SEAM O'MALLEY BELIEVES HE'S CLOSE TO BECOMING UFC'S BIGGEST STAR

LAS VEGAS -- Sean O'Malley believes he's very close to eclipsing Conor McGregor as the biggest star in the UFC.

The current UFC bantamweight champion will defend his championship against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Noche UFC at The Sphere in Las Vegas this weekend.

While the event itself is highly anticipated because of the massive production budget and is suggested to be "the greatest sporting event of all time" by UFC CEO Dana White, the fact that O'Malley was chosen to headline suggests that the promotion holds him in high regard. Should he emerge victorious, O'Malley believes the gap between him and McGregor will close significantly.

"I think I'm close [to catching Conor McGregor]," O'Malley told ESPN during Wednesday's media day. "I think Conor still has one more big fight in him, but the big question mark is if he can come back and beat Michael Chandler. I think he has one more huge fight. But if he goes out and loses his next fight, that's like six in a row or something? [His star power] has to die down eventually. Maybe not. But that's a big testament to how big of a star he is. If he loses, I'm there. I'm the guy."

McGregor has been out of action since July 2021. He was originally scheduled to face Chandler at UFC 303 in June but was forced out with a toe injury. An early 2025 return for McGregor has been targeted.

When asked what separates him from McGregor, O'Malley kept it simple.

"I fight, I'm active," O'Malley said. "Conor was good on the mic and he had a few good performances, but I'm consistent. Right now, I'm fighting a lot, so that's what I bring to the table."

McGregor was once a busy fighter. From his UFC debut in 2013 to 2016 he fought ten times, capturing championships at both featherweight and lightweight before venturing into a blockbuster boxing event with Floyd Mayweather in 2017. He lost by 10th-round stoppage but earned over $100 million. Since then, McGregor has only fought four times in the past eight years. By comparison, O'Malley, 29, made his UFC debut in 2017 and Saturday's fight with Dvalishvili will be his eighth fight in just under four years. Like McGregor, he is also targeting an eventual boxing match but suggested that it is not in his immediate plans.

"I do [think I'll box] but that's not my focus right now," he said. "I have a lot of big fights on the table after I [beat Merab]. I have said I'd fight [UFC featherweight champion] Ilia [Topuria]. There's Max [Holloway], Umar [Nurmagomedov] and Deiveson Figueiredo.

"There are a lot of options for me so it's not time to box right now. But there will be a time. Conor vs. Floyd [Mayweather] was requested by the fans. If I keep going out there and knocking guys out, it's going to get intriguing."

- Andreas Hale, ESPN

MMA DIVISIONAL RANKINGS: NURMAGOMEDOV CRACKS TOP TIER AT BANTAMWEIGHT

1. 

Umar Nurmagomedov showed over the weekend that he is a force to be reckoned with.

His unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen on Saturday at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, put the undefeated Dagestani with the MMA royalty last name at the head of the line of contenders for the UFC men's bantamweight championship.

Sean O'Malley will defend the belt against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 next month, and the winner should soon have Nurmagomedov standing across the cage from him.

Beyond the shuffling in Brett Okamoto's ranking of 135-pound men, there also was movement among the 125-pound women. Taila Santos moves into the flyweight rankings on the strength of Friday's victory over Liz Carmouche in the semifinals of the PFL playoffs. Santos will go for the $1 million championship in the fall against unbeaten prospect Dakota Ditcheva.

At strawweight, Tatiana Suarez drops out of the top 10 because her inactivity makes her ineligible.

Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of Aug. 6. To be eligible for the rankings, a fighter must have competed over the past 12 months or must have an upcoming fight booked. Fighters who have been dropped for inactivity can be reinstated only after they compete.

Heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Middleweight | Welterweight

Lightweight | Men's featherweight | Men's bantamweight

Men's flyweight | Women's bantamweight | Women's flyweight | Strawweight

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Tom Aspinall  

Promotion: UFC interim champion

Record: 15-3

Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024

Next: TBD

2. Ciryl Gane  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-2

Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023

Next: Oct. 26 vs. Alexander Volkov

3. Curtis Blaydes  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 18-5, 1 NC

Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, July 27, 2024

Next: TBD

4. Alexander Volkov  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 38-10

Last: W (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, June 22, 2024

Next: Oct. 26 vs. Ciryl Gane

5. Sergei Pavlovich  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 18-3

Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkov, June 22, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Renan Ferreira  

Promotion: PFL champion

Record: 13-3, 3 NC

Last: W (KO1) vs. Ryan Bader, Feb. 24, 2024

Next: TBD

7. Jailton Almeida  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-3

Last: W (Sub1) vs. Alexandr Romanov, June 1, 2024

Next: TBD

8. Serghei Spivac  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-4

Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023

Next: Aug. 10 vs. Marcin Tybura

9. Vadim Nemkov  

Promotion: Bellator

Record: 18-2, 1 NC

Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Bruno Cappelozza, Feb. 24, 2024

Next: TBD

10. Derrick Lewis  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 28-12, 1 NC

Last: W (TKO3) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento, May 11, 2024

Next: TBD

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 11-2

Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jirí Procházka, June 29, 2024

Next: TBD

2. Jirí Procházka  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 30-5-1

Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, June 29, 2024

Next: TBD

3. Magomed Ankalaev  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 19-1-1

Last: W (KO2) vs. Johnny Walker, Jan. 13, 2024

Next: Oct. 26 vs. Aleksandar Rakic

4. Jamahal Hill  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 10-2

Last: W (KO1) vs. Alex Pereira, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

5. Corey Anderson  

Promotion: Bellator champion

Record: 18-6, 1 NC

Last: W (UD) vs. Karl Moore, March 22, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Aleksandar Rakić  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-4

Last: L (TKO) vs. Jiří Procházka, April 13, 2024

Next: Oct. 26 vs. Magomed Ankalaev

7. Khalil Rountree Jr.  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 37-19

Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023

Next: TBD

8. Volkan Oezdemir  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 20-7

Last: W (KO1) vs. Johnny Walker, June 22, 2024

Next: TBD

9. Johnny Walker  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-9, 1 NC

Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22, 2024

Next: TBD

10. Anthony Smith  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 38-20

Last: L (UD) vs. Roman Dolidze, June 29, 2024

Next: TBD

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Dricus du Plessis  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 21-2

Last: W (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, Jan. 20, 2024

Next: Aug. 17 vs. Israel Adesanya

2. Israel Adesanya  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 24-3

Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023

Next: Aug. 17 vs. Dricus du Plessis

3. Sean Strickland  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 29-6

Last: W (SD) vs. Paulo Costa, June 1, 2024

Next: TBD

4. Robert Whittaker  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 26-7

Last: W (KO1) vs. Ikram Aliskerov, June 22, 2024

Next: Oct. 26 vs. Khamzat Chimaev

5. Johnny Eblen  

Promotion: Bellator champion

Record: 15-0

Last: W (SD) vs. Impa Kasanganay, Feb. 24, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Nassourdine Imavov  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-4, 1 NC

Last: W (TKO4) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 8, 2024

Next: TBD

7. Jared Cannonier  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-7

Last: L (TKO4) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, June 8, 2024

Next: TBD

8. Khamzat Chimaev  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 13-0

Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023

Next: Oct. 26 vs. Robert Whittaker

9. Brendan Allen  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 24-5

Last: W (SD) vs. Paulo Costa, June 1, 2024

Next: TBD

10. Paulo Costa  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-4

Last: L (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, June 1, 2024

Next: TBD

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Belal Muhammad  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 24-3, 1 NC

Last: W (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, July 27, 2024

Next: TBD

2. Leon Edwards  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 22-4, 1 NC

Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, July 27, 2024

Next: TBD

3. Kamaru Usman  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 20-4

Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023

Next: TBD

4. Shavkat Rakhmonov  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 18-0

Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023

Next: TBD

5. Jack Della Maddalena  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-2

Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Gilbert Burns  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 22-7

