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We are now just 10 days away from Noche UFC 306. This event promises to be one of the biggest of 2024.
Noche UFC 306: Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili is set to feature two title fights, as well as some other intriguing fights. However, there are plenty of questions around this event too, questions that will hopefully be answered once things are all said and done next weekend.
With that in mind, here are five questions that could be answered at Noche UFC 306: Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.
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#5. Can any of the Mexican prospects on the card mark themselves out?
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Despite being the first show to take place at Las Vegas' Sphere - a decision made through necessity, according to Dana White - the card at Noche UFC 306 isn't that star-studded.
Instead, like the last Noche event, this one has a distinctly Mexican feel, with a number of Mexican or Mexican-American prospects in action.
The big question, then, is whether any of them can break out as potential contenders with a big win here. The most likely suspects to do this are lightweights Daniel Zellhuber and Manuel Torres, as well as New Mexico's teenage bantamweight sensation Raul Rosas Jr.
All three men have been matched with beatable foes, meaning none will climb into the top 15 with a win here. However, if they can produce a highlight reel finish, it'll be hard to stop hype from quickly surrounding them.
Rosas Jr, in particular, has a certain level of star quality already and is almost guaranteed to receive a big push from White and company if he keeps winning and improving.
For these fighters, then, being involved on a less-than-packed event could represent a major opportunity rather than a negative. To see whether any of them step up to the plate will be fascinating.
#4. Can Diego Lopes realize his potential by beating a top contender in Brian Ortega?
Outside of the two title fights, the best fight on tap at Noche UFC 306 is the featherweight clash between former title challenger Brian Ortega and fast-rising star Diego Lopes.
Given that Ortega is currently ranked at No.3 in the division, which has a new champion in Ilia Topuria, the winner of this one could easily challenge for the gold soon.
While 'T-City' is the higher ranked of the two, though, there's more intrigue around Lopes. The Mexico-based Brazilian has won his last four bouts since a late-notice debut in 2023, and he appears to have all the talent needed to rise to the very top. However, there's no doubt that this will be his toughest test yet.
Ortega is battle-hardened, having fought everyone from Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar to Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez. He can take a foe out in an instant both standing or on the ground.
Lopes appears to have a similar skill-set, but whether his full-throttle approach will work against someone as dangerous as 'T-City' remains to be seen.
If he can win, though, nobody will ever question him again. To see what he can produce here should be one of the event's most intriuging moments.
#3. Will the Grasso vs. Shevchenko rivalry finally end here?
There have been plenty of trilogies in the history of the UFC, and it's fair to say that most of them ended in climactic fashion, with one fighter winning two of the three bouts.
When Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko look to settle their score at Noche UFC 306, though, that may not be the case.
That's because their second fight, which took place at last year's Noche show, went to a draw. Therefore, if Shevchenko wins here, there'd be an argument to suggest a fourth fight might be needed.
What would that mean for the flyweight division? It might prove to be a little frustrating. After all, seeing a title picture dominated by a single rivalry for the best part of three years is rare.
More to the point, even in a thin weight class, there are hot contenders like Manon Fiorot and Maycee Barber waiting for an opportunity at the title.
Of course, if Grasso wins, this whole point would be moot and the division would - incredibly - seem ready to move on from the Shevchenko era.
Quite which way this one goes is hard to tell, making it a huge question mark going into the event next weekend.
#2. Will Merab Dvalishvili make the same mistakes as Aljamain Sterling against Sean O'Malley?
Noche UFC 306's headliner will see current bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley defend his crown against top contender Merab Dvalishvili.
In many ways, it feels like a title shot has been a long time coming for 'The Machine'. Unbeaten in his last 10 fights dating back to 2018, he's had to go through a murderer's row to get this far, beating three former UFC champions in Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo.
The big question around the Georgian here, then, is whether he can stick to a wrestling-heavy gameplan to look to control and beat O'Malley.
It's something his teammate and friend Aljamain Sterling failed miserably to do when he faced 'Sugar' last August.
After a decent first round, 'Funk Master' was drawn in by O'Malley's languid style early in the second round. Rather than look to take him down, he entered into a firefight with him and paid the price, being knocked out and losing his title.
Given that Dvalishvili is arguably not as skilled a striker as Sterling, if he attempts to stand with 'Sugar', he's probably going to be cooked. So can he avoid this mistake?
His recent performances would suggest yes, as he was never drawn into a brawl by Yan or Cejudo. However, O'Malley is a different proposition thanks to his range, striking skills and ability to get into the head of his foe.
Essentially, this fight could well hinge on Dvalishvili's ability to close the distance and get hold of 'Sugar'. If he makes the same error as Sterling and doesn't go all-out for that, he's likely doomed. To see whether he can avoid that error will be fascinating.
#1. Can Sean O'Malley become the UFC's new poster boy?
With Conor McGregor's days competing in the octagon seemingly numbered, the UFC is basically in need of a new poster-boy. One fighter who feels likely to grasp that mantle is current bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley.
Like McGregor, 'Sugar' is a naturally gifted, charismatic striker who has backed up every word he's ever said. He's sniped his way through the 135-pound division, culminating with his title win over Aljamain Sterling last year.
That knockout win instantly went viral, increasing O'Malley's star power tenfold. However, since then he's only fought once, beating Marlon Vera in a one-sided bout earlier this year.
While that fight was important in the sense that it allowed him to avenge the only loss of his career, it wasn't quite a defining win. Everyone expected him to beat 'Chito' anyway.
At Noche UFC 306, though, 'Sugar' will face Merab Dvalishvili, a fighter who has won his last 10 bouts and looks basically unstoppable right now.
If O'Malley can down the Georgian, then not only will any doubts around his ability vanish, but suddenly, all kinds of avenues might open up for him. He'd be a truly dominant champ who could basically make his own calls.
More to the point, he'd probably be better-suited than any other fighter to head up the post-McGregor era in the UFC. Therefore, to see whether he can pull it off and succeed is definitely the biggest question going into next weekend's event.
