The UFC return this Saturday with their huge UFC 306 card, which will see two titles on the line and a host of bouts that could have big consequences for numerous divisions.
For the first time, the promotion will head to The Sphere, Las Vegas for a marquee event that UFC CEO Dana White is wanting to be one of the greatest events in sporting history. The card is part of the Riyadh Season and will celebrate Mexican Independence Day, with many Mexican natives featuring on the card.
UFC Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley puts his 135lbs title on the line as he faces number one contender Merab Dvalishvili. With former champion, and Dvalishvili team mate, Aljamain Sterling moving up to Featherweight, the door has opened for Dvalishvili to challenge for UFC gold for the first time. Since claiming the title, at UFC 292, O’Malley has defended the belt once, in a bout against Marlon Vera at UFC 299.
The co-main event will see the coaches from the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter square off with Alexa Grasso looking to defend her Flyweight strap against Valentina Shevchenko. After an incredible reign over the division, Shevchenko dropped her title to Grasso at UFC 285. Naturally, ‘Bullet’ was given an immediate rematch just sixth months later and in what was an extremely close affair, the bout was ultimately ruled a split decision draw. The pair will now meet for the third time in three consecutive fights.
Elsewhere on the main card, the UFC have rebooked the Featherweight contest between Bryan Ortega and Diego Lopes. The 145lbs athletes were originally meant to face off at UFC 303 but Ortega withdrew from the bout on fight day, leading to Lopes facing Dan Ige on just a few hours notice. If the Brazilian can get the win the former Featherweight title challenger, he will pick up the biggest win of his career and cement himself as a major threat at 145lbs.
Mexican duo Daniel Zellhuber and Ronaldo Rodríguez will also feature on the main card section of the fight night, with Zellhuber facing Esteban Ribovics and Rodríguez taking on Ode Osbourne.
Ahead of the event, the UFC’s “Embedded” cameras are following the fighters behind the scenes as they work their way through fight week, as they arrive in Vegas and go through their pre-fight media obligations before the weigh-ins and the final faceoffs ahead of fight night.
As described on the UFC’s official YouTube channel, in Episode 3 'Champ Sean O’Malley gives a peek into his life as a girl dad, while Daniel Zellhuber embraces his Mexican heritage in the boxing gym, and Merab Dvalishvili has a late outdoor workout. Check-in day then begins with Raul Rosas, Jr. declaring, “Chiwiwi” and Brian Ortega and Ode Osborne making their rounds, before Valentina fits in a training session ahead of her Flyweight title fight.'
