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411’s UFC 306 Review: Dvalishvili Claims Bantamweight Gold

September 15, 2024 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC 306 Image Credit: UFC

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MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
(c) Sean O’Malley (135 lbs.) vs. #1 Merab Dvalishvili (134 lbs.) – for bantamweight title
(c) Alexa Grasso (124 lbs.) vs. #1 Valentina Shevchenko (125 lbs.) – for women’s flyweight title
#12 Diego Lopes (146 lbs.) vs. #3 Brian Ortega (146 lbs.)
Esteban Ribovics (155 lbs.) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (155 lbs.)
Ode Osbourne (125 lbs.) vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez (125 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET)
#5 Irene Aldana (136 lbs.) vs. #8 Norma Dumont (136 lbs.)
Ignacio Bahamondes (156 lbs.) vs. Manuel Torres (156 lbs.)
Yazmin Jauregui (115 lbs.) vs. Ketlen Souza (115 lbs.)
Edgar Chairez (125.5 lbs.) vs. Joshua Van (125.5 lbs.)
Aori Qileng (136 lbs.) vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (136 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 306, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the evening. We’re on PPV tonight and in a unique venue all of which is also allegedly celebrating Mexican fighting heritage here at Riyadh Season Noche UFC. Because nothing says Mexican fighting heritage or Mexican independence day like the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, am I right? Anyway the main event is for the bantamweight title as champion Sean O’Malley tries for his second title defense when he battles the clear cut number one contender Merab Dvalishvili, on paper it’s a classic striker vs. grappler but ultimately it’s the top two guys in arguably the best division in the UFC. There’s a title fight in the co-main event when we get the third fight between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, Grasso upset Shevchenko in their first fight to win the women’s flyweight belt then a profoundly bad scorecard by one of the judges turned their rematch into a split draw leading to this third meeting of the two. The featured bout on the main card is the one I’m most looking forward to personally, Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega were supposed to fight back at UFC 303 but an illness forced the fight to be rescheduled for tonight but it’s two can’t miss action fighters battling for position around the title in a very good division. Beyond that there’s a lot of up and coming Mexican talent being featured, Manuel Torres taking on Ignacio Bahamondes stands out to me as does Edgar Chairez and Joshua Van. Honestly it’s a pretty solid card on paper so let’s see how it plays out in practice.

UFC 306 comes to the world from the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. This is a very unique venue and give how much the UFC have avoided pageantry I’m curious to see what they’ll do with this kind of a set up. We’ve got Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, and Joe Rogan on commentary. The new rules aren’t in play yet but should be before the end of the year, I’ll try to keep you all updated about when they become the ones in effect as the new rules change the definition of a grounded opponent to need a knee down but hands or fists don’t count, and they’ve legalized 12-6 elbows which is horribly overdue.

A quick look inside the venue before we begin, the UFC could pull something really cool here.

Raul Rosas Jr. has gone 3-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, he’s still very young and developing as a fighter but a third win in a row here would be a nice feather in his cap. Aori Qileng is coming off of a No Contest back in February, he’s trying to upset the rising Rosas and prove he’s still a worthwhile addition to the roster. Rosas is a prohibitive favorite at -1050 while a win for Aoriqileng pays out at +675.

Bantamweight Bout: Aori Qileng (25-11 1 NC, 136 lbs.) vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (9-1, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Rosas is two inches taller while Aoriqileng has two inches of reach advantage, Rosas is also 12 years younger. They touch gloves to get us going. Rosas with early stance switching and he probes with calf kicks. Bit of a body kick from Aoriqileng. Aoriqileng counters a body kick with a left hook, neither man has landed all that cleanly yet. Bit of a counter right from Rosas after he ate a right hand. Aoriqileng with a right hand. Body kick from Aoriqileng. Rosas tries a single leg, that hits the fence but he’s able to finish it into full guard. A few body shots from Rosas but he’s struggling to pass, eventually he does get to half guard. Side control now for Rosas and then he mounts. Aoriqileng gives up the back trying to turn and Rosas begins fishing for the choke. Rosas keeps fishing for the choke but wont find it so he switches to the mount and lands a couple of blows before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rosas

ROUND TWO: Rosas with an inside leg kick to start. Bit of a right from Aoriqileng. Rosas avoids a right hand. Aoriqileng stops a takedown then lands a knee. Jab from Rosas but then Aoriqileng blocks a single leg. Both men miss punches. A few punches go back and forth. Rosas misses a left hook then eats a bit of a counter. Right hand from Aoriqileng. Another right from Aoriqileng. Aoriqileng lands a right to the body. A bit of a brawl breaks out but neither man lands clean. Rosas tries another takedown but again Aoriqileng defends. Aoriqileng with another right to the body. A few body kicks go back and forth to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Aoriqileng, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the last round. Aoriqileng resumes coming forward and lands a body kick. Rosas lands an inside leg kick. Rosas does hit a takedown, Aoriqileng scoots to the fence and begins wall walking. Aoriqileng gets up but gets taken back down with a body lock into side control. Rosas switches to the ride position as Aoriqileng gets to turtle, some knees to the body from Rosas then Aoriqileng tries to granby roll and gets full guard. Not much going on here, Aoriqileng lands a couple of elbows from his back while Rosas can sneak in a few punches. The round ends with Rosas still on top in full guard.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rosas, 29-28 Rosas overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Raul Rosas Jr. via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Mic time for Rosas, he feels great winning in the Sphere then he plays with the crowd for a bit. He thinks he’s only getting bigger and more experienced and wants a new contract along with a bigger opponent. He advocates for a post fight bonus, yeah that’s not happening for this one.

