In the main event of UFC 306 tonight, Sean O’Malley takes on Merab Dvalishvili in a highly-anticipated bantamweight title fight.
“Sugar Sean” O’Malley is making his second defence of the belt, having won it from Aljamain Sterling with a picture-perfect knockout last August, before retaining it with a masterclass against Marlon Vera in March.
The American star may face a stern test in Las Vegas, however, as he encounters a challenger on a 10-fight win streak. Georgia’s Dvalishvili enters the Sphere on the back of three straight victories against former champions: Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and Jose Aldo.
And in the co-main event of UFC 306, Alexa Grasso defends her flyweight title against divisional icon Valentina Shevchenko, in a long-awaited trilogy bout. Grasso submitted Shevchenko in a shock result in 2022, before the pair fought to a controversial draw in 2023.
Elsewhere at UFC 306, which has also been branded ‘UFC Noche’ as a celebration of Mexican fighting on the nation’s Independence weekend, Diego Lopes fights Brian Ortega. Follow live updates and results from UFC 306, below.
UFC 306: Noche LIVE
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UFC 306 takes place inside Sphere in Las Vegas – as venue’s first ever sporting event
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Sean O’Malley defends bantamweight title versus Merab Dvalishvili in main event
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Alexa Grasso defends flyweight belt against Valentina Shevchenko in trilogy bout
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Fight card also labelled ‘UFC Noche’ as part of Mexican Independence weekend
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Esteban Ribovics wins split decision over Daniel Zellhuber in wild clash
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Ronaldo Rodriguez outpoints Ode’ Osbourne in thrilling main-card opener
UFC 306 LIVE: Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes
04:55 , Will Castle
Round one
Thirty seconds in and Lopes hits a NASTY combination to seriously hurt Ortega. T-City is up against the fence and gets slammed onto the mat as Lopes looks for the TKO.
Ortega, who has been busted open above the left eye, wants to keep things on the ground but is eventually forced back to his feet.
If Ortega is anything, it’s durable. He eats a couple more hooks but is hardly in a critical condition as he finishes the first round. Never write off an Ortega comeback.
UFC 306 LIVE: Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes
04:41 , Will Castle
Time for our first featured bout of the night. After their UFC 303 fight fell through, Brian Ortega will share the Octagon with featherweight’s newest hot commodity Diego Lopes.
Of course, these two were scheduled to scrap at the tailend of June, but Ortega pulled out the very last second due to illness. It brought about an unprecedented turn of events as Dan Ige filled in mere hours before the card got underway.
No issues with weight or wellbeing this time around. Let’s hope for an absolute barnburner.
UFC 306 LIVE: Daniel Zellhuber vs Esteban Ribovics
04:31 , Will Castle
Round three
Beautiful elbow from Zellhuber before the pair trade powerful right hands. Zellhuber then bags a knockdown with that same elbow but Ribovics quickly refinds his feet.
Ribovics returns fire and delivers an incredible overhand right to put Zellhuber on the ropes. Queue the madness. The punches are flying in and somehow Zellhuber is staying on his feet.
Wobbly legs and all, Zellhuber is being chased around the cage but manages to regain some composure and connects with some strikes of his own. They’re now wailing on each other and the crowd is going crazy.
The seconds are ticking but both are still throwing and they’re still landing. Utter unadulterated chaos in the centre of the Octagon, everything is being left on the mat. The buzzer goes and the pair receive a fully warranted standing ovation. To the scorecards…
Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29).
One of the fights of the year. Max Holloway is somewhere smiling right now.
04:19 , Will Castle
Round two
Zellhuber comes out strong with a straight right getting through. Ribovics looked to be having trouble with the reach disadvantage but begins to experience joy and delivers a handful of hard shots, evoking a reaction of concern from the partisan crowd.
Both are now landing combination after combination with Ribovics especially doing damage in the second.
This is a striking clinic. Anyone’s to win going into the last.
UFC 306 LIVE: Daniel Zellhuber vs Esteban Ribovics
04:13 , Will Castle
Round one
Both trade jabs early, Zellhuber goes for a headkick that’s well blocked by Ribovics. The Argentinian then hits a nice overhand low kick combination, but nothing to shake his opponent just yet.