Last: L (KO3) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, March 9, 2024

Next: Sept. 7 vs. Sean Brady

7. Ian Machado Garry  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-0

Last: W (UD) vs. Michael "Venom" Page, June 29, 2024

Next: TBD

8. Colby Covington  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-4

Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023

Next: TBD

9. Sean Brady  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-1

Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kelvin Gastelum, Dec. 2, 2023

Next: Sept. 7 vs. Gilbert Burns

10. Stephen Thompson  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-7-1

Last: L (Sub2) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 16, 2023

Next: TBD

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 26-1

Last: W (Sub5) vs. Dustin Poirier, June 1, 2024

Next: TBD

2. Arman Tsarukyan  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 22-3

Last: W (SD) vs. Charles Oliveira, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

3. Charles Oliveira  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 34-10, 1 NC

Last: L (SD) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

4. Justin Gaethje  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 25-5

Last: L (KO5) vs. Max Holloway, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

5. Dustin Poirier  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 30-9, 1 NC

Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Beneil Dariush  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 22-6-1

Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023

Next: TBD

7. Mateusz Gamrot  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 24-2, 1 NC

Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, March 9, 2024

Next: Aug. 17 vs. Dan Hooker

8. Rafael Fiziev  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 26-8

Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023

Next: TBD

9. Dan Hooker  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 29-12

Last: W (SD) vs. Jalin Turner, July 8, 2023

Next: Aug. 17 vs. Mateusz Gamrot

10. Jalin Turner  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-8

Last: L (TKO2) vs. Renato Moicano, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 15-0

Last: W (KO2) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 17, 2024

Next: Oct. 26 vs. Max Holloway

2. Alexander Volkanovski  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 26-4

Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024

Next: TBD

3. Max Holloway  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 26-7

Last: W (KO5) vs. Justin Gaethje, April 13, 2024

Next: Oct. 26 vs. Ilia Topuria

4. Brian Ortega  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-3, 1 NC

Last: W (Sub3) vs. Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 24, 2024

Next: Sept. 14 vs. Diego Lopes

5. Yair Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-5, 1 NC

Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Patricio Freire  

Promotion: Bellator champion

Record: 36-7

Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22, 2024

Next: TBD

7. Josh Emmett  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 19-4

Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023

Next: TBD

8. Movsar Evloev  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 18-0

Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024

Next: TBD

9. Arnold Allen  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 20-3

Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024

Next: TBD

10. Aljamain Sterling  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 24-4

Last: W (UD) vs. Calvin Kattar, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Sean O'Malley  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 18-1, 1 NC

Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, March 9, 2024

Next: Sept. 14 vs. Merab Dvalishvili

2. Merab Dvalishvili  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-4

Last: W (UD) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 17, 2024

Next: Sept. 14 vs. Sean O'Malley

3. Umar Nurmagomedov  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: Unranked

Record: 18-0

Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 3, 2024

Next: TBD

4. Cory Sandhagen  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 3

Record: 17-5

Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 3, 2024

Next: TBD

5. Petr Yan  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 4

Record: 17-5

Last: L (UD) vs. Song Yadong, March 9, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Henry Cejudo  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 5

Record: 16-4

Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024

Next: TBD

7. Jose Aldo  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 6

Record: 32-8

Last: W (UD) vs. Jonathan Martinez, May 4, 2024

Next: TBD

8. Deiveson Figueiredo  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 9

Record: 24-3-1

Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, Aug. 3, 2024

Next: TBD

9. Patchy Mix  

Promotion: Bellator champion

Previous ranking: 7

Record: 20-1

Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17, 2024

Next: Nov. 16 vs. Leandro Higo

10. Kyoji Horiguchi  

Promotion: Rizin champion

Previous ranking: Unranked

Record: 33-5, 1 NC

Last: W (UD) vs. Sergio Pettis, June 9, 2024

MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 28-5

Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, May 4, 2024

Next: TBD

2. Brandon Royval  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-7

Last: W (SD) vs. Brandon Moreno, Feb. 24, 2024

Next: TBD

3. Brandon Moreno  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-8-2

Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Feb. 24, 2024

Next: TBD

4. Steve Erceg  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-2

Last: L (UD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, May 4, 2024

Next: Aug. 17 vs. Kai Kara-France

5. Muhammad Mokaev  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 13-0,1 NC

Last: W (UD) vs. Manel Kape, July 27, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Tatsuro Taira  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-0

