UFC 306 predictions: Down-the-middle picks for both Sphere title fights

The UFC is back in its home base this week, but at the already legendary Sphere for the first time with a pair of title fights at the top of the card, plus a celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

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

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

Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Ode Osbourne vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez

Records: Osbourne (12-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC), Rodriguez (16-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Past five: Osbourne 2-3, Rodriguez 5-0
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 09.13.24): Osbourne +130, Rodriguez -155
Junkie pick results: Rodriguez 9, Osbourne 2

Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber

Records: Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Past five: Ribovics 4-1, Zellhuber 4-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 09.13.24): Ribovics +190, Zellhuber -230
Junkie pick results: Zellhuber 11, Ribovics 0

Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega

Records: Lopes (25-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC)
Past five: Lopes 4-1, Ortega 2-3
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Ortega No. 7, Lopes No. 15
Odds (as of 09.13.24): Lopes -200, Ortega +165
Junkie pick results: Lopes 11, Ortega 0

Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko

Records: Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC)
Past five: Grasso 4-0-1, Shevchenko 3-1-1
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Grasso No. 1, No. 3 pound-for-pound; Shevchenko No. 2, No. 4 pound-for-pound
Odds (as of 09.13.24): Grasso -130, Shevchenko +110
Junkie pick results: Grasso 6, Shevchenko 5

Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

Records: O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC), Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC)
Past five: O’Malley 5-0, Dvalishvili 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: O’Malley No. 1, No. 6 pound-for-pound; Dvalishvili No. 2, honorable mention pound-for-pound
Odds (as of 09.13.24): O’Malley -125, Dvalishvili +105
Junkie pick results: O’Malley 6, Dvalishvili 5

Preliminary card picks

Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:

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

Check out all the main card picks below.

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