Zellhuber switching up his stances as usual and echoes a body kick off Ribovics’ sternum. The home crowd favourite is doing well at not letting his opposite number get too close.
Heavy exchange at the end as Zellhuber lands two glancing shots at the head and one at the body.
UFC 306 LIVE: Daniel Zellhuber vs Esteban Ribovics
04:05 , Will Castle
Time to sink our teeth into some lightweight action as Daniel Zellhuber and Esteban Ribovics prepare to go to war.
Making waves at 155 is easier said than done given just how STACKED the division is – but under the lights of the Sphere, can either of these South American fighters rise to the occasion and stamp their mark as one to watch?
UFC 306 LIVE: Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne
03:53 , Will Castle
A slightly more immersive setting than the Apex.
UFC 306 LIVE: Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne
03:49 , Will Castle
Round three
Where has Osbourne got this energy from? He’s recovered very well given the fact he looked completely done at the end of the second.
Fires a big shot that connects on Rodriguez, only for the Mexican to come back with his own left hook. Osbourne acknowledges the strike and Rodriguez follows up with a pair of spinning wheel kicks in quick succession – both miss.
Osbourne shoots for a first takedown but Rodriguez snuffs it. Osbourne succeeds at the second time of asking but it nearly leads to his demise, with Rodriguez threatening to lock in a kimura.
One last takedown attempt for Osbourne and Rodriguez spraws and ends up on top. It allows him to rain down a barrage of ground strikes during the final seconds of the round. A great impression to leave for the judges, that could very well bring him victory on the scorecards…
Ronaldo Rodriguez def. Ode Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27).
A sublime fight to kick off the main card. Rodriguez could have been down and out within the first 30 seconds, but he came back and put on an absolute clinic.
UFC 306 LIVE: Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne
03:40 , Will Castle
Round two
Osbourne once again starts the round on top and has Rodriguez in a dangerous position up against the fence. However, a phenomenal Rodriguez reversal allows him to take the back.
Osbourne is face down on the ground and caught in a body triangle, with Rodriguez laying in strikes from above. After such a gruelling first round, ‘The Jamaican Sensation’ looks completely out of energy and is just trying to survive.
With 20 seconds left, Osbourne finally finds his way out of the body triangle and gets on top. He needs to salvage something from the round quickly and lands a flurry of heavy shots on the ground – but he doesn’t have the time to truly put Rodriguez in trouble.
Osbourne has to be basically dragged to the corner as the buzzer goes. He is shattered.
UFC 306 LIVE: Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne
03:34 , Will Castle
Round one
Surrounded by Aztec pyramids, Rodriguez and Osbourne enjoy two of the most visually incredible walkouts in combat history. Plenty more of that to come tonight, I’m sure.
Osbourne immediately showcases his lightning speed and connects twice with a left hook before BANG – a vicious counter right hook knocks Rodriguez down.
Rodriguez looks there for the taking and finds himself caught in a deep triangle for about two minutes, but he manages to escape and holds on for the rest of the round.
UFC 306 LIVE: Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne
03:23 , Will Castle
We’ve had 20 minutes of indulging in the Sphere, but now it’s time we get down to business.
First up, Ronaldo Rodriguez takes on Ode Osbourne as both men look to stake their claim as a potential title contender at flyweight.
UFC 306 LIVE: Breathtaking
03:19 , Will Castle
UFC 306 LIVE: ‘For Mexico, For All Time’
03:14 , Will Castle
The Sphere projects the first chapter of tonight’s six-part film on Mexico’s rich history in combat sports, and it really is something to behold.
You can see why Dana has splashed the big bucks and sought an award-winning director to make this fightcard like no other seen before. Seriously surreal stuff.
UFC 306 LIVE: Time for the main card!
03:07 , Will Castle
That’s that for the prelims! The Sphere is shapeshifting, time to get stuck into the main card.
UFC 306 LIVE: Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont
02:59 , Will Castle
Round three
Aldana is seriously leaking from her forehead, something which will be sure to affect her vision. She’s likely in need of a finish if she wants to win this bout but with three minutes to go, Dormant looks in control.
However, things begin to open up as Aldana connects with a harsh elbow. Dormant is bleeding herself now, but she nevertheless comes back with a nice left hook and a low kick.
Into the final stages and Aldana is searching for a KO. The crowd is behind her as she makes a beeline for Dormant’s skull, but the Brazilian survives.
The buzzer goes and we get a proper look at Aldana’s gash. She’s got a gorge in her forehead. That’s going to require some staples.
Norma Dumont def. Irene Aldana via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
A warrior’s performance from Aldana but the result was never in doubt. A cool, confident performance from Dumont.
UFC 306 LIVE: Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont
02:50 , Will Castle
Round two
Really impressive from Dumont who looks more than comfortable in the cage, circling and connecting before slipping any reply from Aldana, who is struggling to find her range.
Aldana finally does a bit of damage with a nice jab but that only seems to psych Dumont up further, ramping up her aggression to immediately get back on the front foot.
The round enters its final thirty seconds and both begin to land some significant strikes – but as the buzzer goes, all you need to do is look at the faces of the two fighters.
Aldana is covered in her own crimson after a clash of heads, while Dumont hardly has a scratch.
UFC 306 LIVE: Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont
02:42 , Will Castle
Round one
Bruce Buffer does his spiel and Irene Aldana produces a death stare for the ages. Not. One. Blink.
Both feeling each other out for the first couple minutes, Dumont coming in with a couple overhands that seem to clip Aldana but nothing particularly damaging.
Dumont then connects with something more meaningful as she fakes the overhand right before catching Aldana with a sharp left hook. Another nice right with thirty seconds to go as Dumont continues to dodge whatever her opponent follows up with.
Impressive first five minutes from the Brazilian.
UFC 306 LIVE: Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont
02:31 , Alex Pattle
Time for our featured prelim of the night. Aldana will hope a big win over Dumont can propel her back into the bantamweight title picture.
UFC 306 LIVE: Manuel Torres vs Ignacio Bahamondes
02:29 , Will Castle
UFC 306 LIVE: Manuel Torres vs Ignacio Bahamondes
02:22 , Will Castle
Round one
Cagey first minute as Torres goes for a body kick but slips and ends up on his behind. Begins to connect with more meaningful strikes and gets Bahamondes up against the cage, closing his opponent down and not allowing him to utilise his trademark length – at least initally.
Bahamondes shakes Torres off and connects with a beautiful leg kick to the back of the neck. It knocks Torres down but he gets back up, only to be folded by a right moments later and put under a barrage of hammer fists.
Torres survives and looks to respond with some offence of his own. But with a minute to go, Bahamondes evades an overhand left to connect with another brutal right to put him on the canvas for a third time. Bahamondes unloads and Goddard steps in!
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Manuel Torres via first-round technical knockout (right hook and ground strikes, 4:02).
Add it to the highlight reel. A big fight for Bahamondes could very well be waiting in the wings.
UFC 306 LIVE: Manuel Torres vs Ignacio Bahamondes
02:07 , Will Castle
We’ve just been treated to a video package previewing the highly anticipated rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title.
That and the entire main card still to come, kicking off at 3am BST – but now, onto our next prelim as Manuel Torres takes on human highlight reel Ignacio Bahamondes.
Walkouts imminent…
UFC 306 LIVE: Yazmin Jauregui vs Ketlen Souza
01:57 , Will Castle
An early claim to Performance of the Night.
UFC 306 LIVE: Yazmin Jauregui vs Ketlen Souza
01:52 , Will Castle
Round one
Early left gets through for Souza but Jauregui connects with a mean body kick. Jauregui then inadvertently connects with Souza’s groin, Herzog calls a temporary stoppage.
Back underway and Souza comes out swinging, mixing things up with a couple of combinations. Then comes the second accidental low blow – this time with Jauregui on the receiving end. Maybe time to design a women’s cup?
Clock starts ticking again and within moments, Souza hits a vicious left hook to knock Jauregui to the mat before jumping on her at lightning speed, locking in the RNC to put Jauregui to sleep!