Last: W (TKO2) vs. Alex Perez, June 15, 2024

Next: TBD

7. Manel Kape  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 19-7

Last: L (UD) vs. Muhammad Mokaev, July 27, 2024

Next: TBD

8. Alex Perez  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 25-9

Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15, 2024

Next: TBD

9. Matheus Nicolau  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 19-5-1

Last: L (KO1) vs. Alex Perez, April 27, 2024

Next: TBD

10. Tim Elliott  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 20-13-1

Last: W (TechSub1) vs. Sumudaerji, Dec. 9, 2023

Next: TBD

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Raquel Pennington  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 16-8

Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Jan. 20, 2024

Next: TBD

2. Kayla Harrison  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-1

Last: W (Sub2) vs. Holly Holm, April 13, 2024

Next: Oct. 5 vs. Ketlen Vieira

3. Holly Holm  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-7, 1 NC

Last: L (Sub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

4. Irene Aldana  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-7

Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec. 16, 2023

Next: Sept. 14 vs. Norma Dumont

5. Macy Chiasson  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 10-3

Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, June 29, 2024

Next: TBD

6. Norma Dumont  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 11-2

Last: W (UD) vs. Germaine de Randamie, April 6, 2024

Next: Sept. 14 vs. Irene Aldana

7. Pannie Kianzad  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-8

Last: L (Sub1) vs. Macy Chiasson, March 16, 2024

Next: TBD

8. Karol Rosa  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-6

Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023

Next: TBD

9. Mayra Bueno Silva  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 10-4-1, 1 NC

Last: L (TKO2) vs. Macy Chiasson, June 29, 2024

Next: TBD

10. Yana Santos  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-8, 1 NC

Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023

Next: Aug. 10 vs. Chelsea Chandler

WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexa Grasso  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 16-3-1

