The UFC heads to the Sphere in Las Vegas this weekend with Sean O’Malley defending his Bantamweight Championship against Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili, while Alexa Grasso faces Valentina Shevchenko in a Flyweight title fight. Should be a fun one! For the online betting community, we’ve come up with the best betting tips ahead of this event. **Our Picks:**
**Total Odds: 75.25** **Booking Code: DNBPD**
● **Main Card:** **Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili (Bantamweight - Main Event)** This is one hell of a main event to look forward to, and it’s definitely been worth the wait. Both fighters are in top form, making it even tougher to predict. Sean O’Malley has only one career loss in 20 fights, while Merab Dvalishvili is riding a 10-fight win streak, having not lost since 2018. Dvalishvili is a relentless takedown machine—he may not be the most accurate, but he makes up for it with sheer volume. Think of him as the MMA version of Bruno Fernandes or Russell Westbrook: a bit frustrating when it’s not going well, but brilliant when it all clicks. That’s what makes this fight so exciting. O’Malley’s a striker, while Dvalishvili is all about the wrestling game. During Thursday’s press conference, Dvalishvili brought up a crucial point: he’s never been knocked out. That’s a key detail in this fight. Sean O’Malley is a KO specialist who has won 12 of his 18 fights by TKO/KO, but Dvalishvili has never lost that way in his entire career. I know it’s a bold call, but I’m sticking with it—my bet of the day is on Dvalishvili walking out of the Sphere as the new Bantamweight champion.
**Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko (Women Flyweight)** These two will face off for the third straight time this weekend. Their first fight last May saw Alexa Grasso take the Flyweight title from Valentina Shevchenko with a 4th round submission. The rematch in September ended in a draw, and now, it’s Shevchenko’s last shot to win her belt back. These two are so evenly matched, calling a winner is tough. However, we believe if it comes down to the wire, Grasso will do just enough to keep her title. Also, Grasso has gone the distance in 10 of her 20 fights, while Shevchenko has done so in 10 of 28. With them already going the distance before, we expect the same here.
**Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes (Featherweight)** These two were supposed to meet at UFC 303, but Brian Ortega had to pull out just hours before the fight, leaving Diego Lopes to take on Dan Ige on short notice. With a game plan meant for Ortega, Lopes struggled a bit against Ige but got the unanimous decision win. That marked his 4th straight victory and 6th in his last 7 fights - 3 of those wins coming in the first round. Like the kids say, **_“Diego Lopes’ bag is deep”._** He’s finished 10 fights by KO/TKO and 12 by submission, with the remaining 3 going to the judges. While Ortega has only lost 3 times in his career, all of those losses have come in his last 5 bouts. He’s clearly on the other side of his career, **_and we’re leaning on a Diego Lopes win here… if Ortega doesn’t pull out at the last minute… again._**
**Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics (Lightweight)** It would be a massive upset if Esteban Ribovics pulls off the win here, but honestly, I don’t see it happening. Zellhuber has a huge size advantage with a 6’1” frame and a 77-inch reach compared to Ribovics’ 5’11” and 69-inch reach. That pretty much takes away the threat of takedowns for Zellhuber, allowing him to get in closer on Ribovics. Sure, Ribovics has some tricks up his sleeves and is coming off a quick 37-second head kick knockout of Terrance McKinney, but Zellhuber has only lost once in his 16-fight career, and that was back in 2022. **We're playing it smart and backing Zellhuber, especially with BetKing offering the best odds for that pick.**
**Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne (Flyweight)** _Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Ronaldo is fast, has a powerful strike, and thrives under pressure (I know, I know). _ _Alright, let’s be serious—Ronaldo Rodriguez is the clear favourite in this matchup, and it’s easy to see why._ He’s the more aggressive and offensive fighter, and Osbourne will have his hands full. Even Osbourne’s one clear advantage—his size—hasn’t helped much lately, as he’s lost 4 of his last 5 fights. The tension ramped up at the press conference when Rodriguez threw some R-rated insults Osbourne’s way. Honestly, I’d love to see Osbourne give him a lesson in humility, but I can’t go with my emotions. My head is telling me to side with Ronaldo Rodriguez on this one.
● **Preliminary Card** **Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont (Women Bantamweight)** I'll keep this short. You should bet on the fight going the distance. Norma Dumont is in top form, winning 7 of her last 8 fights, with all of them being decided by the judges—including her last 4 wins. Irene Aldana hasn’t leaned on decisions as much in her career, but 3 of her last 5 fights have gone the distance. While we think Dumont will come out on top, to be safe, we’re rolling with the over on rounds.
**Edgar Chairez vs. Joshua Van (Flyweight)** After taking his first loss in the Octagon to Charles Johnson, Joshua Van is stepping in on short notice to replace Kevin Borjas, looking to bounce back with a win. Edgar Chairez, on the other hand, is coming off a victory and has made it clear that he’s aiming for back-to-back UFC wins for the first time in his career after defeating Daniel Lacerda. We think he’ll do just that. Chairez’s ability to dominate both standing and on the ground gives him the edge, and that versatility might be the difference-maker here.
**Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (Lightweight)** Manuel Torres has promised to “make sparks fly” against Ignacio Bahamondes. Honestly, he didn’t even need to say it, considering both fighters are known for their striking, but it’s still great to hear. Torres is undefeated in the UFC and holds a 15-2 career record. He knows that a win here could push him closer to the top 15 next year and put him on track for a future title shot. We’re loving his confidence heading into this fight, and we’re backing him all the way.
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