UFC 306 Preview and Predictions:

Picks contributed by Alex Henry of  Caged Thunder MMA

Okay I get it, UFC 306 might not be making headlines for sold-out arenas, but the card itself? It’s packed with intriguing matchups that deserve your attention. I know there’s been some buzz about unsold tickets, but can we be real—do we care about ticket prices? No. We’re here for the fights, and this event is stacked, especially on the main card. 

With just 10 fights, UFC 306 trims the fat and delivers quality matchups from top to bottom. Let’s dive into the ones you actually care about, starting with the main event that promises fireworks. 

The action for UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili begins with the early prelims at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT in the United States on ESPN News, ESPN+, and UFC Fight Pass. The prelims will follow at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, airing on ESPN News and ESPN+, with the main card exclusively available on ESPN+ starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. 

For more details on the broadcast schedule and event lineup, visit UFC.com. 

Sean O’Malley (c) vs. Merab Dvalishvili – Bantamweight Title Bout 

The reigning king of the bantamweight division, Sean O’Malley, is back to defend his title against relentless cardio machine Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley’s striking is elite—he’s precise, athletic, and has that sneaky knockout power. Need proof? Just look at his title defense against Chito Vera, where he landed a knee so loud it might still be echoing through Vegas. 

And let’s not overlook that while O’Malley might resemble a Hot Topic employee or a wannabe cotton candy vendor, he’s a knockout machine. On the other hand, Merab Dvalishvili is a takedown machine, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He’s relentless, but his chin has been suspect in the past. If O’Malley connects clean, this one could end fast. 

Prediction: O’Malley via TKO. Merab’s cardio might get him through, but if O’Malley lands, it’s lights out! 

Alexa Grasso (c) vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Women’s Flyweight Title 

Let’s talk trilogies! This fight has more drama than a soap opera. Alexa Grasso shocked the world when she submitted Valentina Shevchenko in their first meeting. Their second bout? A controversial draw, thanks to a random 10-8 round from one judge, and now we’re in trilogy territory. 

Here it is – Grasso’s been getting better with each fight. She’s tightening the wrestling gap, widening the speed gap, and even dropped Valentina in their last fight. Valentina’s still an elite wrestler, but Grasso’s faster, younger, and on an upward trajectory. Prediction: Grasso via decision in a close one. 

Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes – Featherweight Showdown 

Brian Ortega, please, for the love of all things MMA, make weight this time. Ortega’s last outing was a disaster after missing weight but now he’s set for a fresh start against Diego Lopes. Lopes, meanwhile, has been steadily improving and is very dangerous on the ground. 

Here’s why I’m picking Lopes – Ortega’s been inconsistent, while Lopes has been grinding! Diego’s grappling is nasty, and if this goes to the ground, I’m betting on Lopes to get the better of the exchanges. Ortega’s submissions are legendary, but Lopes has the more complete game right now. Prediction: Lopes via decision. 

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics – Lightweight Sleeper 

Here’s your sleeper Fight of the Night! Daniel Zellhuber is long, aggressive and uses his reach to control the distance, but Esteban Ribovics is no slouch. Ribovics packs sneaky power, sharp, striking, and solid wrestling. He’s coming off a brutal KO win, and the momentum is definitely on his side. 

Zellhuber might have the length advantage, but Ribovics’ overall game is cleaner, and his wrestling is a weapon Zellhuber will struggle with. Prediction: Ribovics via decision. At +180 odds, Ribovics is the underdog you want to bet on. 

Ronaldo Rodríguez vs. Ode’ Osbourne – Flyweight Feature Fight 

People are throwing shade at Ode’ Osbourne for landing on the main card, but let’s be honest —he’s always in exciting fights. Ronaldo Rodríguez is the real reason this fight’s here. He has power and a solid grappling game, but Osbourne’s striking and finishing ability make him dangerous, especially at 125 pounds. 

Rodríguez is the favorite for a reason—his BJJ is slick, and his chin can hold up. But don’t sleep on Osbourne. He’s tricky, and his southpaw stance could give Rodríguez some problems. Prediction: Rodríguez via submission. 

Notable Prelims:  

While the main card’s grabbing the spotlight, don’t sleep on these prelims:’s 

• Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng: Rosas Jr. is young and improving with every fight. Aoriqileng will test him, but this could easily be Rosas Jr.’s breakout performance. 

• Yasmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza: These are two rising contenders in the women’s division, but Jauregui’s technical striking and takedown defense give her the edge here. 

So yes, UFC 306 might not be the sell-out event of the year, but so what? The fights are where the magic happens and this card is definitely going to deliver. Don’t sleep on this card – you’ll be missing out on some seriously exciting action. Enjoy UFC 306!