Last: Split draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 16, 2023

Next: Sept. 14 vs. Valentina Shevchenko

2. Valentina Shevchenko  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 23-4-1

Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023

Next: Sept. 14 vs. Alexa Grasso

3. Manon Fiorot  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-1

Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024

Next: TBD

4. Erin Blanchfield  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-2

Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, March 30, 2024

Next: TBD

5. Taila Santos  

Promotion: PFL

Record: 22-3

Last: W (UD) vs. Liz Carmouche, Aug. 2, 2024

Next: TBD vs. Dakota Ditcheva

6. Liz Carmouche  

Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion

Previous ranking: 5

Record: 22-8

Last: L (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 2, 2024

Next: TBD

7. Maycee Barber  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 6

Record: 14-2

Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024

Next: TBD

8. Jessica Andrade  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 7

Record: 26-12

Last: W (SD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, April 13, 2024

Next: Sept. 7 vs. Natalia Silva

9. Rose Namajunas  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 8

Record: 13-6

Last: W (UD) vs. Tracy Cortez, July 13, 2024

Next: TBD

10. Katlyn Cerminara  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 9

Record: 18-6

Last: L (UD) vs. Maycee Barber, March 9, 2024

Next: TBD

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili  

Promotion: UFC champion

Record: 25-3

Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

2. Virna Jandiroba  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-3

Last: W (Sub2) vs. Amanda Lemos, July 20, 2024

Next: TBD

3. Amanda Lemos  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-4-1

Last: L (Sub2) vs. Virna Jandiroba, July 20, 2024

Next: TBD

4. Yan Xiaonan  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-4, 1 NC

Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

5. Jessica Andrade  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 6

Record: 26-12

Last: W (SD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, April 13, 2024

Next: Sept. 7 vs. Natalia Silva

6. Marina Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 7

Record: 17-4-2

Last: L (SD) vs. Jessica Andrade, April 13, 2024

Next: TBD

7. Mackenzie Dern  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 8

Record: 14-5

Last: W (UD) vs. Loopy Godínez, Aug. 3, 2024

Next: TBD

8. Amanda Ribas  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 9

Record: 13-5

Last: L (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, March 23, 2024

Next: TBD

9. Angela Hill  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 10

Record: 17-13

Last: W (Sub2) vs. Luana Pinheiro, May 18, 2024

Next: TBD

10. Loopy Godínez  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: Unranked

Record: 12-5

Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Aug. 3, 2024

Next: TBD

DANA WHITE SLAMS MGM FOR 'DISRESPECT' TO UFC AMID SEPT. 14 CONFLICT

Getty Images 

 Two titans of the fight game, Canelo Alvarez and Dana White, will go head-to-head Sept. 14 in Las Vegas in a rare scheduling conflict between marquee boxing and MMA events.

Mexico's Alvarez, boxing's top star, defends his unified super middleweight championship vs. Edgar Berlanga at MGM property T-Mobile Arena. Two miles away, UFC will stage the first live sporting event at the revolutionary Sphere venue with UFC 306.

Sean O'Malley defends his UFC bantamweight championship vs. Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Riyadh Season Noche UFC as the MMA promotion plants its flag on Mexican Independence Day weekend, a traditional date for boxing's biggest star.

"Canelo's one of those guys that I respect and hey, good on [PBC's Al] Haymon," UFC president White told ESPN on Friday. "Haymon snatched that date right away from me. The guys at MGM have done nothing but f---ing disrespect me and the UFC for 20 years. It is what it is. Here we go."

UFC has staged four pay-per-view events at T-Mobile Arena each of the past two years. And MGM controlled all the viable live sporting event venues on the Strip until the Madison Square Garden company opened the Sphere in September.

That paved the way for White and UFC to still hold a major event on Sept. 14 even after PBC and Canelo reserved the date with MGM Resorts International. White beat Canelo to the punch last year and staged the first iteration of Noche UFC (a Fight Night event at T-Mobile Arena) after the MMA promotion reserved the date.

Alvarez instead fought two weeks later at T-Mobile Arena and secured a victory over Jermell Charlo.

"PBC is thrilled to continue the more than 20-year tradition of championship boxing in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend with our friends and partners, MGM Resorts and T-Mobile Arena," a PBC spokesperson told ESPN on Friday.

"It's even more special this year as Canelo Alvarez, boxing's biggest star, will fight Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in what will be the sixth time the Mexican icon has celebrated the holiday weekend in Las Vegas. We wish our friends at UFC the best of luck with their event."

A spokesperson for MGM Resorts International said there was nothing to add to PBC's statement.

Before Alvarez took hold of the revered boxing date (along with Cinco de Mayo weekend), those two Mexican holidays were reserved for Floyd Mayweather (and Oscar De La Hoya prior to that). This year, the September weekend will be shared by both Alvarez and UFC.

That was made possible after Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, agreed to sponsor UFC 306 as he continues to commercialize Riyadh Season.

"We will eat him," Alalshikh told ESPN about his event competing with Canelo's.

White, time and again, has expressed just how expensive it is to hold an event at the Sphere with its immersive screens and the art direction necessary to take advantage of the venue's audio and video capabilities. The Sphere also boasts the world's highest resolution LED display, one that wraps up, over and around the audience.

That sponsorship money from Alalshikh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allowed UFC to become the first live sporting event at the Sphere. White acknowledged last month at the UFC 303 postfight news conference that they've already spent $17 million on the event. He claimed the experience UFC delivers at the Sphere "will never, ever be replicated ... because it costs too much money."

