UFC celebrates Mexican Independence Day with a once-in-a-lifetime event at Sphere in Las Vegas, headlined by two blockbuster championship bouts. UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley collides with surging No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili, plus, UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso runs it back with former titleholder Valentina Shevchenko.

UFC 306: O'Malley vs Dvalishvili takes place Saturday, September 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas with the main card at 10pm ET/7pm PT on PPV.

Championship bouts scheduled for five rounds. All other bouts scheduled for three rounds.

Ronaldo Rodriguez was on the brink of being finished, perhaps twice, in the opening round, but “Lazy Boy” survived and rallied, opening the Noche UFC pay-per-view main card with a win for Mexico.

Osbourne dropped Rodriguez with a counter right hook in the center of the Octagon early in the first, chasing him to the canvas and eventually locking down a deep triangle choke off his back. Somehow, Rodriguez was able to escape, both the hold and the round, rallying with a strong effort of his own in the second before the close action in the third ended with Rodriguez in top position, attacking with punches and elbows.

When the scores were added up and the verdict was read aloud, it was Rodriguez that came out ahead, earning a clean sweep of the scorecards to collect his second UFC victory. The 25-year-old has quickly established himself as a highly entertaining addition to the flyweight division, and should continue to be fun to watch going forward.

Daniel Zellhuber and Esteban Ribovics locked horns in an outstanding back-and-forth kickboxing battle in the second main card bout of the evening, ramping up the output and intensity with each successive round.

Through the first two rounds, the ascending lightweights effectively ran level, with Zellhuber landing with superior variety, but Ribovics having success of his own while staying more basic with his attacks. Business picked up in the third, with Zellhuber stinging Ribovics early in the round and the Argentine responding by hurting his Mexican adversary badly, before Zellhuber managed to steady himself, with the two slugging it out right through to the final horn.

This was an absolute barnburner and ultra-close as well, leaving everyone wondering how the judges would score the contest. All three judges had the fight 29-28, with Ribovics coming out on the happy side of the split decision verdict.

Just an absolutely thrilling battle between two surging talents and Dana White’s Contender Series grads.

The UFC is headed to Sin City this weekend for UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili. The main event is a title fight between American Sean “Suga” O’Malley (18-1-0) defending his bantamweight championship belt against Georgian fighter Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (17-4-0).

Sean O'Malley: The Rise of 'Suga'

Three men sit on a sofa. The one on the right warbles on a flute, the middle strums a guitar and the one on the left slowly taps away on a tambourine. As one commentor on the video puts it: “I’d love to show this to someone and tell them to guess who the UFC 135lbs champ is.” The commentor is right. Sean O’Malley, sitting on the left with the tambourine, is one of the most talented fighters in the world and has one of the most colorful personalities – and hairstyles – in the UFC. Known for his creative social media output and seismic success in the Octagon, O’Malley has quickly become a fan favorite and UFC champion.

Not only does his unique look help him stand out – face tattoos and a vivid hairstyle are part of the 29-year-old’s unique image – but also his nickname: “Suga.” The nickname was given to him by his first coach, Johnny Aho, back in his hometown Helena, Montana, because O’Malley was “just so sweet to watch.” O’Malley describes his fighting style to CNN Sport as being “beautiful, violent, but not a violent act.” He has more than lived up to that billing.

20 professional fights, 18 wins, one loss and one no contest have left O’Malley atop the UFC bantamweight division, having successfully defended his title once already. He will make second title defense against Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili on September 14 at UFC 306. But that journey to the top of the sport’s most popular list hasn’t always been a straightforward one.

O'Malley's Road to Redemption

O’Malley was on the way up. In 2018, his star was ascendant and he was a fighter who was predicted for the very top. But then he couldn’t fight any longer. O’Malley said on social media that he was withdrawing from his fight against Jose Quiñonez on October 6, 2018 at UFC 229 after failing a drugs test. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the UFC’s anti-doping partner, later announced that O’Malley had tested positive for the prohibited substance ostarine – defined by USADA as a “non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents” – in out-of-competition tests from 2018. He was suspended for six months as a result, while he also underwent hip surgery during that time.

He was scheduled to make his return to action on July 6, 2019 at UFC 239 but shortly beforehand, he was pulled from action after once again testing positive for ostarine. He was handed a further six month suspension after USADA’s “investigation into O’Malley’s positive tests, including extensive follow-up testing, his agreement to keep a food log, his increased level of care in selecting supplements, and finding no evidence of intentional use.” USADA said that the “pattern of low urinary ostarine concentrations observed in multiple samples provided by O’Malley was consistent with exposure to ostarine as a contaminant.” The enforced two-year break took a toll on his mental health – he told the UFC’s website that he dealt with his share of “depression” and “anxiety” – while he also spent the time asserting his innocence. But he made sure to keep everything in perspective in that time away.

Despite the personal setback, O’Malley used that time to hone his skills. “I feel like I’m twice as good. Overall, I’m stronger in every aspect,” he told MMA Fighting after his return.