Ketlen Souza def. Yazmin Jauregui via first-round submission (rear naked choke, 3:02).
Jauregui has only just woken up. Clinical as you like in what is undoubtedly the biggest win of Souza’s career so far.
UFC 306 LIVE: Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van
01:36 , Will Castle
Round three
Nice one-two from Chairez but Van quickly replies with an overhand of his own. Both beginning to slow down after a gruelling first two rounds but still vast potential for a finish here.
Chairez slips and ends up his back, Van flies in with a hammer fist but doesn’t connect. Up against the cage and the pair and Van finds himself at risk of a triangle, but manages to escape and produce a fair few good ground strikes – something that could prove pivotal on the scorecards.
Not as high octane as the previous rounds but a very entertaining fight nonetheless as it goes the distance. The judges scorecards are in, and…
Joshua Van def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Superb display from Van, especially given the fact he took the fight on short notice. No training camp? No problem.
UFC 306 LIVE: Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van
01:27 , Will Castle
Round two
Swing and a miss from Chairez and Van comes into the second looking a different man.
Brilliant combinations from Van and Chairez is stumbling on his feet in real danger. The Mexican is getting battered, the fight is maybe five seconds away from being stopped – but then out of nowhere, spinning back fist from Chairez!
Van is right back on the defensive and needs to take Chairez for a reprieve. The two get back to their feet and are going tit for tat with headshots. They end up on the ground again and Chairez goes for a guillotine, his specialist submission, but can’t lock it in.
A wild second round. Some way to start the night.
UFC 306 LIVE: Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van
01:22 , Will Castle
Round one
Chairez starts the more aggressive and finds early success with his low kicks. Quickly becomes clear that Van is struggling to deal with the targeting of his left leg.
Growing in confidence, Chairez begins to do damage further up the body and connects with a vicious knee. With a minute to go, he connects with a one-two to knock Van down, but the American is back up instantly.
Van is able to survive for the rest of the round. Chairez will be happy with the first five minutes.
UFC 306 LIVE: Raul Rosas Jr. vs Aoriqileng
01:12 , Will Castle
We join the broadcast midway through the only early prelim of the night as Raul Rosas Jr. goes to battle with Aoriqileng.
A largely dominant effort from the 19-year-old as the fight goes the distance.
Raul Rosas Jr. def. Aoriqileng via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Three in a row for Rosas Jr. Onto the prelims – Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van up next.
ICYMI: Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic date confirmed
01:05 , Will Castle
Some non-UFC 306 breaking news to kick off the evening.
Jon Jones will face Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 309 on November 16 at Madison Square Garden, the UFC have confirmed.
UFC 306 LIVE: First look at the Sphere
01:02 , Will Castle
Quite simply mindblowing. Tonight is going to be a fightcard like no other seen before – at least outside of the cage.
UFC 306 LIVE: Regular prelims under way!
01:00 , Alex Pattle
Over to Will Castle, who will tell you what happened in tonight’s early prelim(s) and guide you through the regular prelims.
Conor McGregor rages online as UFC comeback fight is cancelled
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:57 , Alex Pattle
In other UFC news from the last 24 hours or so…
Conor McGregor rages online as UFC comeback fight is cancelled
UFC 306 LIVE: Where does Sugar Sean rank on our p4p list?
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:55 , Alex Pattle
Sean O’Malley occupies a spot in our pound-for-pound top 10, but have we judged him harshly?
See our full list below:
The Independent’s pound-for-pound UFC rankings
UFC 306 LIVE: Event goes up against Canelo vs Berlanga boxing card
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:50 , Alex Pattle
UFC 306 isn’t the only fight event in Vegas tonight…
The MMA card is going up against Canelo vs Berlanga, the boxing event which is under way at the T-Mobile Arena.
You can read our preview of that fight here:
The controversial Canelo choice that is ‘tarnishing’ boxer’s legacy
UFC 306 LIVE: The real ‘star’ of the show isn’t even a fighter
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:45 , Alex Pattle
If the UFC delivers on its president’s promise, tonight will bring the “greatest sporting event of all time”. Those were the words of Dana White, talking up the first sports event to take place at the revolutionary Sphere in Las Vegas: UFC 306, or UFC Noche, or Riyadh Season UFC Noche (306).