"This is going to be an incredible tribute to the Mexican people for their extraordinary contributions to combat sports," White said.

But now, White and UFC will have to contend with the biggest sports star in Mexico, Canelo Alvarez.

Canelo is expected to cruise past Berlanga, a heavy underdog, and Alalshikh hopes it will help him secure the biggest fight in boxing afterward. That's Canelo vs. Terence Crawford, ESPN's No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer.

Crawford fights Israil Madrimov on Aug. 3 in Los Angeles, the main event of the first Riyadh Season event outside Saudi Arabia. If Crawford is successful and wins a title in a third weight class, Alalshikh will look to match him with Alvarez next year.

"I will give Canelo what I think is a fair price," Alalshikh said. "If he accepts it, he deals directly with me to finish the deal. I don't want anyone in the middle. I guaranteed Crawford a big fight, I want Canelo for Crawford and Crawford wants Canelo. But if Canelo is crazy [with his financial demands] I will still guarantee Crawford any fight he wants."

Alalshikh has delivered five boxing events since he took hold of the boxing industry in October with Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou. His biggest boxing match was the Oleksandr Usyk-Fury undisputed heavyweight championship fight in May.

Alalshikh and White staged the first UFC event in Saudi Arabia in June.

- Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider

SEAN O'MALLEY RETAINS BANTAMWEIGHT BELT WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER MARLON VERA IN UFC 299

AP Photo 

 MIAMI (AP) — Sean O'Malley emphatically defended his bantamweight belt Saturday night, unanimously outpointing Marlon “Chito” Vera in UFC 299.

In a fight that he controlled from the opening round, O'Malley (18-1) outclassed Vera with his quickness, precision striking and footwork.

The champion threw 344 punches, landing more than 50% of them. He was the more active fighter throughout, hurting Vera (23-9-1) with shots to the body, knees to the face, and countering nearly every one of Vera's connections with one of his own.

It was O’Malley’s first defense of his bantamweight title after stopping former champion Aljamain Sterling 51 seconds into the second round at UFC 292 last August.

UFC CEO Dana White called the performance a “clinic" by O'Malley, who is fast becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport. White added that the card was the fourth-highest grossing UFC event ever, with a gate of $14.14 million.

“He's on his way,” White said of O'Malley, who some believe has star power of Conor McGregor. “He's the biggest star ever in bantamweight history. You can say that right now.”

Vera handed O'Malley the only defeat of his career nearly four years ago by landing a leg kick that caused O'Malley's right foot to go numb in the first round of UFC 252.

O'Malley has often downplayed that loss — the kick shut down the peroneal nerve in his lower leg, causing temporary loss of feeling — and vowed to dominate in the rematch.

"That one feels good getting that one back," O'Malley said. "I’m guessing we can all agree that I’m undefeated still.”

He added that he wants to fight featherweight champion Ilia Topuria next.

“Dana,” he said, “Give me a jet to Spain, baby.”

Immediately after the five-round fight, O'Malley sat down on the canvas after Vera hurt him late with a shot to the body — one that could have been much more significant if it was landed earlier in the match.

“I tried to stay toe to toe with him and catch him," said Vera, the Ecuadorian fighter who received a massive amount of cheers from the fans at Kaseya Center.. "At the end of the fifth round I landed a nice body that hurt him, but I ran out of time.”

Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier knocked out up-and-comer Benoit Saint Denis with a right hand in the second round of their lightweight match. Saint Denis had hurt Poirier with punches in the early round before the veteran dropped him with a right hook at 2:52 in the second round. The victory moved Poirier into a tie for the fourth-most wins in UFC history with 22.

Jack Della Maddalena stretched his winning streak to 17 with the biggest victory of his career. He stopped Gilbert Burns in the third round of their bout with a crushing knee to the head, moments after it appeared Burns had secured a fight-clinching takedown. Della Maddalena followed the knee with a series of elbows on the ground for a TKO victory at 3:43 in the final round of the 170-pound fight.

- ALANIS THAMES