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Dana White has never been so invested in the venue of a fight card as he is in the Sphere for UFC 306.

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It all started when White attended a U2 concert with Tom Brady at the Sphere in October 2023. The UFC CEO immediately started obsessing over the idea of hosting a sporting event at the venue — which ultimately led to UFC 306 being held at the venue on Saturday.

Sean O’Malley, who is one of the biggest active stars on the roster, puts his bantamweight title on the line against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event. Meanwhile, women’s flyweight champ Alexa Grasso defends her strap against Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of the card, which is also a tribute to the Mexican Independence Day. However, White emphasizes that the venue is the real star of the show at UFC 306. White is so impressed by the Sphere that he is even returning there for an Eagles concert on Sept. 27.

According to White, UFC 306 will feature a movie p…

If co-headlining a card centered on a celebration of Mexican Independence Day wasn’t enough, Alex Grasso will also get to take part in the UFC’s groundbreaking effort at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

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The reigning strawweight champion, who will face Valentina Shevchenko in the UFC 306 co-main event on Saturday, is looking forward to the experience.

“It’s huge,” she told UFC.com. “Mexico is growing so fast in MMA. We always shine in combat sports, and I think that’s something great. The UFC loves how we fight. We always go forward. This means a lot. It just keeps me thinking that I have to train harder. I feel proud and honored to be there.”

Grasso already has firsthand experience seeing what The Sphere has to offer, but fighting in the venue figures to be something different entirely. During each fight, different worlds will be shown on the massive LED screen.

“I think the experience is going to be huge because I’ve been there. I went to watch a s…

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Sean O'Malley will close the show for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s historic card at The Sphere on Saturday, but he won’t be distracted by the spectacle of it all.

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“It’s a big fight feel,” O’Malley told TMZ Sports. “It’s the first combat sporting event at The Sphere for the UFC, possibly the last for the UFC. One and done, so it’s a big deal.”

UFC 306 is expected to feature plenty of new production elements at the one-of-a-kind venue, including a movie between fights and different worlds depicted on the massive LED screen during the bouts themselves. However, when O’Malley steps into the cage to defend his bantamweight belt against Merab Dvalishvili in the evening’s headliner, his focus will be only on his opponent.

“I’m gonna show up, get into an Octagon — the same Octagon I always step into — and do what I do,” O’Malley said. “The whole presentation, the whole show, I’m really not going to enjoy it like a bystander. …

Sean Brady issued callouts to Ian Garry and Colby Covington after a win over Gilbert Burns at UFC Fight Night 242.

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Brady headlined the first UFC card of his career against Burns at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. Brady went on to outclass Burns in all aspects to grind out a unanimous decision victory, which he acknowledges as the biggest win of his career thus far.

Brady called out Garry in his post-fight Octagon interview, further elaborating on it at the post-fight media scrum. The Philadelphia native believes Garry thinks too highly of himself. Brady also called out former title challenger Covington, whom he considers the easiest matchup in the division. Brady vows to dominate “Chaos” both on the feet and in the ground in a potential matchup.

“I think Ian just thinks that he is f—-ing God’s gift to earth and he’s not. And I feel like everyone in the sport feels the same way,” Brady said. “I mean I’ll fight him, I’ll fight Colby. I th…

Cody Durden changed his nickname shortly before submitting Matt Schnell on four days’ notice.

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Schnell was originally scheduled to face Alessandro Costa in a flyweight matchup at UFC Fight Night 242 on Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas. However, an injured Costa was replaced by Durden and the bout was moved to bantamweight.

After getting rocked in an early exchange, Durden went toe-to-toe in wild slugfests throughout the first round before submitting Schnell with a ninja choke 29 seconds into the second stanza. Durden revealed that he didn’t have much preparation for the fight after having a few extra drinks the previous weekend. Durden spent the whole Monday lazing around, sparred on Tuesday and asked for the short-notice fight, which was granted.

“I didn’t have much preparation,” Durden said during a post-fight media scrum. “I had a few drinks on Sunday, probably more than I should. I laid in bed all day Monday, went back to the gym, sparred…

Cody Durden’s latest Ultimate Fighting Championship experience could not have been more fulfilling—personally, professionally or financially.

The 33-year-old Covington, Georgia, native filled in for Alessandro Costa on less than a week’s notice and put away Matt Schnell with a ninja choke in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 242 bantamweight showcase on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Durden drew the curtain 29 seconds into Round 2, where he countered an ill-advised takedown attempt with the fight-ending choke. The UFC awarded him a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his efforts.

Meanwhile, Natalia Silva and Jessica Andrade pocketed $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonuses in the aftermath of their three-round women’s flyweight co-main event. Silva outstruck the former 115-pound champion to a unanimous decision, walking away with 30-27 marks from all three judges. She now finds herself on a remarkable 12-fight winning streak.