See, the sell of tonight’s fight card has been muddled. The pay-per-view event is UFC 306, following the MMA company’s typical numbering pattern. Nominally, it is UFC Noche, a celebration of Mexican fighters on Mexican Independence weekend (even though the main event does not feature a fighter from the nation). And promotionally, it is Riyadh Season UFC Noche, as the second UFC event with Saudi involvement.
Yet it might well have been called UFC Sphere. Many readers will be aware of the game-changing venue, which opened a year ago and sports a domed screen all over its exterior, and another immersive screen inside. It has thus far hosted music groups like U2 and Eagles, has screened films, and has played a background role in the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
But on Saturday (14 September), the Sphere will play no background role. “The Sphere is the star of the show,” an ever-bullish White told ESPN this week. “You’ve never experienced anything like this in your life. While we were watching U2 […] you listen to the music and watch the images, and every once in a while you look over at U2. I’m like: ‘This would be fascinating to pull off a sporting event.’ This is where sports and entertainment truly come together for the first time ever.”
But is all as it seems? Here are the potential problems with tonight’s show…
The real ‘star’ of UFC 306 isn’t even a fighter
UFC 306 LIVE: Fight card – subject to late changes
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:40 , Alex Pattle
Main card
Sean O’Malley (C) vs Merab Dvalishvili (men’s bantamweight title)
Alexa Grasso (C) vs Valentina Shevchenko 3 (women’s flyweight title)
Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes (featherweight)
Daniel Zellhuber vs Esteban Ribovics (lightweight)
Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode’ Osbourne (flyweight)
Prelims
Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont (women’s bantamweight)
Manuel Torres vs Ignacio Bahamondes (lightweight)
Yazmin Jauregui vs Ketlen Souza (women’s strawweight)
Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van (flyweight)
Early prelims
Raul Rosas Jr vs Aoriqileng (bantamweight)
UFC 306 LIVE: Odds
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:30 , Alex Pattle
O’Malley – 5/6; Dvalishvili – 20/21
Grasso – 5/6; Shevchenko – 20/21
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UFC 306 LIVE: How to watch fights
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:20 , Alex Pattle
The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
We may earn commission from this link, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
How to watch UFC 306 online and on TV this weekend
UFC 306 LIVE: Timings tonight
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:10 , Alex Pattle
UFC 306 takes place at the Sphere in Las Vegas tonight.
The early prelims are due to begin at 12.30am BST on Sunday (4.30pm PT / 6.30pm CT / 7.30pm ET on Saturday), with the prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday (5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then scheduled for 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT / 9pm CT / 10pm ET on Saturday).
Our live fight updates will begin at 1am BST, when the regular prelims start, at which point we’ll also give you a recap of the early prelims!
What time does UFC 306 start in UK and US this weekend?
UFC 306 LIVE: Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili headline ‘Noche’ event
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:00 , Alex Pattle
In the main event of UFC 306 tonight, Sean O’Malley takes on Merab Dvalishvili in a highly-anticipated bantamweight title fight.
“Sugar Sean” O’Malley is making his second defence of the belt, having won it from Aljamain Sterling with a picture-perfect knockout last August, before retaining it with a masterclass against Marlon Vera in March.
The American star may face a stern test in Las Vegas, however, as he encounters a challenger on a 10-fight win streak. Georgia’s Dvalishvili enters the Sphere on the back of three straight victories against former champions: Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and Jose Aldo.
And in the co-main event of UFC 306, Alexa Grasso defends her flyweight title against divisional icon Valentina Shevchenko, in a long-awaited trilogy bout. Grasso submitted Shevchenko in a shock result in 2022, before the pair fought to a controversial draw in 2023.
Elsewhere at UFC 306, which has also been branded ‘UFC Noche’ as a celebration of Mexican fighting on the nation’s Independence weekend, Diego Lopes fights Brian Ortega.