UFC 306, held at Sphere in Las Vegas, featured notable victories including Valentina Shevchenko reclaiming the flyweight title and Merab Dvalishvili winning the bantamweight title, amidst an elaborate production that received mixed reviews for its ambitious spectacle.
This past Saturday UFC 306 took place at Sphere in Las Vegas, in a fight card that was promised to be “the greatest live action sporting event of all-time.” While “Noche UFC” might not have delivered on those lofty expectations, it still was packed with great fights and meaningful results, most notably the two new UFC champions. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko avenged her previous loss to Alexa Grasso, winning a dominant decision to reclaim the flyweight title. Then in the main event, Merab Dvalishvili backed up his words and dominated Sean O’Malley to win the bantamweight title.
A lot of important and exciting stuff happened so let’s talk about it all by answering questions from our readers.
Sphere
Was it REALLY the greatest live sporting event of all time? From what I saw on tv & read on Twitter, it seemed like a funky venue for fights.
— Lenny P (@b_park7)
“Was it REALLY the greatest live sporting event of all time? From what I saw on TV & read on Twitter, it seemed like a funky venue for fights.”
Funnily enough, we did a reaction piece that addresses this very question, plus all our other takeaways from UFC 306. You should go read that right now.
Done?
Terrific!
Heading into UFC 306, Sphere was billed as the true star of the show and that played out on Saturday. Yes, two new champions were crowned, but the biggest talking point from the event was all the bells and whistles the UFC brought for this “once-in-a-lifetime” show. Vignettes before every fight, drones, an army of octagon girls with different themed outfits, the whole nine yards. And by every account I’ve heard from people who attended UFC 306, it was indeed quite spectacular. That experience didn’t entirely translate to those watching from home though.
Don’t get me wrong, UFC 306 was very cool. The crowd shots looked insane, and the broad idea of telling a cohesive story through the night was fun and well executed. But ultimately, fights aren’t a concert and so there was an almost jarring dichotomy between the production and then the fights. The production was ambitious and new and exciting, but the fights were ultimately the same fights you get anywhere else in the UFC, and at home, there’s not much you can do to spice that up. Viewers are ostensibly there to watch the fights, so you’ve got to show that, and that negates any of the cool stuff Sphere can do.
That being said, this was still a very fun event from the UFC. We constantly decry them for not taking any risks and delivering the same production week over week, year over year, and this shows why: because the UFC can do a lot of cool stuff when they feel compelled to try, and it makes the experience unique and interesting. I hope they take the success of this show and run with it and we see a little more personality in future fight cards. The product will be all the better for it.
Best chapter
What was your favorite chapter of the show tonight. Mines personally was the día de los muertos/day of the dead chapter
— Luiz (@Pants0nHead)
“What was your favorite chapter of the show tonight? Mine personally was the Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead chapter.”
So if you missed the show, the biggest thing the UFC did for the main card was tell the story of Mexico between fights, in the form of little video package chapters (the UFC has all of them up on its YouTube channel). It began with the creation of the universe, came right up through the modern day, and culminated in an imagining of the future of Mexico. It was a big, ambitious idea, and one that I thought they pulled off fairly well.
I agree that aesthetically speaking, the Día de Los Muertos section (Chapter Three) was the best, especially if you’re factoring in the octagon girl outfits. They were easily the best ones of the evening. But I also enjoyed Chapter Two covering early civilizations and Chapter Five showcasing modern-day fighters and heroes of Mexico.
The weakest of chapters? Easily Chapter Six looking ahead to Mexico’s future. It’s easier to tell stories about history than predict what’s next. Graphics-wise? Felt like mobile game ads—disappointing but still cool to see UFC trying new things.
Merab Dvalishvili
< p lang ="en" dir ="ltr">I know its early , but Merab has 11 straight wins (bantamweight record), all one sided dominations ,4 against ex champions ,2 against p4 p all time greats . Even if he loses to Umar , how much more till he’s in convo for top3 /5 bantamweight ever ?— Dylan Barth (@dylaneb11)
September15 ,2024
< blockquote >< p id ="id__9labp6dguhb ">“I know its early , but Merab has11 straight wins(bantamweight record), all one sided dominations ,4 against ex-champions ,2 against pound-for-pound all-time greats . Even if he loses to Umar , how much more until he’s in conversation for top3 /5 bantamweight ever ?”
< p id ="Vsgnk3 ">Dvalishvili is already in conversation for top-5 greatest ever at bantamweight . Certainly not saying he’s got that locked up , but we’re talking about a division that’s still pretty young and hasn’t had a lot of clear-cut dominance at top . Basically , anyone who has ever won a title at135 pounds is in conversation for top-5 all-time weight class .
< p id ="ZOjjGI ">Now , how long until he becomes bantamweight GOAT ? That’s different question , but frankly , he’s not that far off it , because again , weight class hasn’t had dominant champion .
< p id ="QGzDc7 ">As right now , Dominick Cruz is bantamweight GOAT . He’s got five title defenses(across two different reigns)and that’s trump card in any argument . It’s entirely possible that if he weren’t made out particularly brittle form glass , Cruz would have cemented himself as true all-time great sport regardless weight class . But if I had wheels I’d be wagon . So instead Cruz is left as clear greatest ever at135 .
< p id ="b5HC4f ">But that won’t last forever . Of Cruz’s five title defenses , two came against Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez . Yes , they are all-time great fighters , but only reason they fought Cruz was because flyweight did not exist at time . So some sense we’re talking about title reign that was Urijah Faber twice and Scott Jorgensen . Quality wins , but not insurmountable by any means .