Edgar Chairez has gone 1-1 in the UFC with a No Contest thrown in for good measure, he is coming off of a win but missed weight for that fight and now he’s hoping to get his first free and clear win in the UFC. Joshua Van had an eight fight winning streak ended in his last fight when he was knocked out by Charles Johnson, that fight happened 63 days ago and Van is getting back into the cage as close to the expiration of his medical suspension as possible. Van has never lost two in a row though and he’s trying to get a win here and salvage something good from 2024. The odds are with Van at -245 to +200 on Chairez which is a very tempting value bet.

Flyweight Bout: Edgar Chairez (11-5 1 NC, 125.5 lbs.) vs. Joshua Van (10-2, 125.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Chairez is two inches taller with a significant six inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men probe with early kicks. Van checks a calf kick. Chairez checks a calf kick. Calf kick from Chairez. Some stance switching from Chairez. Double jab from Van. Chairez with a calf kick. Counter right from Van. Van with a right to the body, he’s still navigating the size difference. Chairez with a right hand. Hard calf kick from Chairez. Van lands a front kick. Van lands a couple of punches in close then eats a knee. They trade calf kicks. Calf kick from Van. Another calf kick from Van then Chairez returns it. Chairez with a jab. Van misses a wheel kick but lands a left hand in close. Chairez with a right that sits Van down for a second. A few jabs go back and forth then Van lands a left hook. Bit of a flurry from Van in close. Front kick from Chairez closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Chairez

ROUND TWO: Both men come out jabbing again. Front kick from Van. Chairez with a calf kick then Van returns it. Chopping right from Van lands then a bit of a combination. Both men are jabbing regularly then Van lands a calf kick. Calf kick then a couple of lefts from Van. Van hits the body a few times in close. Chairez with some jabs to keep distance. Van with a combination punctuated with a body shot. Right hand from Van bothers Chairez, then a left to the body. Knee from Van then a flurry of punches as he’s getting Chairez to the fence. Van with a left to the body. Chairez lands a body kick but Van is all over him with body shots and hooks. Left to the body then a right hand from Van, he’s unloading against the fence, Chairez grabs the fence to stay upright and the ref says nothing about it then Chairez uses that for leverage to throw a spinning back fist which rocks Van. Van with a double leg to settle things down just a bit as he lands in the guard of Chairez. Chairez tries a few guard attacks then Van stands free and they’re back on the feet. Van is still lining up his left to the body and Chairez is hurt to the body still. Both men land uppercuts. Left to the body from Van. Chairez avoids a wheel kick. Some jabs from Chairez then a right hand. Another right from Chairez, Van is stunned and hits a double leg but Chairez has a guillotine choke. Van is able to get his head free and lands body to head punches. The round ends with Van still on top.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Van but a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Both men back to using the lead hand to start the round. Chairez with a calf kick. Van lands a jab. One two from Van. Van with a calf kick. Both men show front kicks. Van lands a left to the body then a right hand. One two from Chairez. Both men land lefts then Van digs the body. Van jabs the body then lands a right hand. Van with a left hook in close. Chairez seems to be fading just a bit. Some jabs from Van then a bit of a combination. Chairez avoids a few punches but then steps into a left hand and gets tripped up, Van gets on top in full guard. A few lefts from Van land, Chairez is able to wall walk with Van on his back. Van looks to drop for a leg attack, Chairez is trying to defend as Van works for an inside heel hook but can’t finish and they wrestle up with Chairez on the back now. Van is able to turn into Chairez and hits a double leg into full guard. Chairez tries to get his guard in play and lands an elbow. Triangle choke attempt from Chairez, Van still has both hands in though and unless Chairez tries to switch to a Dead Orchard he’s going to lose this. Van is able to posture through the triangle and lands punches. Van passes to half guard and works a few more body to head punches. The round ends with Van on top landing punches.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Van, 29-28 Van overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Joshua Van via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Mic time for Van, he thanks God first then says his cardio was a little out of sorts given the short notice and puts over Chairez as a tough opponent. He knew Chairez was a little soft to the body and they used that to great effect as the fight wore on. That was a darn fun little fight.

Some fun stuff from the second round here.

Yazmin Jauregui has gone 3-1 in the UFC and is coming off of a win, she’s trying to build another winning streak here and prove she’s the rising Mexican talent to watch. Ketlen Souza has gone 1-1 in the UFC but she did win her last fight and now tries to spring an upset to build her first UFC winning streak. Jauregui is a heavy favorite at -520 to Souza’s +390.

Strawweight Bout: Yazmin Jauregui (11-1, 115 lbs.) vs. Ketlen Souza (14-4, 115 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Jauregui has an inch of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get things started. Both women show the lead hand then Jauregui lands a calf kick. Bit of a right from Jauregui. Jauregui with a combination. Souza lands a knee in close but then she eats a right hand. Front kick from Jauregui, well timed there. We get a time out as Souza takes a low blow. Souza takes 41 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Souza comes out swinging and they trade punches then Jauregui with a takedown and some punches before Souza fights up. Jauregui fails on a takedown and they reset. A few leg kicks from Jauregui then Souza lands a right hand. Some leg kicks then a right hand from Jauregui. Jauregui with a front kick then a jumping knee and a few elbows in close. Souza lands a right hand then kicks Jauregui low so we’ve got another time out. Jauregui takes 35 seconds and the ref warns both women about low blows as we restart. Souza sits down Jauregui with a left hook, she jumps on the back and grabs the choke then puts Jauregui to sleep.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ketlen Souza via Technical Submission, rear naked choke, at 3:02 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Ms. Souza for her work this evening. Souza gets an interview with the translator, she’s happy to have won and fought very hard to get this kind of moment then asks for a bonus. She wishes everyone a happy Mexican Independence day then talks us through the finish to close.

