Mediocre tips for two Sphere title fights

The UFC returns to its home base this week, but for the first time at the already legendary Sphere, culminating with two title fights and a celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

UFC 306 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) takes place on Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Below you will find the results of the main card selections from our 11 editors, writers, radio presenters and videographers as well as additional analysis.

Ode Osbourne vs Ronaldo Rodriguez

Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne

Records: Osbourne (12-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC), Rodriguez (16-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
After five: Osbourne 2:3, Rodriguez 5:0
Division: Flyweight
Ranking: None
Odds (as of 13.09.24): Osbourne +130, Rodriguez -155
Junkie Pick Results: Rodriguez 9, Osbourne 2

Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics

Records: Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
After five: Ribovics 4:1, Zellhuber 4:1
Division: Light
Ranking: None
Odds (as of 13.09.24): Ribovics +190, Zellhuber -230
Junkie Pick Results: Zellhuber 11, Ribovics 0

Diego Lopes vs Brian Ortega

Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes

Records: Lopes (25-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC)
After five: Lopes 4:1, Ortega 2:3
Division: Featherweight
Ranking: Ortega No. 7, Lopes No. 15
Odds (as of 13.09.24): Lopes -200, Ortega +165
Junkie Pick Results: Lopes 11, Ortega 0

Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko

Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko

Records: Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC)
After five: Grasso 4-0-1, Shevchenko 3-1-1
Division: Women's flyweight
Ranking: Grasso No. 1, No. 3 pound for pound; Shevchenko No. 2, No. 4 pound for pound
Odds (as of 13.09.24): Grasso -130, Shevchenko +110
Junkie Pick Results: Grasso 6, Shevchenko 5

Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

Records: O'Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC), Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC)
After five: O'Malley 5:0, Dvalishvili 4:1
Division: Bantamweight
Ranking: O'Malley No. 1, No. 6 pound for pound; Dvalishvili No. 2, honorable mention pound for pound
Odds (as of 13.09.24): O'Malley -125, Dvalishvili +105
Junkie Pick Results: O'Malley 6, Dvalishvili 5

Preliminary card selection

Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont

Although they don't count toward the rankings, the MMA Junkie staff selects the fights in the preliminary rounds. Here are the results:

• Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont: Aldana 9, Dumont 2
• Ignacio Bahamondes vs Manuel Torres: Torres 6, Bahamas 5
• Yazmin Jauregui vs Ketlen Souza: Jauregui 11, Souza 0
• Edgar Chairez vs. Joshua Van: Van 8, Chairman 3
• Aori Qileng vs. Raul Rosas Jr.: Rosas 11, Qileng 0

Check out all the major card selections below.

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.