The Sphere, the new multimedia event venue in Las Vegas, stole the show at UFC 306 dedicated to Mexico on Saturday night.
But Merab Dvalishvili delivered a memorable performance to claim the bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Sean O’Malley.
The judges scored it 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 in favor of Dvalishvili (18-4), a 33-year-old Georgian who used outstanding tactics on the ground to control the action against O’Malley (18-2), a slight favorite from Phoenix.
Kyrgyzstani Valentina Shevchenko (24-4-1) reclaimed the featherweight championship, winning 50-45 on all three judges’ scorecards in her bout against Mexican Alexa Grasso (16-4-1).
The show at The Sphere was unlike any other in UFC history. It aimed to make the most of the 15,000-square-meter high-definition screen to create the sensation that the fight was taking place in outer space.
Dana White, UFC president, stated that this event was a “love letter to Mexico.” It showcased content about the history and culture of the neighboring country during the weekend of its independence celebration.
There were seven Mexican fighters on the card, including Grasso. And the shout of “Mexico” erupted from the crowd several times.
The Aztec pyramids appeared to float during a fight in the octagon. And the atmosphere shifted from night to day.
Another fight took place with a Día de Muertos theme, which included costumed skeletons.