Just an exchange of left hooks here but Jauregui doesn’t move her head much and gets dropped then Souza is all over her neck incredibly quickly.

Ignacio Bahamondes has gone 4-2 in the UFC and scored a head kick knockout in his last fight, he’s trying to build another winning streak while continuing to wave the flag for Chilean MMA. Manuel Torres is on a six fight winning streak including three in the UFC, if he can extend that success here he could well establish himself as a prospect of note. Close one here, -130 on Torres to -+110 on Bahamondes.

Lightweight Bout: Ignacio Bahamondes (15-5, 156 lbs.) vs. Manuel Torres (15-2, 156 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Bahamondes is five inches taller with two inches of reach advantage. Both men probe with some kicks early. Some stance switching from Bahamondes, Torres is mostly southpaw at the moment. Cut kick from Bahamondes. Bahamondes keeps showing kicks to keep distance. Torres lands a left hand, he pushes forward looking to swing. Inside leg kick from Bahamondes. They clinch up and hit the fence, some knees go back and forth as Torres gets Bahamondes on the fence. They fight for position then separate. Right hand from Bahamondes, they get close and trade some punches then break. Head kick from Bahamondes bothers Torres for a second. Torres blocks a head kick. Bahamondes with a body kick. Torres is playing orthodox now and Bahamondes drops him with a right hand, he gets on top and starts landing punches and elbows but Torres ties him up in full guard. Torres to his knees and stands after taking a few more punches. Bahamondes blocks a few punches and Torres forces a clinch. They break without incident. Another pull counter right from Bahamondes drops Torres and this time the ref jumps in after a few more punches.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ignacio Bahamondes via KO, punches, at 4:02 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Bahamondes for his work this evening. Mic time for Bahamondes, he thanks all of his supporters and everyone who’d helped him get this win. He talks us through the finish and thanks his team for their work. Asked about the future he’ll fight anyone and accepts any fight that comes his way. The man is doing his own translation into Spanish and it’s kind of impressive.

This is a lovely pull counter cross from Bahamondes, Torres over throws and is badly out of position so Bahamondes drops him. This is basically the same punch he floored Torres with earlier in the round.

Irene Aldana failed to win the bantamweight title back in 2023 but she got a win her last fight and given the dire state of the the division another impressive win here could put her right back in the title picture. Norma Dumont is on a four fight winning streak, only the most recent one was actually at bantamweight but the division sucks so much that it’s still worth a top 10 ranking, that said if she can beat Aldana it’ll be the biggest win of her career and would put her close to the title picture. Another close one, -115 on Aldana to -105 for Dumont.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: #5 Irene Aldana (15-7, 136 lbs.) vs. #8 Norma Dumont (11-2, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Aldana is two inches taller with an inch and a half of reach advantage. Southpaw for Dumont, she comes out showing leg kicks. A bit of stance switching from Dumont now as Aldana starts getting her jab working but those leg kicks from Dumont are a constant feature. Aldana avoids a couple of punches. Dumont with an inside leg kick. Aldana starts getting her jab to land to the chest now as she keeps pushing forward. Right hand from Dumont. Dumont blocks a left hook. Calf kick from Dumont. Aldana jabs the body but they both miss hooks in close. A lot of stance switching from Dumont and she avoids a left hook. Aldana misses another left hook. Left hook then a right hand from Dumont. They trade lefts. Aldana is still pressuring but she’s not landing a whole lot. They trade rights. Aldana’s left hook is getting closer, but she’s becoming a bit predictable with it and Dumont lands a right hand. Jab then an inside leg kick from Dumont. Aldana misses a few more hooks then Dumont lands a right hand to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dumont

ROUND TWO: Calf kick from Dumont as Aldana keeps trying to move forward. Aldana is doing a bit too much following. Calf kick from Dumont. Left hook from Dumont then a bit of a right hand. Aldana misses a left hook. Aldana avoids a few punches but eats a jab. Dumont still circling, she lands a bit of a right hand then a front kick. Right hook from Dumont. Some jabs go back and forth. Aldana lands a right to the body then they both land lefts. Dumont has some punches blocked then she lands an inside leg kick. Counter left hook from Aldana lands then she avoids a blitz. Left hook from Dumont. Calf kick from Dumont. Front kick then a right hand from Dumont. Dumont lands a calf kick. They split jabs, Dumont is starting to punch at the body now when Aldana gets close. Aldana avoids a takedown. Aldana with a right hand. Dumont lands a right of her own. Bit of a left hook from Dumont, then she hits the body as Aldana keeps marching forward. Aldana’s nose is bloodied up now. They trade rights. Dumont with a left hook. Aldana lands a right hand. Dumont with a front kick to close the round, Aldana is cut on the forehead now as well as the bridge of her nose.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dumont, 20-18 Dumont overall

ROUND THREE: That cut on Aldana’s head came from a clash of heads and is still bleeding as the round starts. Dumont with leg kicks while circling. Front kick from Dumont. Aldana is still marching forward, she lands a right hand. Left hook from Aldana but Dumont responds with a couple of punches. Some jabs from Dumont. Aldana walks into a couple of punches, she’s throwing but Dumont has higher volume whenever they engage. Dumont avoids a hook. Left hook from Dumont in close. Bit of a right from Aldana. Both women land rights. Dumont lands a jab but Aldana keeps coming forward, they wind up clinched on the fence. Knees from Dumont then they trade elbows as they break. Aldana with a left hand, she wont stop coming forward. They trade jabs. Dumont is still landing punches while backing up and lands a right to the body. Front kick from Dumont. Aldana’s face is just a mask of blood. They both land body shots in close then Dumont lands a left hook. One two from Dumont. Aldana lands a jab but her lack of cage cutting is a serious problem. Dumont with a couple of body shots then a jab. They both land punches in close. Aldana still missing a lot of her punches. Dumont tries a single leg, can’t finish it and Aldana lands a right hand as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dumont but a closer one, 30-27 Dumont overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Norma Dumont via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Mic time for Dumont and the translator, she puts over Aldana and knew she’d have to beat her to get into the title picture and fully expected a 15 minute war. Asked about the future she says she’s the problem for the division now.

