregor. His flamboyant personality, extravagant lifestyle and 4.4 million Instagram followers show that the Montana native has mastered the art of self-promotion.
Although the old saying goes “talk is cheap,” O’Malley has done everything to back up that saying. Despite the doubters before the UFC 299 rematch with Marlon Vera in Miami, Florida in April, O’Malley outboxed him for 25 minutes, exacted revenge and defended his bantamweight title.
Dvalishvili is undoubtedly O’Malley’s toughest opponent, as evidenced by MMAKO’s UFC 306 Staff Predictions released Friday afternoon. However, if O’Malley can win, the possibilities are endless for the bantamweight champion. Several challengers, including Umar Nurmagomedov, are also in the starting blocks.
UFC 306 RESULTS & HIGHLIGHTS – SEAN O’MALLEY VS. MERAB DVALISHVILI
The co-main event features another unique storyline as TUF 32 coaches Alexa Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) and Valentina Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) finally complete their trilogy. Grasso and Shevchenko fought to a draw in a hotly debated decision last September. Six months earlier, at UFC 285, Grasso ended Shevchenko’s long run as champion with a fourth-round rear-naked choke stoppage.
The winner will likely have bragging rights for the rest of her career as Grasso looks to extend her winning streak to five (not counting the draw) on Saturday night.
The 10-fight card is a “love letter” to Mexican martial arts, according to UFC CEO Dana White. This event is the second edition of “Noche UFC,” and the organizer plans to make it an annual event in the future.
The event begins with prelims on ESPN+ and ESPN News in the U.S., beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CET. Prelims will be followed by the pay-per-view portion at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
The card features a wealth of Mexican talent from multiple divisions, including a rematch of Brian Ortega’s vs. Diego Lopes matchup from June.
Check out the full lineup below, including betting odds courtesy of DraftKings. Odds are subject to change as lines are as of Friday night.
• Sean O’Malley (-130) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (+110)
• Alexa Grasso (-142) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (+120)
• Brian Ortega (+160) vs. Diego Lopes (-192)
• Daniel Zellhuber (-238) vs. Esteban Ribovics (+195)
• Ronaldo Rodriguez (-162) vs. Ode Osbourne (+136)
• Irene Aldana (-115) vs. Norma Dumont (-105)
• Manuel Torres (-130) against Ignacio Bahamondes (+110)
• Yazmin Jauregui (-520) against Ketlen Souza (+390)
• Edgar Cháirez (+200) vs. Joshua Van (-245)
• Raul Rosas Jr. (-1050) vs. Aoriqileng (+675)
UFC 306 Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili – Preliminary Predictions
The game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and needs help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
SEAN O’MALLEY CONDEMNS EX-CHAMPION FOR UFC 306 PREDICTION
• Merab Dvalishvili warns Sean O’Malley of consequences for withdrawing from UFC 306
• UFC champion replaces Conor McGregor on Dana White’s Mount Rushmore
• Israel Adesanya’s teammate secures UFC contract with Vicious KO
• Kickboxer who defeated Alex Pereira surprises with KO in front of Dana White
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