And when he did eventually make his comeback, he came back with a bang. Two first-round knockouts reestablished his reputation as one of the UFC’s most explosive fighters.

O'Malley's Comeback Trail

But O’Malley was dealt another blow when he lost to Marlon Vera in late 2020, his first career defeat. O’Malley seemed hampered by an injury to his leg sustained after a devasting kick from his Ecuadorian opponent. After the fight, O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch revealed he had suffered damage to his peroneal nerve which prohibited blood flow to his right foot. Although O’Malley called it an accident, but Welch said on his YouTube channel that he felt responsibility for what transpired, saying the ankle wraps were too tight and that he should have delayed the beginning of the encounter to get them redone.

While some fighters might have had their confidence rocked by their first defeat, O’Malley suffered from none of these issues. He rattled off three straight wins to vault himself back up the rankings before his fight against Pedro Munhoz was ruled no contest due to an accidental eye poke from O’Malley. With his form reestablished, O’Malley showed why he was seen as the next big star. First, he beat former bantamweight champion Petr Yan and then obtained the division’s title belt for himself with a stunning knockout of Aljamain Sterling last year.

With all that hype now surrounding him, O’Malley tells CNN it never became too much. “I never really felt that pressure of having to perform. I always kind of, I enjoy it. I get to go out there and do that, so I’m excited.” But one challenge remained before he could cement himself at the top of the sport; revenge against Vera.

The Return of 'Suga'

O’Malley vs. Vera 2 was booked for March 9 earlier this year. In traditional O’Malley fashion, he arrived to his first pre-fight facedown with the Ecuadorian in flamboyant style, wearing black sunglasses, a bright green shiny coat, no shirt and white pants and white shoes. In simple terms, O’Malley looked the part. And when it came to the action in the ring, O’Malley played it.

Decked out with his blue and pink cornrows and pink fight shorts, O’Malley put in an impressive performance, using his “crisp boxing and diverse striking, sharp footwork and superior speed to batter Vera for the majority of the contest,” MMA journalist E. Spencer Kyte wrote on UFC.com. O’Malley was a deserving winner, retaining his title for the first time. Not only that, but he was the talk of the MMA world. Former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski called O’Malley’s performance “impressive,” while welterweight fighter Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson said his “feints and distance management are some of the best in the game!!!” After a rough couple of years, O’Malley was back atop his division with his unique blend of fighting skills, fashion sense and personality away from the Octagon making him a favorite among UFC fans.

The Machine is Coming

Merab Dvalishvili, O’Malley’s opponent this weekend, represents a different kind of challenge. While O’Malley is known for his striking and knockout power, Dvalishvili is a relentless wrestler with a strong grappling game. He's a formidable opponent who has been on a roll for years, winning 10 straight fights, nine by decision. Dvalishvili is also known for his work ethic and determination, which is evident in his relentless pressure in the Octagon. He is a very tough opponent who is coming in with a plan to make O'Malley's title defense as difficult as possible.

Dvalishvili has been vocal about his desire to fight O’Malley, and it’s clear that he's not intimidated by the champion's reputation. This is a fight that has the potential to be a classic, with two fighters who are at the top of their game. O’Malley will need to be on his A-game to avoid Dvalishvili’s grappling, while Dvalishvili will need to find a way to get O’Malley to the ground and keep him there. This is a fight that could go either way, and it’s sure to be an exciting one for the fans.

The 'Suga' vs. The Machine: A Tale of Two Styles

This clash of styles makes for a compelling narrative. O’Malley's striking, speed, and ability to deliver devastating knockouts are well-documented. Dvalishvili’s constant pressure and ability to impose his will on his opponents are similarly renowned. Dvalishvili is a tough, relentless fighter who is willing to push his opponents to their limits. O’Malley, on the other hand, is a fighter with a lot of flair and personality. He is a crowd favorite and has a lot of momentum coming into this fight.

The fight itself is a clash between two very different styles. O’Malley is a more flashy fighter, known for his knockout power, while Dvalishvili is a more grind-it-out fighter who relies on his wrestling and pressure. This makes for a very interesting matchup, and one that could go either way. It's a battle between the flamboyant striker and the relentless wrestler, and it’s a fight that fans are sure to be buzzing about.

This is a fight with the potential to be a classic, and one that could have major implications for the future of the bantamweight division. O’Malley is looking to cement his status as the top dog, while Dvalishvili is looking to dethrone him and claim the title for himself. This is a fight that has everything you could ask for: a title fight, a clash of styles, and two fighters who are at the top of their game. This fight is set to be a night of explosive action in Sin City, and fans are in for a treat.

UFC 306 is shaping up to be a memorable night of fights. With the main event being a clash between two of the best fighters in the bantamweight division, it's a night that fight fans won't want to miss. Whether you're a fan of O’Malley's striking or Dvalishvili's relentless pressure, this fight promises to be an exciting one. Let's see who will walk out of the Octagon with the title.