Here’s a smaller look at the cut on Aldana’s face, this was a bad one by the time the third round ended.

That’s it for the prelims, onto the PPV card.

Ronaldo Rodriguez is on a six fight winning streak including a successful UFC debut back in February, he’s trying to extend that success here and prove he’s a flyweight on the rise. Ode Osbourne has gone 4-5 in the UFC and has lost his last two fights, he pretty badly needs to right the ship here with a win as a three fight losing streak rarely portends good things.

Flyweight Bout: Ode Osbourne (12-7 1 NC, 125 lbs.) vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez (16-2, 125 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Osbourne is an inch and a half taller with a serious seven and a half inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Osbourne, both men come out looking to establish the jab. One two from Osbourne, he looks fast right away. Rodriguez misses a combination. Body kick from Osbourne. Leg kick from Rodriguez but Osbourne floors him with a counter punch, Rodriguez is out but the ref wants blood so Osbourne keeps punching him the locks in a triangle choke to try and force the ref to actually do his job. Elbows from Osbourne as he works to angle the triangle choke, Rodriguez is able to pull himself out of the choke but just kind of hangs out in Osbourne’s guard. Osbourne fires elbows from his back. Rodriguez lands an elbow. Left hand from Rodriguez then a short right elbow, I’m amazed he recovered but that fight should have been stopped. Osbourne with some elbows and hammer fists from his back. Rodriguez is trying to handcuff Osbourne but can’t get the arm behind his back. The round will end with Rodriguez still on top.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Osbourne

ROUND TWO: Rodriguez tries southpaw to start the round. One two from Osbourne, Rodriguez tries a single leg that hits the fence but Osbourne grabs a guillotine on the way down. Rodriguez flips over because Osbourne doesn’t have his guard and they wrestle around until Rodriguez jumps on the back as Osbourne is on his knees. Osbourne gets flattened out, Rodriguez with some elbows from basically full mount. Rodriguez basically has a mounted body triangle and lands more elbows, but Osbourne rolls into him then nearly gets on top and they have to wrestle around only for Rodriguez to come out on top in full mount still. Osbourne tries to sit up and counter the position but Rodriguez gets his back again. Choke attempt from Rodriguez but the angle is off. Osbourne keeps looking to turn into Rodriguez but he can’t complete the motion. Rodriguez is still fishing for a choke but he’s not finding it. Osbourne is finally able to turn into Rodriguez and lands some punches, then ends the round on top in full guard.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodriguez but could be 10-8, 19-18 Osbourne overall

ROUND THREE: Osbourne comes out jabbing and avoids a takedown. Rodriguez is orthodox again this round. Osbourne avoids another takedown and lands a body kick. Bit of a one two from Osbourne. More inside leg kicks from Osbourne then a stiff jab. Rodriguez eats a hard left hand. Left hook from Rodriguez lands. Osbourne avoids a wheel kick then lands a jab. Another missed wheel kick from Rodriguez. Jabs from Osbourne. Rodriguez is coming forward then avoids a takedown attempt. Left hand from Rodriguez. Osbourne ties up and pushes Rodriguez into the fence. They break without incident. They trade left hands. Single leg from Osbourne and he gets on top. Rodriguez is fishing for a kimura, he gets the double wrist lock but loses the grip as they wrestle up and separate. Osbourne with jabs then Rodriguez lands a leg kick. Rodriguez sprawls on a single leg attempt, he grabs a front headlock and pushes Osbourne over to get on top in full guard. Both men swing strikes on the mat for the last 15 seconds or so.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodriguez, 28-28 DRAW overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ronaldo Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27 x2)

No issues with Rodriguez winning, but 29-27 means he got a 10-8 second while Osbourne didn’t get a 10-8 in the first and that’s just nonsense. Mic time for Rodriguez and the translator, he thanks God first and says he dug deep to pull out this win then puts over the Mexican people.

Daniel Zellhuber has gone 3-1 in the UFC but he’s on a three fight winning streak and a fourth win in a row here could set him up with a bigger name opponent next time. Esteban Ribovics has gone 2-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, a third in a row here would be a pretty significant win and would solidly establish him as an up and coming fighter. The odds like Zellhuber at -240 while that +195 payout for Ribovics might tempt some bettors out there.

Lightweight Bout: Esteban Ribovics (13-1, 155 lbs.) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (15-1, 155 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Zellhuber is three inches taller with a big eight inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Ribovics looks for kicks early. Zellhuber starts showing the jab then lands a body kick. Left hook from Zellhuber. Ribovics falls short with a combination but he’s looking to close distance and engage. Bit of a high kick from Zellhuber. A couple of jabs from Zellhuber land then Ribovics lands a leg kick. Bit of a left to the body from Ribovics, this range is definitely giving him some problems though. Right to the body from Zellhuber. Leg kick from Ribovics. Zellhuber jabs then lands a right to the body. Knee to the body from Zellhuber, he’s flowing now and is switching his stance around. Both men are doing stance switching now as they move around. Zellhuber lands a couple of lefts. Right hand then a jab from Zellhuber. Ribovics tries a front kick with mixed results. Bit of a left from Zellhuber. Ribovics bulls forward and lands a couple of body shots. Zellhuber with a body kick. Bit of a combination from Zellhuber including a body shot. Ribovics lands a leg kick. Bit of a combination from Ribovics. Knee from Zellhuber. Front kick from Zellhuber. Left hook from Zellhuber. Ribovics lands a body kick but eats a front kick. Combination from Zellhuber in close, Ribovics responds in kind just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Zellhuber

