UFC 306 LIVE: Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili headline unique ‘Noche’ event at Sphere
Follow live, as Sean O’Malley defends his bantamweight belt against Merab Dvalishvili in Las Vegas
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In the main event of UFC 306 tonight, Sean O’Malley takes on Merab Dvalishvili in a highly-anticipated bantamweight title fight.
“Sugar Sean” O’Malley is making his second defence of the belt, having won it from Aljamain Sterling with a picture-perfect knockout last August, before retaining it with a masterclass against Marlon Vera in March.
The American star may face a stern test in Las Vegas, however, as he encounters a challenger on a 10-fight win streak. Georgia’s Dvalishvili enters the Sphere on the back of three straight victories against former champions: Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and Jose Aldo.
And in the co-main event of UFC 306, Alexa Grasso defends her flyweight title against divisional icon Valentina Shevchenko, in a long-awaited trilogy bout. Grasso submitted Shevchenko in a shock result in 2022, before the pair fought to a controversial draw in 2023.
Elsewhere at UFC 306, which has also been branded ‘UFC Noche’ as a celebration of Mexican fighting on the nation’s Independence weekend, Diego Lopes fights Brian Ortega. Follow live updates and results from UFC 306, below.
UFC 306 LIVE: Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont
Round one
Bruce Buffer does his spiel and Irene Aldana produces a death stare for the ages. Not. One. Blink.
Both feeling each other out for the first couple minutes, Dumont coming in with a couple overhands that seem to clip Aldana but nothing particularly damaging.
Dumont then connects with something more meaningful as she fakes the overhand right before catching Aldana with a sharp left hook. Another nice right with thirty seconds to go as Dumont continues to dodge whatever her opponent follows up with.
Impressive first five minutes from the Brazilian.
UFC 306 LIVE: Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont
Time for our featured prelim of the night. Aldana will hope a big win over Dumont can propel her back into the bantamweight title picture.
UFC 306 LIVE: Manuel Torres vs Ignacio Bahamondes
Round one
Cagey first minute as Torres goes for a body kick but slips and ends up on his behind. Begins to connect with more meaningful strikes and gets Bahamondes up against the cage, closing his opponent down and not allowing him to utilise his trademark length - at least initally.
Bahamondes shakes Torres off and connects with a beautiful leg kick to the back of the neck. It knocks Torres down but he gets back up, only to be folded by a right moments later and put under a barrage of hammer fists.
Torres survives and looks to respond with some offence of his own. But with a minute to go, Bahamondes evades an overhand left to connect with another brutal right to put him on the canvas for a third time. Bahamondes unloads and Goddard steps in!
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Manuel Torres via first-round technical knockout (right hook and ground strikes, 4:02).
Add it to the highlight reel. A big fight for Bahamondes could very well be waiting in the wings.
UFC 306 LIVE: Manuel Torres vs Ignacio Bahamondes
We’ve just been treated to a video package previewing the highly anticipated rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title.
That and the entire main card still to come, kicking off at 3am BST - but now, onto our next prelim as Manuel Torres takes on human highlight reel Ignacio Bahamondes.
Walkouts imminent...
UFC 306 LIVE: Yazmin Jauregui vs Ketlen Souza
An early claim to Performance of the Night.
UFC 306 LIVE: Yazmin Jauregui vs Ketlen Souza
Round one
Early left gets through for Souza but Jauregui connects with a mean body kick. Jauregui then inadvertently connects with Souza’s groin, Herzog calls a temporary stoppage.
Back underway and Souza comes out swinging, mixing things up with a couple of combinations. Then comes the second accidental low blow - this time with Jauregui on the receiving end. Maybe time to design a women’s cup?
Clock starts ticking again and within moments, Souza hits a vicious left hook to knock Jauregui to the mat before jumping on her at lightning speed, locking in the RNC to put Jauregui to sleep!
Ketlen Souza def. Yazmin Jauregui via first-round submission (rear naked choke, 3:02).
Jauregui has only just woken up. Clinical as you like in what is undoubtedly the biggest win of Souza’s career so far.
UFC 306 LIVE: Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van
Round three
Nice one-two from Chairez but Van quickly replies with an overhand of his own. Both beginning to slow down after a gruelling first two rounds but still vast potential for a finish here.
Chairez slips and ends up his back, Van flies in with a hammer fist but doesn’t connect. Up against the cage and the pair and Van finds himself at risk of a triangle, but manages to escape and produce a fair few good ground strikes - something that could prove pivotal on the scorecards.
Not as high octane as the previous rounds but a very entertaining fight nonetheless as it goes the distance. The judges scorecards are in, and...
Joshua Van def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Superb display from Van, especially given the fact he took the fight on short notice. No training camp? No problem.
UFC 306 LIVE: Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van
Round two
Swing and a miss from Chairez and Van comes into the second looking a different man.
Brilliant combinations from Van and Chairez is stumbling on his feet in real danger. The Mexican is getting battered, the fight is maybe five seconds away from being stopped - but then out of nowhere, spinning back fist from Chairez!
Van is right back on the defensive and needs to take Chairez for a reprieve. The two get back to their feet and are going tit for tat with headshots. They end up on the ground again and Chairez goes for a guillotine, his specialist submission, but can’t lock it in.
A wild second round. Some way to start the night.
UFC 306 LIVE: Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van
Round one
Chairez starts the more aggressive and finds early success with his low kicks. Quickly becomes clear that Van is struggling to deal with the targeting of his left leg.
Growing in confidence, Chairez begins to do damage further up the body and connects with a vicious knee. With a minute to go, he connects with a one-two to knock Van down, but the American is back up instantly.
Van is able to survive for the rest of the round. Chairez will be happy with the first five minutes.
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