O'Malley wants to headline UFC 306 at the Sphere

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley wants his next title defense to be special.

O'Malley said Monday he hopes to return to action in the main event of UFC 306, scheduled during Mexican Independence Day weekend on Sept. 14, at the Sphere in Las Vegas. O'Malley added a fight with No. 1-ranked bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili "makes sense."

"Headlining the Sphere in Vegas," O'Malley said on "The MMA Hour" when asked about the ideal scenario for his next fight. "Let's do it."

"I don't think anybody would argue against that. I think that would be legendary. I know Conor (McGregor) has talked about potentially going on that card, potentially International Fight Week. So, out of respect for him to still be the best and biggest in the business, I'll take wherever I can get. But yeah, I think that'd be interesting."

O'Malley is coming off a masterclass against Marlon Vera this past weekend at UFC 299 in Miami, sweeping "Chito" on the scorecards to retain the 135-pound title for the first time. O'Malley, 29, avenged a 2020 loss to Vera - the only defeat of his professional MMA career.

UFC CEO Dana White recently denied McGregor his wish to face Nate Diaz at UFC 306 and said he was "looking for Mexicans at the Sphere." O'Malley was born in Montana and lives in Arizona.

Many believe Alexa Grasso will defend the women's flyweight title in a trilogy bout with former champion Valentina Shevchenko at the event. Grasso is the only current Mexican UFC champion and is expected to face Shevchenko later in 2024 after they coach "The Ultimate Fighter 32."