ROUND TWO: Zellhuber comes out jabbing then lands a right hand. Ribovics misses a left hook then eats a counter punch. Zellhuber is coming forward but Ribovics lands a left hook. Both men are getting after it then Zellhuber lands a right hand. Ribovics lands a few punches in close, when he can bait Zellhuber into planting and throwing he’s able to land. Bit of a high kick from Zellhuber. Ribovics with a couple of punches that land. Shifting left hand from Ribovics. Zellhuber with some jabs. They trade left hooks. Left to the body from Ribovics. Zellhuber lands to the body as well. Bit of a body kick from Zellhuber. Front kick form Zellhuber then he jabs the body as well. Left hook then a leg kick from Ribovics. Bit of a combination from Ribovics. They trade left hooks. Zellhuber with a left that bothers Ribovics, Zellhuber is on the offense now. Ribovics with a left hook then follows with a right hand. Zellhuber jabs and lands a right, these two are just going back and forth and this pace is pretty nuts. Again they trade left hooks then Ribovics lands a left kick. Zellhuber lands a right hand. Lunging left from Ribovics connects. Zellhuber with a left hand. Both men land punches then Zellhuber fires a knee in close. Ribovics avoids a couple of kicks to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Zellhuber but could legitimately go either way, 20-18 Zellhuber overall

ROUND THREE: They hug to start the last round. Zellhuber with a combination and a high kick. Ribovics throws back right away, these two are back to just getting after each other. Knee from Zellhuber in close. Left hook then a right elbow from Zellhuber, nice combination. Ribovics blocks a couple of punches then lands a right hand. Left hook from Ribovics but Zellhuber floors him with an elbow, Ribovics wrestles up into a clinch but Zellhuber with a knee to the body before they break. We get a time out as Ribovics gets poked in the eye, Zellhuber has been warned plenty about that and the ref tells him next time will be a point. We’re back to fighting quickly and Ribovics moves forward and eats a right hand but lands several body shots. Ribovics clubs Zellhuber with a right hand, he’s hurt and Ribovics unloads along the fence but Zellhuber stays upright. More offense from Ribovics but Zellhuber is still moving and slipping around. Ribovics gets more patient now and digs the body as Zellhuber is on the fence. Zellhuber is able to circle off the fence and Ribovics hits the body again. Left hook from Zellhuber. Ribovics keeps hitting the body and they start brawling again. Zellhuber wobbles Ribovics with a right hand but Ribovics keeps throwing to the body and head. This has been nuts. Zellhuber circles and lands a left hook then a right hand. Both men trade punches again, this is crazy. Stiff one two from Zellhuber. Ribovics pushes Zellhuber back to the fence and lands a right hand. Zellhuber misses a takedown attempt and they just trade punches again. Left hand from Ribovics then a right hand behind it. Zellhuber throws back but Ribovics is getting inside his punches now. They get close and just swing again as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ribovics, 29-28 Zellhuber overall but who knows with how that second round went

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Esteban Ribovics via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

29-28 either way is fine, what a war that was. Fight of the Night so far, great stuff from both men. Ribovics gets an interview with the translator, he thanks the fans and says the fight was for them. He acknowledges how much he was hurt but the pain didn’t touch his heart so he kept fighting on.

Some stuff from the third round, this was a barn burner from star to finish.

Brian Ortega has twice failed to win the featherweight title and has had some long stretches of his career hampered by injury or other inactivity but most recently he returned from injury and scored a win over Yair Rodriguez, now he’s looking for his first winning streak since 2018 and to possibly get towards a third crack at the belt. Diego Lopes has gone 4-1 in the UFC and is on a four fight winning streak, his only loss being in his UFC debut when he stepped in on short notice to battle Movsar Evloev and gave Evloev a heck of a fight. A win here would be the highest profile of Lopes’ career and would put him in excellent position around the title, depending on how the upcoming featherweight title fight shakes out. Lopes is your -190 favorite to Ortega’s +160.

Featherweight Bout: #12 Diego Lopes (25-6, 146 lbs.) vs. #3 Brian Ortega (16-3 1 NC, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Lopes is three inches taller with three and a half inches of reach advantage. Ortega shows the jab early, Lopes happy to play that game with him. Bit of a calf kick from Ortega. Lopes lands a left hook that drops Ortega, he looks to follow up and gets on his back as they stand. Mat return from Lopes and he starts working ground and pound from Ortega’s guard. Punches from Lopes now, Ortega’s face is already getting busted up. Ortega is bleeding around the left eyebrow, Lopes stands over him then gets at the back as Ortega tries to stand. More punches from Lopes, Ortega is able to break the position and lands an up kick as Lopes stands over him again. Lopes returns to the guard and they trade some punches. Eventually Lopes stands free and makes Ortega stand back up. Some jabs from Ortega land. Lopes with a right hand. Bit of a left hook from Ortega then they split jabs. Right hand from Ortega partially lands. Left hook from Lopes in close. Lopes lands a right hand. Calf kick from Lopes. Ortega lands a calf kick of his own. Lopes with a counter combination but he might be getting lulled into fighting Ortega’s pace. Some southpaw work from Ortega now and he lands a body kick. They feint away the final seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lopes but you could argue 10-8

