UFC 306: Promo Revealed For Mexican Independence Day Card At MSG Sphere
"Riyadh Season Noche UFC," also known as UFC 306, is under a month away at the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, Nev. The event culminates with Mexican Independence Day, head-to-head with Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena.
With anticipation mounting, the UFC released its full extended promo package, which features two title fights at the top of the billing. Sean O'Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1, 1 NC UFC) makes his second defense of his bantamweight title, opposite Merab Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC), a winner of 10 consecutive fights.
The co-main event features a highly-anticipated trilogy fight, as the women's flyweight title will be on the line. TUF 32 coach Alexa Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) will again face her adversary, Valentina Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC), in a fight taking place almost a year to the exact date of their second encounter.
Grasso, who upset Shevchenko in March of last year at UFC 285, was immediately booked again against Shevchenko six months later. The pair fought to a closely contested draw, with many fans, media members, and pundits divided as to who came away victorious.
UFC News: Alex Pereira Suggests Return To 185, Dricus Du Plessis Rejects Plea
To sell the fight even more, the pair is coaching "The Ultimate Fighter," which wraps up with the final episode Tuesday night, followed by the live finale for featherweights and middleweights Saturday night at the UFC APEX, known as UFC Vegas 96.
The rest of UFC 306 will see a plethora of Mexican talent, as the UFC opted to go with a 10-fight card (five prelim fights and five main card fights) instead of the traditional 12, 13, or 14 fights.
Noche UFC Secures Backup Fighter for Sphere Show, Official UFC 306 Poster Released
The event is dubbed by UFC CEO Dana White as a "love letter" to Mexican combat sports, with storytelling elements that will be shown on-screen between main card bouts, according to a recent appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."
It will be the lone time the UFC ever hosts an event as MSG Sphere, as ticket prices are at a premium.
Below is the bout order, which is subject to change.
UFC 306 Bout Order
Main Card (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)
- Main Event: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili, bantamweight – for O’Malley’s bantamweight title
- Co-Main Event: Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 3 – for Grasso’s women’s flyweight title
- Ronaldo Rodríguez vs. Ode Osbourne, flyweight
- Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes, featherweight
- Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics, lightweight
Preliminary Card (TV + Early Portion: ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass; 7:30 p.m. ET)
- Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont, women’s bantamweight
- Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza, women’s strawweight
- Edgar Chairez vs. Kevin Borjas, flyweight
UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Free Live Stream Results & Highlights
Read More UFC & MMA News
• UFC 307: Khalil Rountree Calls Alex Pereira ‘Fight of the Year’, Replies to Ex-Champ
• UFC 307: Jamahal Hill Baffled by Khalil Rountree Jr. Title Shot vs. Alex Pereira
• UFC News: Champion Belal Muhammad Called Out for First Title Defense
• Noche UFC Secures Backup Fighter for Sphere Show, Official UFC 306 Poster Released
Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC, MMA, WWE, and AEW.