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UFC 306 is finally here. And you know what that means: it’s Sphere time.
Not since “Fight Island” has the UFC generated this much hype around the venue’s role and presentation at one of its events. That was a bit of a letdown (there’s no beachfront Octagon, no palm trees, not even an actual island). But this one? A UFC event in the immersive Sphere experience in Las Vegas? It promises to be, at the very least, very different.
We’ll have to wait until Saturday to find out exactly what that means, but there’s plenty to be excited about on this card. Maybe don’t get too carried away by the mind-blowing marketing strategy of a fight celebrating Mexican Independence Day… in Las Vegas… sponsored by Saudi Arabia.
Here’s what awaits us on the main card of UFC 306:
Ronaldo Rodríguez vs. Ode Osbourne
Who they are: Rodriguez is a relative newcomer to the UFC, but he’s had six fights in a row, with the last three ending in the final minutes. He’s also nicknamed “Lazy Boy,” so that’s pretty memorable. Osbourne faces the dreaded and often decisive three-fight losing streak if he can’t claw his way to a win here.
Why it is important: Rodriguez, a native of Mexico, is a boxer on a winning streak. Now, at this event to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, he faces an opponent on a losing streak. This is where a cynical man might suggest that it’s a fight designed for Mexico to win and get the crowd fired up at the start of the pay-per-view. Osbourne is better than his recent record suggests, but it’s probably time to win or be fired.
Daniel Zellhuber vs Esteban Ribovics
Who they are: A classic rivalry between Mexico and Argentina in this lightweight bout. Zellhuber hasn’t lost since her UFC debut. And well, that can happen to anyone, as Octagon nerves are a real thing. Ribovics suffered the same fate in her first UFC fight. Like Zellhuber, it’s the only loss of her professional career.
Why it is important: These guys are in very similar situations in their respective careers. They’re just a pair of lightweights under 30 trying to make their way in arguably the toughest division in the entire sport. Putting them together seems like a test to find out which is the more promising prospect right now.
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
Who they are: Ortega is the former title challenger trying to maintain his position as one of the best featherweight boxers by fending off these young punchers. Lopes is the kid with the emo hair who continues to outperform his potential in increasingly difficult fights.
Why it is important: Every time Lopes fights and wins in the UFC, there’s a sense of “wait, this guy could be really good.” Ortega is a significant step up from the competition he’s faced so far, making this the toughest test yet for that particular hypothesis. If Lopes wins this fight, he’ll likely enter the conversation for who could be a title contender. If he doesn’t, fans might decide he’s just another fun guy to have around at 145 pounds.
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Who they are: Grasso is the women’s flyweight champion. Shevchenko is the woman she defeated to take the title in the first place. That was an upset in itself. They then fought again and ended in a draw. Now, for the first time since 2016, Shevchenko is coming into a UFC fight as a betting underdog.
Why it is important: For one thing, that shiny gold belt. But it’s also the trilogy fight where Grasso can finally put to rest any suggestion that she might have gotten lucky once and doesn’t really deserve to be considered champion. For Shevchenko, it’s a chance to prove that her time at the top isn’t over yet. Or is it?
Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Who they are: O’Malley is the men’s bantamweight champion. He’s also the most popular fighter on this card and the driving force behind ticket and PPV sales. Dvalishvili is a legitimately dangerous challenger for him. He’s won 10 straight fights and has never looked even slightly winded in the process. He’s one of those fighters whose engine is simply set to a higher gear, and he knows how to use that as a weapon of his own.
Why it is important: O’Malley’s popularity has helped turn the 135-pound title into big business for the UFC. Here he faces a test he hasn’t had to overcome yet. Dvalishvili is the type of fighter who is constantly in your face, wearing down your pace and pressure. O’Malley would rather keep him at a safe distance where he can employ his reach and slick striking to great effect. Now it’s just a matter of seeing who will get away with it.