UFC 306 Fight Card: PPV Schedule, Odds and Predictions for O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili

The UFC will make its first appearance at the Las Vegas Sphere with one of its most electric champions in Sean O'Malley serving as the headliner against Merab Dvalishvili.

O'Malley will be looking for his second consecutive title defense in the bantamweight division. He avenged the only loss of his career to Marlon "Chito" Vera in his first successful defense back in March.

Now he'll take on an entirely different challenge in Dvalishvili. The 33-year-old is unbeaten since 2018 and has finally scored the opportunity to become a champion.

The compelling bantamweight title fight won't be the only one with a belt on the line. Alexa Grasso will look to defend her belt against Valentina Shevchenko in the third fight between the two flyweights.

Here's a look at all the info you need to catch the bouts and a closer look at the championship fights on the card.

Tickets: Vivid Seats

Main Card (ESPN+ Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Champ Sean O'Malley (-125) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (+105) – for bantamweight title
• Champ Alexa Grasso (-130) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (+110) – for women's flyweight title
• Diego Lopes (-180) vs. Brian Ortega (+150)
• Esteban Ribovics (+190) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (-230)
• Ode Osbourne (+130) vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez (-155)

Prelims (ESPNews/ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET)

• Irene Aldana (-115) vs. Norma Dumont (-105)
• Ignacio Bahamondes (+114) vs. Manuel Torres (-135)
• Yazmin Jauregui (-500) vs. Ketlen Souza (+380)
• Edgar Chairez (+195) vs. Joshua Van (-238)
• Aori Qileng (+650) vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (-1000)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

The main event is a near-perfect example of high-level matchmaking. Not only are there high stakes between two fighters who have clearly earned their spot, but there's a fascinating style matchup at play too.

O'Malley has proven again and again that he's worth the hype. When he came on the scene there was reason to believe that he was a little more style than substance. However, he's come through in mutliple tough spots and has proven his worth as a champion.

O'Malley has proven that he can continue to have the style of one of the UFC's most exciting fighters, but has become a substantive champion with plenty of impressive wins under his belt.

Dvalishvili, meanwhile, had to do extra work to get to this spot. His style is more relentless than entertaining. He's a relentless takedown machine who will work to get the fight to the mat as many times as it takes to win.

The result is a great record that doesn't have a lot of finishes.

The cat-and-mouse game that takes place in the transitions will decide the fight. If O'Malley is able to time up a counter to one of Dvalishvili's takedown attempts then it will be lights out and the champion will remain.

If the Georgian is able to be measuered with his takedown attempts while closing the distance safely, he'll ride out a decision to become the new champion.

Prediction: Dvalishvili by decision

The women's side of the UFC doesn't have a lot of trilogies in its history. Fortunately, it's about to get one that should go down in the books as a classic.

Narratively, it's a tale as old as time. The once-dominant ruler of the division is starting to get to the downside of her career. Valentina Shevchenko was once one of the most dominant champions in the division, now she's engaged in a rivalry with the woman looking to take her place.

Grasso stunned her with a submission victory in 2023. Then she fought her to a draw in the rematch nearly a year ago in a fight that was a near deadlock with both the actual judges and media scoring the fight.

The question is whether Shevchenko still has another elite performance left in her at age 36 after a year of inactivity.

She's one of the all-time greats so the answer very well could be yes. But she's going to need it because Grasso has given her fits before and has the skills to retain the crown.

We'll go with the younger fighter with a win in the series already to move her record to 2-0-1 against the former champion.

Prediction: Grasso by decision