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves. Bit of a jab from Ortega. Lopes lands a calf kick. Quick flurry from Lopes lands. Another calf kick from Lopes. Ortega lands a right hand. Body shot from Lopes then he lands a calf kick. Ortega tries a single leg but Lopes defends. Ortega checks a calf kick. Lopes lands a calf kick. Inside leg kick from Ortega. Jab from Ortega but Lopes counters with a right hand. Ortega is trying southpaw now, and Lopes lands a head kick. Bit of a right from Lopes. Hard calf kick from Lopes drops Ortega but he makes him stand back up. That left leg of Ortega is getting beaten up by this point. Bit of a one two from Ortega. Ortega checks a calf kick. Lopes lands a right hand. Jab from Ortega. Ortega is starting to look smoother with his hands now. Lopes lands a calf kick. They split jabs to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lopes but a pretty close one, 20-18 Lopes overall

ROUND THREE: Ortega looks to show his jab again as the round begins, his left calf is visibly swollen and not quite stable though. Lopes lands a calf kick. Ortega keeps working the jab, he’s landing it on occasion this round. Lopes with a calf kick. Bit of a left hook from Lopes. They both land punches in close. Ortega playing with southpaw again. They trade in close again. Left hand from Ortega. Lopes lands a couple of punches. Ortega showing the one two over and over now, his jab is landing more consistently at this point. Counter right from Lopes connects. Ortega tries a takedown, that hits the fence though and Lopes is able to shove him off. Bit of a calf kick from Lopes. Right hand from Ortega. Both men land rights. Ortega keeps up the jab. They trade lefts. Rights go back and forth then Lopes lands a left hook and a right hand. Ortega’s eye is a bit messed up and Lopes jumps on his back in the clinch. Ortega is quickly able to separate though. Some front kicks from Lopes. Right from Ortega then Lopes lands a left hook. Calf kick from Lopes. More jabs go back and forth then they trade rights. Lopes with a right hand then a couple of left hooks out of a clinch that drops Ortega again. Lopes jumps to his back into a backpack position but loses it and they brawl for the last few seconds of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lopes, 30-27 Lopes overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27 x2)

Mic time for Lopes and the translator, he gives love to Mexico then puts over Ortega’s toughness and really needed a dominant win even if he couldn’t find the finish. Asked what he wants next he wants a title fight. Seems unlikely to materialize right away but he’s very close.

Valentina Shevchenko was a longtime flyweight champion but she lost it in 2023 then in the rematch later that same year fought to a highly controversial draw, while tonight might not represent Shevchenko’s last shot at UFC gold it might be her last shot in the flyweight division because another loss to Alexa Grasso might well send her back to bantamweight and heaven knows that division could use bolstering. Alexa Grasso is the reigning flyweight champion, she’s 1-0-1 against her challenger tonight and she’s hoping to definitively put Shevchenko in the rear view mirror with another win over her tonight. Super close fight here, -140 on Grasso to Shevchenko’s +120.

Women’s Flyweight Title Bout: (c) Alexa Grasso (16-3-1, 124 lbs.) vs. #1 Valentina Shevchenko (23-4-1, 125 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Shevchenko has half an inch of reach advantage. Southpaw for Shevchenko per usual. They both land power hand punches. Grasso is starting to play with stance switches already. A lot of patience from Shevchenko early, then she lands a right hook in close. Grasso is struggling to find a way into boxing distance right now, or she’s staying too long once there. Jabs go back and forth. Shevchenko is looking to flurry with punches then hits a double leg into full guard. Grasso quickly looks to build up but gets an arm pulled out so she can’t post up. A few short punches from Shevchenko land and she looks to pass, Grasso is looking for an elevator and throws up an armbar attempt but has to bail on it. Grasso is keeping a near triangle position and Shevchenko postures through it. Bit of an elbow from Shevchenko. Grasso is trying to be active off of her back but she’s struggling to find angles for her attacks. Shevchenko lands a couple of punches. Elbow from Shevchenko. Grasso tries to build up and scoot free but Shevchenko moves to full mount. Back mount now for Shevchenko and she’ll end the round looking for a choke.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko

ROUND TWO: Grasso opens orthodox this round. Shevchenko misses a body kick. Grasso misses a couple of rights. Right hand from Shevchenko. Southpaw for Grasso but Shevchenko immediately takes her down into full guard. Grasso tries to work rubber guard but Shevchenko pressures through it and settles into full guard. Shevchenko passes to half guard. A few lefts land for Shevchenko, she’s trying to set up an arm triangle attack but Grasso is able to get her arm in play to frame off of Shevchenko’s face and block it. Grasso tries to regain guard, she’s able to get there and threatens another armbar, Shevchenko passes after it though and gets to side control. Shevchenko looks for the back, Grasso is able to wrestle up and free though. Grasso sprawls too hard on a takedown attempt and Shevchenko still gets on top in full guard. Shevchenko passes to side control, Grasso tries a reverse triangle choke then attacks a kimura on the free arm, she rolls looking for an armbar but Shevchenko postures through and lands punches. They’ll end the round still on the mat.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko but there might be an argument for Grasso there, 20-18 Shevchenko overall

ROUND THREE: Shevchenko looking to show the right hook as the round starts. Grasso is trying to get her lead hand working, she’s southpaw again right now to negate a bit of Shevchenko’s left kicking game. Some jabs go back and forth. A few jabs land for Shevchenko, then there’s a bit of a left from Grasso. Lead leg high kick from Shevchenko is mostly blocked but that was quick. Grasso avoids a superman punch and high kick. Knee from Shevchenko. Grasso avoids a double leg but eats a body kick for doing so. They trade punches then Shevchenko hits a double leg. Shevchenko quickly passes to half guard and attacks another arm triangle but Grasso blocks that. Some nice shoulder pressure from Shevchenko on top, Grasso tries to bridge but Shevchenko rides into full mount and Grasso has to shrimp very quickly and find butterfly guard. Short elbow from Shevchenko. Shevchenko lands punches now then transitions to get the back as Grasso scrambles and that’s where the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko, 30-27 Shevchenko overall

