UFC 306: Main card predictions for the biggest combat sports event of all time
11/09/2024 16:10
Ever since the promotion announced that they were taking UFC 306 to the Sphere in Las Vegas, the anticipation has been utterly palpable and the night is finally almost upon us.
The star of the show, as UFC CEO Dana White has told it, is the Sphere and the fights are just an added extra on what is surely going to be the most unique sporting event of all time.
In the main event, one of the promotion’s biggest stars, Sean O’Malley defends his bantamweight title against number one contender, Merab Dvalishvili, and there is only one other fighter better suited to the occasion.
Let’s get into our predictions for the main card of what is the biggest combat sports event of all time.
Ronaldo Rodriguez (16-2) vs Ode Osbourne (12-7-0, 1NC) – Flyweight bout
Opening up the main card is a flyweight bout between Ode Osbourne and the recently impressive Ronaldo Rodriguez.
'Lazy Boy' made his UFC debut this past February against Denys Bondar and secured a very slick second-round submission win.
Osbourne is currently riding a two-fight losing streak and will be hoping to snap his recent skid by picking up a win in his 10th UFC outing.
It’s fair to say ‘The Jamaican Sensation’ has had the tougher strength of schedule out of these two 125lbers, however, I think Rodriguez has slightly more to his game. The Mexican is on a six-fight win streak and I see him picking up his seventh win in a row this coming Saturday.
Prediction: Ronaldo Rodriguez via submission
- PANIC ATTACK:Middleweight fighter who beat Alex Pereira in MMA withdrew from DWCS fight just minutes before scheduled walkout
Daniel Zellhuber (15-1) vs Esteban Ribovics (13-1) – Lightweight bout
Daniel Zellhuber is probably the most exciting current prospect coming out of Mexico, and he is taking on another strong prospect in the Argentinian Esteban Ribovics.
In Zellhuber’s last outing, ‘The Golden Boy’ scored a decision win over another Argentinian, Francisco Prado. Ribovics on the other hand last fought in May knocking out Terrance McKinney in emphatic fashion with a huge head kick.
I think the power advantage in this matchup slightly favors ‘El Gringo’ but Zellhuber has a huge height and reach advantage which I can see paying dividends in this fight.
I see this fight playing out on the feet as both are predominantly strikers, however, if it does go to the ground, Zellhuber will likely hold the slight edge.
I envision Zellhuber staying on the outside, away from Ribovics’ explosions, and outscoring him to a decision win.
Prediction: Daniel Zellhuber via decision
Brian Ortega (16-3-0, 1NC) vs Diego Lopes (25-6) – Featherweight bout
Outside of the main event, this matchup is the most tantalizing on the entire card, in my opinion. With this fight having been canceled a few months ago, this seems like the perfect venue for this incredible featherweight fight.
Diego Lopes has been on a rocket ship to stardom since his UFC debut last year. That went even further when he took a fight against Dan Ige at UFC 303 this past June on just a few hours notice.
The general consensus is that Brian Ortega has the grappling advantage in this fight and Lopes has the striking advantage, however, I don’t think it’s as entirely cut and dry as that.
Granted, Ortega’s level of Jiu-Jitsu is probably on a slightly higher scale than Lopes’, but the Brazilian is a slick specialist on the ground himself.
‘T-City’ has shown clear striking improvements over the past few years too, but I would say Lopes’ unpredictability and power give him the edge on the feet.
Ultimately, I think the 29-year-old has the edge on the feet and also has the counter grappling to nullify Ortega’s threat on the ground.
Prediction: Diego Lopes via decision
Alexa Grasso (16-3-1) vs Valentina Shevchenko (23-4-1) – Flyweight bout
Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko are set to make history by being the first women’s trilogy fight in UFC history after their second bout last September ended in a controversial draw.
The Mexican champion has showcased throughout both fights that she has an advantage when it comes to the clinch and the ground game and that is how she secured the draw in the second outing.
‘Bullet’ Shevchenko is the more patient and technical fighter but sometimes has the tendency to be too patient and tentative.
Grasso got in the face of the former champion a lot in their first meeting and it’s how she subsequently got the fight to the ground and secured the submission.
Something the Mexican does well is when she bursts into range with her striking, she always exits on an angle instead of moving directly back. This allows her to disrupt Shevchenko’s rhythm and timing and makes her unpredictable.
There is part of me, though, that just cannot look past Shevchenko’s ability on the feet and her incredible variance of striking and I see that getting her the belt back.
Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko via decision
Sean O’Malley (18-1-0, 1NC) vs Merab Dvalishvili (17-4) – Bantamweight bout
This bantamweight title fight between ‘Suga’ Sean and Merab ‘The Machine’ is one of the most intriguing matchups the promotion has put together so far this year.
O’Malley is on the cusp of complete superstardom and with every outing, he increases his stock tenfold. Dvalishvili, though, is possibly one of the most relentless fighters the sport has ever seen and never has a nickname suited a fighter better.
The result of this fight solely leans on who is able to implement their strength first, as obvious as that may sound.
If the Georgian challenger is able to secure a takedown early in this fight and impose himself on the champion, he may be able to zap some of the spirit and confidence out of O’Malley.
However, if Dvalishvili’s early takedown attempts are stuffed and he is forced to stand in front of the sharpshooter that is O’Malley, he is in a world of trouble.
Aljamain Sterling is a better striker than Dvalishvili and although his grappling isn’t as relentless and pressurizing as Merab’s, he learned the hard way about standing with O’Malley.
On the feet, Merab is extremely sloppy and uncomfortable and without a takedown, he is going to look seriously out of his depth.
Bizarrely, I think O’Malley makes this one look relatively simple. I think if he does get taken down, he will manage to frame his way back to his feet and will eventually find the killer shot and cement himself as the UFC’s biggest star outside of Conor McGregor.
Prediction: Sean O’Malley via knockout
