Mid-Package Picks for Two Sphere Title Fights

The UFC returns to its home base this week, but for the first time ever it will take place inside the legendary Sphere arena, with a pair of world title fights topping the bill, along with Mexican Independence Day celebrations.

UFC 306 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

For more on UFC 306, head to MMA Junkie’s event hub.

Below you’ll find the main card selections from our 11 editors, writers, radio presenters and videographers, as well as additional analysis.

Ode Osbourne vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez

Documentation: Osbourne (12-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC), Rodriguez (16-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Last five: Osbourne 2-3, Rodriguez 5-0
Department: Flyweight
Rankings: Thread
Rates (as of 09.13.24): Osbourne +130, Rodriguez -155
Junkie Selection Results: Rodriguez 9, Osbourne 2

Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber

Documentation: Rybović (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Last five: Ribovics 4-1, Zellhuber 4-1
Department: Light
Rankings: Thread
Rates (as of 09.13.24): Rybovic +190, Zellhuber -230
Junkie Selection Results: Zellhuber 11, Rybovics 0

Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega

Documentation: Lopes (25-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC)
Last five: Lopes 4-1, Ortega 2-3
Department: Featherweight
Rankings: Ortega No. 7, Lopes No. 15
Rates (as of 09.13.24): Lopez -200, Ortega +165
Junkie Selection Results: Lopez 11, Ortega 0

Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko

Documentation: Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC)
Last five: Grasso 4-0-1, Shevchenko 3-1-1
Department: Women’s Flyweight
Rankings: Grasso No. 1, No. 3 pound for pound; Shevchenko No. 2, No. 4 pound for pound
Rates (as of 09.13.24): Grasso -130, Shevchenko +110
Junkie Selection Results: Grasso 6, Shevchenko 5

Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

Documentation: O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC), Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC)
Last five: O’Malley 5-0, Dvalishvili 4-1
Department: Bantam weight
Rankings: O’Malley #1, #6 pound for pound; Dvalishvili #2, honorable mention pound for pound
Rates (as of 09.13.24): O’Malley -125, Dvalishvili +105
Junkie Selection Results: O’Malley 6, Dvalishvili 5

Preliminary card selections

While they don’t count toward the standings, the MMA Junkie staff still picks the fights in the eliminations. Here are the results:

• Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont: Aldana 9, Dumont 2
• Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Manuel Torres: Torres 6, Bahamondes 5
• Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza: Jauregui 11, Souza 0
• Edgar Chairez vs. Joshua Van: From 8, Chair 3
• Aori Qileng vs. Raul Rosas Jr.: Roses 11, Qileng 0

Check out all the major card types below.

For more on UFC 306, head to MMA Junkie’s event hub.