ROUND FOUR: Grasso looks to jab as the round starts. Bit of a high kick from Shevchenko. Some jabs from Shevchenko now. Shevchenko hits a single leg, Grasso has grabbed a guillotine though. The guillotine is definitely a threat and she gets full guard with it, there’s an arm in though and Grasso isn’t crunching things down so she uses it to roll to top position. Shevchenko is still with it and landing some short body shots as they’re on a hip. OK, we got a better look in there and the choke isn’t as tight anymore and Shevchenko gets her head out lands some punches. Grasso tries to work her guard again and Shevchenko moves to half guard. Shevchenko looks for the arm triangle again and gets the position as she moves to full mount. Grasso gets her arm free and is able to catch half guard but she’s unable to get off of her back. Shevchenko lands a few punches to the body and head then moves to side control. Grasso tries to bridge off the fence but gets caught in a mounted crucifix with 10 seconds left. Shevchenko drops punches to the head as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko, 40-36 Shevchenko overall

ROUND FIVE: Grasso probably needs a finish at this point. A few leg kicks go back and forth. Grasso misses a left hand but lands a leg kick. Both women show the jab, then Shevchenko with a bit of a left hand. One two from Shevchenko. Bit of a counter right from Shevchenko. Grasso avoids a double leg. They trade jabs then Grasso forces a clinch on the fence. Bit of a front uchi mata from Grasso, Shevchenko quickly scrambles up and into a clinch though and avoids trouble. Body lock takedown for Shevchenko and she’s on top then looks for the back as they stand, she can’t find it and just lands an elbow before Grasso gets free. One two from Shevchenko then a double leg but this time Grasso quickly scrambles up into a clinch. Shevchenko has Grasso against the fence now and is effectively icing the clock here. A few knees go back and forth. Shevchenko counters an inside trip and gets on top in full guard. Grasso looks for some guard work but Shevchenko pressures through it. Now Grasso wall walks but can’t get out of Shevchenko’s grip. Again they trade some knees then separate. 50 seconds for Grasso to find a miracle. Left hand from Shevchenko, Grasso avoids a double leg and they clinch. Shevchenko is able to throw Grasso down and gets on top in side control. Shevchenko moves to the back and grabs at a choke but there’s not enough time to finish it so they just trade punches on the mat as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko, 50-45 Shevchenko overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)

Heck of a performance from Shevchenko, not the flashiest of her career but she really needed that one. Mic time for Shevchenko, she puts over the venue and the crowd for being awesome. She calls this an incredibly satisfying win and sucks up to the UFC brass, then she goes into Spanish because she’s fluent in that language to put over Latin America and Mexico. She then goes into I think Russian to thank more people, and even some Thai for good measure, at this point she’s just showing off. To close she puts over Grasso and is grateful for the rivalry between them.

Merab Dvalishvili has gone 10-2 in the UFC and is on a 10 fight winning streak, tonight is his first shot at UFC gold but he’s been able to beat the likes of Marlon Moraes, Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo en route to earning this shot at the belt. Dvalishvili is trying to become the first Georgian UFC champion and begin establishing himself in that role. Sean O’Malley hasn’t lost since 2020 and is the reigning bantamweight champion with one title defense already to his name, he’s staring down one of the more daunting challenges on paper that he could face but if he’s able to take out Dvalishvili it will be perhaps the most vindicating win thus far and would go a long way towards cementing his legacy in the division. Another close fight according to the odds, -130 on O’Malley to +110 for Dvalishvili.

Bantamweight Title Bout: (c) Sean O’Malley (18-1 1 NC, 135 lbs.) vs. #1 Merab Dvalishvili (17-4, 134 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: O’Malley is five inches taller with four inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, O’Malley fighting southpaw. Some feints from Dvalishvili, we get a time out as the ref needs to get the fighters to not yell at each others corner. That’s a new one for me. Dvalishvili throws some high kicks as he starts backing O’Malley up. Right to the body from O’Malley then he misses a wheel kick. Some stance switching from O’Malley as he circles around. The ref actually warns the corner of O’Malley for trying to coach the wrong fighter, odd that that’s against the rules but if it is then fair play. Dvalishvili keeps pressing forward and throwing kicks but they’re mostly being blocked. O’Malley misses a left hand. Bit of a right from O’Malley. O’Malley lands a jab. Dvalishvili with an inside leg kick. They trade lefts, O’Malley landed better. Dvalishvili blocks a one two then pushes into a clinch and gets O’Malley down against the cage. 2 minutes in the round, O’Malley wall walks but Dvalishvili is on his back and landing knees as he works mat returns. Some short rights from Dvalishvili but O’Malley is able to spin free and reset. Flurry from Dvalishvili and he hits a single leg to get on top, O’Malley scrambles up but Dvalishvili jumps on a guillotine choke and rolls that into a front headlock against the fence. O’Malley is able to wall walk and get free but takes a left hand along the way. Dvalishvili avoids a spinning kick, that’ll be the last action of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dvalishvili

