Revving up to defend his bantamweight title, Sean O’Malley returns to the Octagon, facing off against challenger Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley’s impressive track record is highlighted by six victories in his last seven matches, save for one deemed a no-contest due to an unfortunate inadvertent eye poke. Dvalishvili, on the other hand, has secured a title bout following an impressive streak of 10 victories, an overwhelming majority of which were won by unanimous decision.
The co-main event radiates an equally intense energy with Valentina Shevchenko squaring up against the women’s flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso. This will be the third time these fierce competitors meet in the Octagon, marking another chapter in their long-standing rivalry.
It was an exciting moment during UFC 285 in March 2023 when Grasso managed to claim the title from Shevchenko via a submission arranged in the first bout. The second match-up proved just as thrilling, culminating in a split-decision draw, sparking great anticipation for their third fight.
All eyes are now tuning towards UFC 306. It’s set to occur on Saturday, September 14th, with the primary event scheduled for 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, followed by the preliminaries, which start at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The Sphere in Las Vegas will serve as the battleground for these epic clashes. While the event won’t be broadcast on TV, it will be made available through ESPN+ Pay Per View streaming, making sure fans won’t miss any of the action.
The UFC 306’s main fight card is packed with remarkable bouts. Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili contest the bantamweight championship, while Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko vie for the women’s flyweight championship.
Additionally, highly anticipated matches between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes in the flyweight classification, Daniel Zellhuber and Esteban Ribovics within the lightweight division, and Ronaldo Rodriguez against Ode Osbourne in another flyweight fight, further raise the stakes.
As we venture into the prelims, a standout feud is Irene Aldana versus Norma Dumont in the women’s bantamweight bout. The lightweight category sees a face-off between Manuel Torres and Ignacio Bahamondes, while in the women’s strawweight bout, Yazmin Jauregui goes head-to-head with Ketlen Souza.
Another captivating match in the flyweight division awaits too, as Edgar Chairez tackles Joshua Van. Notably, during the early preliminaries, viewers will witness Raul Rosas Jr. taking on Aoriqileng in the bantamweight rivalry.
The broadcasting of early prelims and prelims will take place on ESPN, coupled with a live stream option on ESPN+. UFC enthusiasts can also access the pay-per-view main event through ESPN+.
As for the costing of UFC 306, it comes with a price tag of $79.99. This pay-per-view can be procured via ESPN+, a platform that understandably requires an active subscription.
Tracking alongside the players’ physical preparation is the equally intense field of betting. As of last Friday, BetMGM has established odds for various moneyline bets on the event.
Sean O’Malley (+140) and Merab Dvalishvili (+115) are among the significant betting lines for the bantamweight championship. Meanwhile, Alexa Grasso (-140) and Valentina Shevchenko (+115) boast notable odds for the women’s flyweight championship.
Completing the betting round up are other intriguing odds such as Brian Ortega (+155) versus Diego Lopes (-190) in the flyweight division, Daniel Zellhuber (-225) against Esteban Ribovics (+185) in the lightweight class and many more exciting odds to consider.