Finally, Jacks…

The Bellator MMA lightweight championship was on the line in the main event of Bellator San Diego.

Usman Nurmagomedov put his undefeated record and title on the line against No. 1 contender Alexandr Shabliy. "Peresvet" proved tricky at first as Shabliy (24-4) was able to find a home for his quick right hand. However, Nurmagomedov (18-0, 1 NC) was the more active fighter and would sprinkle in the occasional takedown attempt to pull clearly ahead in the fight in the second and third rounds. The championship rounds would see Nurmagomedov continue controlling the fight, even hurting the challenger with a head kick in Round 4.

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After five rounds of action, Nurmagomedov's hand was raised after scores of 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 were read.Larkin Smashes Chokheli The co-main event saw the 38-year-old Lorenz Larkin take on Levan Chokheli, who was 11 years his junior. "The Monsoon" lived up to his nickname and showed that age is only a number by scoring a quick k…

Sean Brady proved that he belongs among the welterweight elite with a hard-fought victory in the UFC UFC Fight Night 242 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Brady took a well-deserved unanimous decision over former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns after five grueling rounds.

Brady (17-1, 7-1 UFC) established his jab early in the opening frame, and he backed Burns (22-8, 15-8 UFC) up against the cage on two occasions. Both men scored brief takedowns, but the round was predominantly contested in the clinch. Burns wobbled the Philadelphia native with a right hook to begin the second round, but Brady wisely tied him up in a clinch and landed one-two combos to the Brazilian’s face after the fighters separated. Brady targeted the inside and outside of Burns’ left leg with kicks as time ticked down. Early in the third round, Burns seemed to be slowing down, and Brady held him against the cage. However, a sudden burst of energy allowed Burns to score with two stro…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to its home base of the Apex in Las Vegas Saturday at 4 p.m. ET with UFC Fight Night 242. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fletcher (-145), Ramaska (+120)Round 1 Before its multimillion-dollar showcase in the Sphere next week, the UFC trots out an above-average Fight Night event to whet the whistles of fight fans while also partially counterprogramming Bellator. Assuming the bouts all remain intact—far from a guarantee in this era of the sport—a dozen matchups will litter the lineup, with some good stuff to treat those tuning in. The night kicks off with a rescheduled matchup from a card two weeks ago. Featherweight teammates on Team Shevchenko of “The Ultimate Fighter” battle it out as injured semifinalist Ramaska (9-2, 0-0 UFC) tries to make good on his first stint in the UFC, much like Nate Quarry getting to the promotion after sustaining an injury on Season 1. Fletcher (8-1, 0-0 UFC) will be standing in his way, previ…

Sherdog's live Bellator Champions Series San Diego coverage will begin Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. Round 1 Paul Buentello will be officiating this matchup of professional debutantes. Thiner takes the center of the cage and Cortez answers with a right. Thiner lands a calf kick and sneaks a left through. Cortez gets deep on a takedown attempt but can’t get it as she presses Thiner into the fence. Thiner is able to create space and she leaps in with a left hand. Thiner with a snapping inside leg kick. Cortez follows an overhand right with a level change, but Thiner reverses her against the fence. Thiner keeps heavy pressure on Cortez, and she elects to separate. Cortez shoots and eats a knee and a series of punche from Thiner, who ends the assault with an elbow. Thiner times a push kick nicely as she controls the range. Cortez is bleeding from her nose, likely a result of eating several left hands. Another push kick followed by a left from Thiner, who sprawls on a subsequent takedow…

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It has been well-documented that UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas will be an unprecedented event. Now, a few more details have come to light as to what will make it such a spectacle.

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The Sphere, a $2.3 billion venue that features a 160,000 square foot LED screen, will include a distinctly cinematic theme for UFC 306 on Sept. 14. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a film celebrating Mexico’s contribution to combat sports will run in chapters on The Sphere’s screen in between bouts.

“At the highest level, we were trying to think about, how do we put on a live MMA fight — 10 fights throughout the night — and not take away from the fight action, not take too much time in between fights where we slow things down, but also tell this other story about the Mexican people and their heritage and their culture, because it’s rich and it’s deep,” UFC chief content officer Craig Bolsari said.

UFC 306: O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili Saturday a…

Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White was a special guest at a recent luncheon hosted by the Latin Chamber of Commerce.

During the session held at the Durango Casino & Resort, White discussed a number of topics with Las Vegas entrepreneurs, including the growth of the promotion and the upcoming UFC 306 event at The Sphere, which is also a tribute to Mexican Independence Day. White also announced a donation to the Latin Chamber of Commerce.

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“I love to help small businesses,” White said (quotes via UFC.com). “People who are starting out, I love to hear their stories, what they do, and I love to support them in any way I can. More than just obviously spending money or buying things from them, to help create awareness that they exist and for people to go try their products.”UFC 306: O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order Now!

White also shared why it was so significant for the UFC to break ground in Mexico and other Lati…