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Dvalishvili circling and bouncing around that man has absurd energy. O’Malley blocks a high kick. Bit of a right to the body from O’Malley. Dvalishvili feints his way forward but very little comes of it. Bit of a right from O’Malley but Dvalishvili hits a double leg into half guard. O’Malley shrimps to full guard but he’s well away from the fence. Dvalishvili with some body to head punches. O’Malley tries to work rubber guard but Dvalishvili pressures through it and keeps landing small body to head punches. Elbow from Dvalishvili. O’Malley tries an armbar, the ref breaks the attempt because O’Malley grabbed inside the glove to set it up and they restart with Dvalishvili back on top. Dvalishvili passes to half guard and lands punches to the kidney while O’Malley tries to get his guard working. O’Malley is able to get to his knees but Dvalishvili pushes him back over, he lands punches as O’Malley gets to his seat against the fence. More punches from Dvalishvili as he moves to the ride position, O’Malley is trying to base up and stand but Dvalishvili keeps landing punches and knees to the leg. Dvalishvili with rights, he thinks about a guillotine as O’Malley is seated, Dvalishvili let go of the choke for some reason and O’Malley lands a couple of punches because Dvalishvili seemed to think the round was over or something similar. The round ends right after that but this has been a weird fight in some ways.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dvalishvili, 20-18 Dvalishvili overall

ROUND THREE: Dvalishvili back to dancing and trying to get O’Malley out of position. O’Malley is trying to feint, he lands a front kick. Bit of a right to the body from O’Malley, that’s been his most useful weapon so far. Dvalishvili keeps coming forward, he baits out a few punches that miss then pushes into a clinch. Knee to the head from Dvalishvili and O’Malley sinks to a knee. Bit of a front headlock from Dvalishvili and he keeps kneeing the thigh and head whenever O’Malley makes that legal. O’Malley is up and able to spin free but he’s getting a little flatter on his feet. Bit of a high kick from O’Malley. Dvalishvili misses a high kick. A few inside leg kicks from Dvalishvili, his feinting and pressure is freezing a lot of O’Malley’s offense. O’Malley avoids a single leg. Dvalishvili with some calf kicks, both inside and outside then he avoids the punches from O’Malley. O’Malley avoids a knee tap. Dvalishvili with a right hand after O’Malley avoided an ankle pick. One two from O’Malley, his best punch of the fight was in there. Left hand then a knee from O’Malley, Dvalishvili just smiles at him but that closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 O’Malley but could have gone the other way, 29-28 Dvalishvili overall

ROUND FOUR: Dvalishvili looks to keep up the pressure as the round begins. Right to the body from O’Malley. Inside leg kick from Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili avoids a body shot. A lot of forward motion from Dvalishvili this round, he lands a bit of a left. O’Malley lands a left hand. Double leg from Dvalishvili and he’s on top in full guard. Dvalishvili quickly passes to half guard, O’Malley did land an elbow and looks to have cut Dvalishvili. A few lefts from Dvalishvili land. Dvalishvili moves to half guard on the other side and lands some short elbows. O’Malley keeps trying to leg pummel but he’s a step behind Dvalishvili thus far on that front. Dvalishvili lands a few hammer fists, O’Malley is able to get to his knees but Dvalishvili is on his back landing some punches then as O’Malley stands he gets on his back and pushes him to the fence. Knees to the leg from Dvalishvili as he’s riding O’Malley to his knees. Dvalishvili just never stops working, he lands some lefts as he’s got O’Malley back on the mat and holding butterfly guard. Elbow from Dvalishvili, O’Malley sits on the fence again and Dvalishvili grabs a front headlock then lands punches. O’Malley is just getting beaten up now as Dvalishvili unloads, O’Malley stands and gets free just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dvalishvili, 39-37 Dvalishvili overall

ROUND FIVE: Dvalishvili back to circling and trying to goad O’Malley into overcommitting his weight. Bit of an inside leg kick from Dvalishvili. O’Malley misses a body shot. Lovely double leg from Dvalishvili, he gets to the ride position very quickly as O’Malley moves to the fence and then Dvalishvili starts landing knees to the leg. More knees from Dvalishvili then a right hand as O’Malley stands. They break, then O’Malley lands a left hand. Bit of a front kick from O’Malley. Dvalishvili tries a single leg but O’Malley gets free. O’Malley lands a front kick, Dvalishvili didn’t like that one and O’Malley then lands a spinning kick to the body. Another front kick from O’Malley, then he avoids a takedown attempt. Dvalishvili doesn’t like that body work, he tries to force a clinch but can’t find control. Front kick from O’Malley again but he’s got 35 seconds to find a finish. Dvalishvili blocks a few kicks. Left hand from O’Malley then Dvalishvili hits a single leg and ends the fight standing over O’Malley.

SCORECARD: 10-9 O’Malley, 48-47 Dvalishvili overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47 x2)

Dvalishvili is over the moon as the belt is placed around him, he gets on the mic and gives love to his coaches. He says he didn’t feel like he was fighting for the belt because he works like he’s fighting for it all the time so this was a normal day and he can’t believe this is real. He puts over O’Malley as good but he knew he could make him look normal and feels he proved he’s the best fighter in the UFC. Asked about the fight he says this was about what he expected and puts over his training partners for getting him ready and isn’t surprised by the scoring even because MMA judging is kind of bad. Asked next about fighting Umar Nurmagomedov he says he’ll talk with Dana White and hopefully hash out what’s next. Rogan has to cut off his rambling, much as I appreciate his enthusiasm that needed to be cut off so good call whoever made it.

Well on that note UFC 306 comes to a close. The production started a little rough but by the time we got to the main card they absolutely made great use of the Sphere’s capabilities. We’ll be unpacking all the results from this card on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast which I hope you’re listening to. There’s no UFC event next week but in two weeks we’ve got the UFC returning to France for a card headlined by Renato Moicano and Benoit Saint-Denis. I hope you’ll be back for that one. With that in the books I’d like to thank you for reading, please stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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