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Riyadh Season Noche UFC is scheduled for Sep. 14, two days before Mexican Independence Day. With just a little over a month between now and the marquee event, which marks the UFC's debut at the Las Vegas Sphere, there is still no confirmed headline or co-main event, just rumors.
Does the promotion have something up its sleeve? Given its proximity to Mexican Independence Day and a partnership with Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, it has undergone a rebrand from UFC 306 to Riyadh Season Noche UFC. In short, it needs Mexican fighters and those of Mexican descent.
What then, can the UFC assemble? It has been an open question, especially with some high-profile fighters having already expressed an interest in headlining it? So, which bouts could take place come Riyadh Season Noche UFC?
#5 Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry
Neither Shavkat Rakhmonov nor Ian Machado Garry are Mexican or of Mexican descent. The former is Kazakhstan's first true elite fighter in the UFC, and the latter likens himself to Ireland's next great star, an echo of the great Conor McGregor (more on him later).
However, they are both undefeated welterweights with title fight aspirations. They are notable names who represent the next generation of MMA, and such an exciting, marquee matchup is one that the Saudis will want attached to an event with the Riyadh Season tag.
Additionally, if the UFC wants a memorable Sphere debut, why not throw a Rakhmonov vs. Garry fight onto Riyadh Season Noche UFC and market it as an official title eliminator? While it's something of a quick turnaround for Garry, a title fight and spot on the Sphere are compensation enough.
#4 Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega
Diego Lopes was previously scheduled to face Brian Ortega at UFC 303. Unfortunately, a disastrous weight cut saw their matchup upgraded from featherweight to lightweight, before the bout was scrapped altogether after 'T-City' fell ill on fight night, prompting a last-minute step-in from Dan Ige.
Fortunately, Lopes emerged victorious via unanimous decision, preserving the potential for him a fight between him and Ortega. Furthermore, Ortega, who is of Mexican descent and has both American and Mexican citizenship, has already thrown his name into the hat for a spot on Riyadh Season Noche UFC.
The UFC ought to rebook his matchup with Lopes, who escaped from UFC 303 without too much damage. Moreover, they had already been training for each other, so the shorter preparation window should be fine for the fire-fight they will undoubtedly have, which a Sphere debut will only benefit from.
#3 Aljamain Sterling vs. Movsar Evloev
There has been a back-and-forth in the featherweight division between former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and unbeaten Russian wrestler Movsar Evloev, the latter of whom has been calling for a bout with 'Funk Master.' However, according to the former champion, a matchup has already been in the works.
'Funk Master,' who defeated Calvin Kattar at UFC 300, was in no hurry to return to the octagon too soon. He offered a later date to Evloev, who kept demanding an earlier date. Nevertheless, the bout is a sensible one for either man, as they're both gunning for a featherweight title shot.
It could serve as the tertiary bout on the main card, and benefit from Sterling's status as a former champion and Evloev's undefeated record. Additionally, there is also the question of whose grappling is superior? While Sterling recently spoke of Oct., it may very well take place in Sep.
#2 Riyadh Season Noche UFC co-headliner: Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko III
Alexa Grasso is not only the UFC women's flyweight champion. She is also Mexico's only remaining champion in the promotion, who filmed 'The Ultimate Fighter 32' with divisional rival and ex-125-pound champion Valentina Shevchenko.
The pair have faced each other twice, but their rivalry remains inconclusive. Their first bout was an upset, a submission win in Grasso's favor. Their second bout ended in a controversial split-draw, with many opining that Shevchenko had done enough to win. Thus, a trilogy bout is necessary.
Given Grasso's Mexican and championship status, and her desire to compete at Riyadh Season Noche UFC, there is no better event to play host to her trilogy with Shevchenko, and it could serve as the co-main event.
#1 Riyadh Season Noche UFC headliner: Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili are on a collison course. 'Sugar' is the bantamweight champion, and 'The Machine' is perceived as his toughest possible matchup due to his bottomless gas tank and relentless wrestling game. Only Riyadh Season Noche UFC can host the bout, and there are already rumors.
While the promotion is yet to confirm the matchup, a championship bout between O'Malley and Dvalishvili is being reported as the headliner for Sep. 14. Given O'Malley's star power and Dvalishvili's own surge in popularity, it is a sensible matchup to use as the main attraction for the UFC's Sphere debut.
It helps push 'Sugar' as the official face of the promotion, and will sell more tickets than almost anything else if the $14 million gate drawn by UFC 299, which he headlined, is of any indication.
