Dana White announces full Noche UFC fight card, confirms "incredible" featherweight matchup for Sphere event
UFC CEO Dana White recently unveiled the full card for Noche UFC (UFC 306), which goes down on The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. The blockbuster event at The Sphere will be a "one and done," affair according to the UFC head honcho, and is poised to become the most expensive production the Las Vegas-based organization has assembled over the years.
The event will be headlined by a bantamweight clash between reigning champion Sean O'Malley and streaking challenger Merab Dvalishvili. Meanwhile, the co-main event duties will be shouldered by women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso as she prepares to take on Valentina Shevchenko for a third consecutive time.
The card also features the rebooking of the featherweight clash between Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega that fell apart at UFC 303. Speaking about the fight during the card announcement, White said:
"Diego Lopes is taking a massive step up and facing No.3 ranked Brian Ortega. These two were supposed to fight in the co-main event of UFC 303 but the bout was moved to this card after Ortega became ill."
White added:
"These guys love to trade even though both have unbelievable jiu-jitsu. They both will fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. I can guarantee that this fight is going to be incredible."
Check out the card announcement below:
The 10-fight card will take place during Mexican Independence Weekend as a celebration of the Mexican spirit of fighting. White has confirmed that the UFC has already shelled out $17 million on the production of the event.
Check out the full card below:
- Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili
- Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko
- Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
- Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber
- Ode Osbourne vs. Ronaldo Rodríguez
- Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Manuel Torres
- Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont
- Kevin Borjas vs. Edgar Chairez
- Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza
- Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aori Qileng
Dana White sheds light on Noche UFC featuring a 10-fight card
Noche UFC will feature a 10-fight card, unlike a standard UFC event which features 12 fights. The card will be headlined by UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley taking on Merab Dvalishvili, who's on a 10-fight win streak.
Earlier this year, UFC CEO Dana White reiterated that the upcoming event at The Sphere will 'be a f*cking love letter to the Mexican people.' Reflecting on the 10-fight card in a recent interaction on The Pat McAfee Show, White said:
"We’re going to do 10 (fights). There will be a main, co-main, and obviously this card will be very Mexican-heavy. I’m already $17 million into this thing, and we’re not anywhere near September yet. I keep telling you guys... It’s gonna be the most unique, bada*s show you’ve ever seen in sports.”
Catch White's comments below: