We'll have live coverage of the PPV portion of UFC 306 from The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Here are the matches scheduled for the PPV:
Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics
Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne
We'll be back when the PPV begins.
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There was a long introduction showing off the production capabilities of the The Sphere.
Chapter One: In The Beginning
— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
Echoes of warriors past resonate through time honoring Mexico's enduring legacy. The universes of UFC's history and Mexico's culture begin the main card at Riyadh Season Noche UFC.
[ #UFC306 | @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC | @SphereVegas ] pic.twitter.com/8E58eOPBbM
Ode Osbourne Vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez
Osbourne looked fast right out of the gate. He landed a nasty body kick. Rodriguez threw a kick, but Osbourne caught it and landed a straight right that nearly knocked him out. Rodriguez looked out on the ground, but seemed to wake up from a punch. Osbourne had a triangle on and it looked like Rodriguez was going to go out, but he didn't. He was on top of Osbourne, though in his guard for the rest of the round. But he was active from the top as much as he could've been after being knocked loopy.
Osbourne had a guillotine in and it was locked in deep, but Rodriguez got out again and then got his back. He locked him in a body triangle and was having his way with him, but Osbourne got out of it and then Rodriguez was on top of him again. Rodriguez had his back and locked his legs around him. Rodriguez twisted him to try and set up the rear naked choke, but Osbourne fought it and finally found his way on top and landed a couple of punches before the round ended.
Both fighters were tired, but it was all striking for the first three minutes of the round. Osbourne had movement and landed more, but when Rodriguez landed, they were harder shots. Osbourne got a takedown and then was stuff going for a second one. Osbourne went to his back and Rodriguez ended the round on top and throwing punches. I would slightly lean towards Rodriguez winning the third round and the fight.
Winner: Ronald Rodriguez
The scores were 29-28, 29-27, and 29-27 so it looks like two judges gave him a 10-8 in the second round.
Even Martin Lawrence is watching tonight.
@ufc already killin it with #UFC306 🔥
— Martin Lawrence (@realmartymar) September 15, 2024
Esteban Ribovics Vs. Daniel Zellhuber
This fight wasn't fireworks from the start like the last one. It was much more safe to start out. Zellhuber is taller and longer and more methodical. Ribovics is more aggressive and inside and out, but Zellhuber's length allows him to counter. Ribovics knocked him backward at the end of the round.
Ribovics landed some nice shots early in the round and he was able to get out by the time Zellhuber countered. It was an extremely close round. Both guys landed phone booth-like shots and it's a toss up fight right now.
Zellhuber knocked him down with an elbow and they scrambled a bit. Zellhuber poked him in the eye as he pawed his jab with an open hand. Then Ribovics teed off on him. He landed a big right hand and Zellhuber went reeling. Ribovics landed what seemed like 50 uncontested shots, but Zellhuber was able to take them while up against the cage. He started to run, but was wobbly. Then he had to protect himself up against the cage again as Ribovics landed right after left after right. It could've been over twice. Zellhuber threw some knees out of instinct and Ribovics got tired and stopped pressuring as much. They ended the fight with each guys throwing strikes. What an amazing third round.
Winner: Esteban Ribovics
The scores were 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28 for Ribovics.
Diego Lopes Vs. Brian Ortega
Lopes put Ortega down really early in the first round with a right hand/left hook combination. He followed Ortega to the ground and landed big shots but Ortega withstood it all and even attempted a triangle and some up-kicks. Both were back and their feet and way more tentative to end the round.
In the second, calf kicks started to take effect on Ortega. He was dropped on one of them. Lopes caught him with a right/left/right combination, but didn't have as much heat on it as he did in the first. He also landed a head kick that Ortega had to eat.
Ortega's corner said he has to finish him and they want him to take it to the ground. Lopez stayed on him and Ortega's left eye was a mess. Near the end of the third round, Lopes landed a left hook right on Ortega's eye and Ortega thought it was an eye poke. He landed another left hook that put him down, but Ortega finished the fight on his feet.
Winner: Diego Lopez
The scores were 30-26, 30-26, and 30-27.
Valentina Shevchenko Vs. Alexa Grasso
Shevchenko struck first with a takedown about a minute and a half into round one. Shevchenko was sitting back a bit and Grasso went for a triangle. Grasso also had a guillotine attempt. Shevchenko got the back with about ten seconds left and really controlled the majority of the round.
Second round was much of the same, including the same triangle/arm bar attempt by Grasso and Shevchenko not being very distressed about it. Grasso got up and was immediately taken down again. Grasso had a triangle and kimura attempt in there as well. The round ended with Shevchenko on top.
Until after midway in the third round, everything was on the feet and Shevchenko was winning that battle. Her right hand was fast and she flicked a kick off the side of Grasso's face. And went for one takedown that Grasso over-reacted to and then took her down again. She controlled the rest of the round and she's now up 3-0 in a fight that hasn't been close.
Grasso put on a guillotine right away and Shevchenko fought it for over a minute. There were moments that it looked tight, but Shevchenko kept telling the referee she was okay. Shevchenko was back on top and put on an arm triangle. She had her in a crucifix at the end of the round. Another easy round for Shevchenko.
Alexa Grasso is in hell. She had a deep guillotine choke in the fourth. Outside of that? She's just getting finessed by the O.G. 40-36 Shevchenko
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) September 15, 2024
Grasso got a takedown and fell into the mount, but she wasn't able to stay there for long. Shevchenko took her down again, but they were quickly back on their feet. Shevchenko has taken the will out of Grasso here. Grasso couldn't do much. Shevchenko should win the fight in a clean sweep.
Winner: Valentina Shevchenko
All the judges had it 50-45.
They announced Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic as the main event of UFC 309.
Jones vs Miocic from Madison Square Garden, NY! Tickets on sale Friday, October 25th #UFC309 pic.twitter.com/F77mVSN1nj
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 15, 2024
Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Sean O’Malley
There was some confusion out of the gate as Herb Dean warned Dvalishvili for talking to O'Malley's corner. Dvalishvili was patient with his takedown attempt and got him down with his first attempt with just over two minutes left. Dvalishvili ended the round with some gamesmanship.
O'Malley missed an over-hand right hand and Dvalishvili immediately took him down. O'Malley was warned for pulling on the inside of Dvalishvili's glove. Dvalishvili had him in a guillotine at the end of the round and let it go with a few seconds left in the round and kissed him on his back.
Dvalishvili is so out of range on everything. Even with his reach, O'Malley is having a hard time reaching him. O'Malley took a chance with a flying knee that just missed and Dvalishvili nearly caught his leg. Later in the round, O'Malley had more success with his right hand. He landed a left hand and a knee to end the round.
O'Malley landed a right hand and then Dvalishvili took him down immediately. O'Malley finally got to his feet with about 90 seconds left, but he was back down again. After the last fight, the crowd is living and dying with O'Malley's ability to get to his feet. Dvalishvili was playing with him at the end of the round.
O'Malley had some success with a straight left that he'd sort of throw off his back foot. He also started to use a front kick to the gut that Dvalishvili let people know bothered him. But whenever he needed to, he was able to take O'Malley down easily.
Winner: Merab Dvalishvili
The scores were 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47.
