UFC 306 FAQ: What to know and expect ahead of anticipated Sphere event

It’s the start of another UFC fight week, yet this one has a unique flair to it with Saturday’s anticipated event taking place at the ballyhooed Sphere in Las Vegas. 

UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili, formally titled “Riyadh Season Noche UFC” as part of the organization’s landmark partnership for its first event title sponsorship, is the first live sporting event set to take place at the unique entertainment arena that typically hosts stage performances.

Sean O’Malley will aim to defend his bantamweight title against No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili in the main event, and current women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso faces former longtime champ Valentina Shevchenko as they conclude their trilogy in the co-main event.

However, it is the venue itself that could end up being the star of the show when all is said and done.

UFC CEO Dana White has promised it will be “the greatest live combat sports show anybody has ever seen.”

With that in mind, here’s what you need to know this week ahead of the anticipated event expected to be a one-off visual spectacle.

WHEN AND WHERE DO THE FESTIVITIES TAKE PLACE?

Media Day: Official UFC 306 events begin Wednesday at the UFC Apex, where athletes will speak with gathered reporters to answer questions about the event and their upcoming matchups three days prior to competing. Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter will be in Las Vegas so stay tuned in to Sportsnet.ca throughout the week for one-on-one fighter interviews.

Pre-fight press conference: These are typically reserved for featured main card fighters only, however due to the special nature of this event all 20 fighters will attend on Thursday. Fans can stream the press conference on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 9:50 p.m. ET/6:50 p.m. PT. 

Official weigh-ins: All fighters will have a two-hour window early on Friday (noon ET to 2 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT to 11 a.m. PT) to step on the scale and get down to their contracted weight. These take place at the UFC Apex.

Ceremonial weigh-ins: Later on Friday, once all official weights have been recorded and the athletes have begun rehydrating, they will participate in the ceremonial weigh-ins outside of the Sphere where they will face off on the eve of the card. Fans can stream these weigh-ins on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 9:50 p.m. ET / 6:50 p.m. PT.

UFC 306: The fights take place Saturday with preliminary coverage on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+ getting underway around 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT and is available to purchase on Sportsnet+.

WHO IS PARTICIPATING?

The UFC usually schedules their fight cards to holds anywhere from 11 to 14 bouts, but UFC 306 is a compact 10-fight lineup.

There will be an added emphasis on visual presentation so the organization limited this event to 10 total bouts. 

The two title fights are scheduled for five five-minute rounds; the eight non-title fights are set for three five-minutes rounds each.

MAIN CARD

-- Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili (for men’s bantamweight title)

-- Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko (for women’s flyweight title)

-- Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes

-- Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics

-- Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode' Osbourne

PRELIMINARY CARD

-- Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont

-- Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes

-- Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza

-- Edgar Chairez vs. Joshua Van

-- Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng

Commentary Team: Joe Rogan returns to the broadcast after two consecutive international pay-per-view cards that he did not attend. Rogan will be joined by Jon Anik on play-by-play and Daniel Cormier as the other analyst.

This trio has become known for their cageside reactions to highlight finishes. Fans can be certain they will also react to the unique visuals that will be on display.

HOW DID THE EVENT COME TOGETHER?

It all began when Dana White and his pal, Tom Brady, attended a U2 Sphere concert roughly 11 months ago.

Aaron Bronsteter recently spoke with Craig Borsari to get the full story. The UFC’s chief content officer and executive producer went into detail about some of the technical aspects involved in the production, direction, lighting, storytelling and coordination of the first-time endeavour.

WHAT MAKES THIS EVENT SPECIAL?

In addition to the venue being billed as the star of the show, so to speak, UFC 306 will continue a tradition of holding a big combat sports event around Mexican Independence Day. 

White has said the event will be a “love letter” to Mexico and serve as a celebration of the Mexican people and their contributions to combat sports over the years.

All but two of the fights on Saturday will feature a Mexican-born fighter — but that’s not all.

Fighter Kits: To mark the occasion, competing fighters will all get unique fighter kits specifically designed for the event. Various designs will pay homage to Mexican Independence and gods of ancient Aztec mythology. 

Octagon Girls: Most numbered UFC events have three Octagon Girls on duty. Saturday’s event is set to feature eight new Octagon Girls — six native-born Mexican women and two are second-generation Mexican — wearing custom wardrobe and makeup that will align with each film/theme that is presented during the card.

SPHERE FACTOIDS

Other notable Sphere events to date include the 2024 NHL Draft this past June and concerts from rock bands U2, Phish and Dead & Company, with the Eagles set to take over the venue later this month following UFC 306.

Below are some additional Sphere facts provided by the UFC (edited for brevity and clarity):

-- The screen is 160,000 sq. ft. and 16K x 16K resolution interior display plane. In comparison, an IMAX movie screen is less than 4,000 sq. ft

-- It has the world’s highest resolution LED display and most advanced concert-grade audio system.

-- It will be the first time UFC has ever used haptic seats during an event. Haptic seats will provide force feedback based on the action in the Octagon.

-- The Exosphere will be utilized throughout the night with key art and highlights to bring fans closer to the event

-- In-house stats and information feeds will showcase real-time stats and fighter information integrated onto the interior display plane of Sphere

-- This will be the first time that the UFC utilizes TAIT’s Automated Camera System during an event

-- It will be the first time at a UFC event that fans in attendance can listen to live audio for the whole event in Spanish

-- It will also feature the premiere of a film narrated by Gael Garcia Bernal and scored by composer Germaine Franco titled "For Mexico, For All Time" that will be told in six 90-second chapters woven into the event presentation shown on the interior display plane of Sphere throughout the pay-per-view portion of the event. Each chapter focuses on a different period in Mexican history and its influence on the makeup of Mexican identity.