Noche UFC: Three key takeaways from a groundbreaking day at the Sphere

Sunday's momentous UFC 306 card was billed as an event that would be unlike any other we'd seen and it undeniably delivered on that promise.

Fight-wise, the card may have lost some of its sparkle towards the business end of the evening but the cutting-edge technology on offer at the Vegas venue was pushed to new limits in its celebration of Mexico in a manner that will have sporting leagues green with envy.

Here are a few of the key takeaways from UFC Noche.

The Sphere delivered

You have to give Dana his flowers on this one. The borderline excessive pre-fight hype created for what was billed as a once-in-a-lifetime experience actually materialised, with a spectacular production that has set a new benchmark for innovation not simply in live sports - but live entertainment.

Keeping its powder somewhat dry through the preliminary portion of the event, the gargantuan screen exploded into life to pen the pay-per-view with a jaw-dropping introductory "chapter", setting the tone for the jaw-dropping sights to come with a thoughtful tribute to the Mexican people to commemorate their independence.

So incredibly impressive were the visuals, they almost threatened to overshadow the fights themselves. Fortunately - at least for the first three quarters - they delivered on the occasion.

There was some scepticism about how well the spectacle would translate to television screens, but the direction ensured they squeezed every cent of value out of the $20 million poured into the day to ensure those watching at home were almost equally awestruck as those who were lucky enough to have shelled out for a ticket.

And they managed to recoup plenty of that production cost on the gate, where the event pulled in $22 million, making it the highest grossing UFC event ever.

It may not have quite hit White's hyperbolic claims of "The Greatest Sports Event in History" - and the final two momentum-sapping fights should cop some blame there - but it was an incredibly unique showcase that will undoubtedly raise the global bar.

The immediate question on everyone's minds now is - when can we see it again? White maintained afterwards that it would be very much reserved for special occasions. Even an annual return to The Sphere may prove cost prohibitive.

Either way, returning to the Apex after that is going to be one hell of a comedown.

Merab shines, Suga declines

On paper, this main event seemed to be perfectly suited to the occasion. A classic striker vs grappler showdown involving arguably the brightest champion in the UFC galaxy and the no-frills grit and quirk of his relentless challenger.

Sean O'Malley seemed readymade for such a night. But his performance reeked of a fighter completely ill-prepared for the moment, as Merab Dvalishvili suffocated the life out of "Suga" and his brief title reign to put a slightly underwhelming full-stop on the promotion's big night.

O'Malley's malaise was completely out of step with what we've come to expect through a UFC tenure that has sparkled at almost every turn. There were reports days out from the fight that he was considering withdrawing due to "personal reasons", and it's hard to overlook those claims given how listless and out-of-sorts he looked in the Octagon.

He couldn't find any rhythm in the face of Dwvashvili's suffocating pressure, unable to effectively employ his reach advantage nor the renowned back-foot striking many thought would be a huge factor in deterring the Georgian's advances.

But don't get it twisted - this victory was far more about Dvalishvili and his remarkable abilities than O'Malley's shortcomings, as 'The Machine' lived up to his moniker with an irresistible display of grappling.

And he basked in every moment of it, his odd but very much on brand kiss to O'Malley's back after another dominant round may well have been a means of bidding the American's chances goodbye.

Waiting in the wings as his first challenger will almost certainly be Umar Nurmagomedov in what will be a mouth-watering clash of elite wrestling - and it may be the only bout at bantamweight where Merab won't enter as the favourite.

Meanwhile for O'Malley, the road back to the title could be lengthy. A rematch with Petr Yan - given how competitive the first bout was - could make sense.

But he'll be hoping more than anybody that Nurmagomedov gets the job done - because he'll have to be exceptional through his next two ( at least) fights to prove he's worthy of challenging Dvalishvili again.

Diego Lopes is ready for a title shot

Despite Joe Rogan's best efforts to convince you otherwise, Diego Lopes' bout against Brian Ortega was a one-sided beatdown.

For every jab Ortega threw, he ate a couple of counters for his troubles against the explosive Brazilian, who throws every shot with unbridled heat and maintained a dogged pace for all three rounds.

Even in the third, when he was clearly ahead two rounds, Lopes refused to allow his foot to ease even the slightest bit off the accelerator, coming down the home stretch with authority to claim the best win - and biggest scalp - of his fledgling UFC career.

Ortega's battered face told the whole tale, as Lopes had his hand raised and his opponent transported immediately to hospital.

Beating the No.3-ranked Ortega will see Lopes skyrocket up the featherweight rankings, where he previously sat 13th. So, what's next for Lopes? And perhaps more pressingly - how much is too much?

The winner of the Aljamain Sterling v Movsar Evloev fight booked for October's UFC 307 could make sense, especially if he's afforded a shot to avenge the only blemish of on his record against the Russian, a fight of the night he accepted on late notice back in May 2023.

Or, you could just go ahead and book him for a title shot against Ilia Topuria? Tell me you don't want to see that fight.