< p id ="asbf0v ">Sterling was well on his way to establishing himself as bantamweight GOAT when he ran into O’Malley . Well , Merab just mushed O’Malley same as he has everyone on this current streak . It’s impressive , and now that he has belt subsequent wins mean more . If Dvalishvili can string together three title defenses I’m very open him taking GOAT mantle especially as bantamweight has only continued improve quality over years .
< hr class ="p-entry-hr "id ="Dv9xCn "/>
< h2 id ="rWr4Fk ">< strong >Umar Nurmagomedov
Of course getting three title defenses is lot easier said than done for Dvalishvili as appears his first defense is going come against Umar Nurmagomedov .
I’ve been loudly banging drum about Umar for long time at this point confidently proclaimed him be best bantamweight on Earth about two years ago . His only issue was getting cage proving it against best world . Well now he’s gotten do it some haven’t changed my mind one iota .
Dvalishvili is exceptional fighter but can hardly think worse matchup for him than Nurmagomedov . Umar is his equal wrestling(and possibly his superior), extremely crafty FAR better striker . As see it only clear advantage Dvalishvili has his insane cardio but tough bring bear guy who has your number everywhere else .
And result don’t think fight will boring at all . For one enjoy Merab’s fights past weekend wasn’t exactly thrilling but me came down O’Malley seeming broken early not trying make fight it have no issue watching Merab show off peak current MMA wrestling metagame against best fighters world against Umar doubt he’ll able Umar will stuff takedowns maybe take Merab down himself tune Dvalishvili up feet should good time .
Dvalishvili is great fighter from very good camp so should never rule out his chances surprise us but Umar coming .
< strong >Sean O’Malley vs Cory Sandhagen
< blockquote >< p >Sean vs Cory When ?< / p >
Heading into UFC306 question whether Sean O’Malley could become biggest star sport with impressive win Now where does former champion go from here And there are lot options
O’Malley vs Sandhagen popular choice one Sandhagen himself angling one would love see But there’s also possible matchups with Jose Aldo Henry Cejudo or Deiveson Figueiredo
But if I’m putting my Sean Shelby hat matchmaking my guess get O’Malley vs Figueiredo next Figgy Smalls wants title shot but odd man out right not need fight again If beats O’Malley(which must feel confident can given grappling advantage Dvalishvili just showed off) then easily getting first crack winner Merab vs Umar And if Umar wins O’Malley beats Figgy right there another shot belt
Meanwhile Cejudo can fight Jose Aldo(after Aldo beats Mario Bautista) legend fight Sandhagen Petr Yan can rematch
< strong >Valentina Shevchenko
< blockquote class = "twitter-tweet "data-dnt = "true "align = "center "data-conversation = "none ">
< p lang = "en "dir = "ltr ">Do you see Valentina going defend belt multiple times again her second reign ?< / p >— Samuel Tromans(@ SamuelJTromans )
September15 ,2024
< / blockquote >
< / div >< blockquote >< p >Do you see Valentina going defend belt multiple times again her second reign ?< / p >
I do not
Shevchenko worst third greatest female fighter all-time Losing Alexa Grasso could have ended her chance chase down Amanda Nunes WMMA GOAT reclaiming title brings back possibility If Shevchenko never got belt back instead started dropping fights conversation entirely over Now once again champion both Shevchenko Nunes dropped titles recovered them which brings her back table
Women’s GOAT conversation basically Nunes Shevchenko Cris Cyborg You can make other cases Megumi Fujii Joanna Jedrzejczyk but weaker than those two women For me Cyborg isn’t really conversation either Yes she had incredible run dominance but weight class barely exists Her opponents were massively undersized or not very good Her best win Holly Holm bantamweight Its not Cyborg’s fault opposition wasn’t there but what Fujii same issue people don’t freak out leaving her out conversation also getting iced by Nunes instantaneously really nukes Cyborg’s case
So argument Nunes vs Shevchenko point Nunes has advantage Both women have seven straight title defenses(Nunes’s come across two weight classes even though women’s featherweight isn’t real thing)but Nunes generally more dominant performances has two wins over Shevchenko which serves trump card If Shevchenko sticks around125 awhile defends her title impressed not sure gets past two-losses hump
What does Moving back up bantamweight becoming two-division champion Shevchenko36 years old bantamweight division dreadful shape If defends her belt against Manon Fiorot strongly suspect “Bullet” will make case challenge Kayla Harrison(who will have belt then) And does becomes two-division champion over two real weight classes Then you’re talking about WMMA GOAT
< strong >Diego Lopes
< blockquote class = "twitter-tweet "data-dnt = "true "align = "center ">
< p lang = "en "dir = "ltr ">jed do you see diego lopes facing winner topuria vs holloway or facing volkanovski2025< / p >— joefrombayonne(@ joefrombayonne )
September15 ,2024
< / blockquote >
< / div >< blockquote >< p >Do you see Diego Lopes facing winner Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway or facing Alexander Volkanovski2025?< / blockquote >
I know Volkanovski threw out idea fighting Lopes interim belt frankly just don’t see happening Rightly wrongly Volk next line fight winner Topuria vs Holloway with fight right around corner accepting another fight would lunacy him He’ll wait out
Which means Lopes will have find another opponent earn his title shot against one so obvious shocked anything else happens winner Movsar Evloev vs Aljamain Sterling
Evloev already deserves title shot if beats Sterling will super deserve it but UFC does not appear interested doing him any favors So given beef between Movsar Lopes rematch sells itself And if Sterling wins same thing without beef Sterling will need another win because logjam so fight true No1 contender matchup makes perfect sense
< strong >Fight Year