UFC 306 live blog: Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne

This is the UFC 306 live blog for Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne, the opening main card fight this Saturday in Las Vegas.

After coming up short on Contender Series in 2020 when he was only 21 years old, Rodriguez finally made his way to the UFC this year, scoring a submission win over Denys Bondar in his debut back in February. Now 25 years old, “Lazy Boy” is turning heads as a prospect to watch out for in the flyweight division.

A UFC fighter since 2020, Osbourne has struggled to build momentum in the promotion, amassing only a 4-5 record in his nine fights in the octagon. Worse still, Osbourne has been finished in all five of his losses, and is currently on a two-fight losing skid. With prime placement on one of the biggest events of the year, Saturday is a huge opportunity for Osbourne to change his stars in the UFC.

Check out the live blog for the UFC 306 main card opener below.

Pre-fight:

Well, the Sphere has certainly created quite the atmosphere through the prelims up until now. Let’s see how much crazier it gets in there as we await Rodriguez and Osbourne who have had arguably the most heat between fighters this week.

This “world” is pretty awesome. The temples and jungle-type feel is a fun place to start. We’ll see how it progresses. It’s very strange to have so much investment in the display for a fight show, but here comes Osbourne to the octagon.

Rodriguez making the walk now and he’s taking it all in. This should be good if the build-up is anything to go by. Please no Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape repeats.

Round 1:

Chris Tognoni is on referee duties. Osbourne instantly comes out swinging. Chopping leg kicks follow his punches before Osbourne catches a kick and drops Rodriguez with a massive right hook. Rodriguez survives but gets locked in a triangle choke. Osbourne smashes some elbows into his forehead for good measure. Osbourne tries to adjust the squeeze but Rodriguez miraculously gets out. Rodriguez takes guard.

Rodriguez now starts landing some good elbows from the top as Osbourne tries to set up another triangle. Good hammerfists land from the bottom by Osbourne. I still have no clue how Rodriguez survived that early onslaught.

Round dwindles down as the position remains the same. Rodriguez fires off some body shots while Osbourne thumps him upside the head and the horn sounds.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Osbourne.

Round 2:

Action resumes. Osbourne gets back to throwing some kicks. Rodriguez attempt the double leg and gets trapped in a tight guillotine but somehow flips himself upside down and out. He takes Osbourne’s back and starts landing punches.

Rodriguez starts to smash Osbourne with punches and elbows as he rolls to mount. This is on the cusp of being stopped. Osbourne explodes to turn but gives his back up again. These scrambles are insane. Rodriguez gets back into mount. Osbourne turns to get Rodriguez on his back yet again. Rodriguez lands a near-12-6 elbow and attempts a rear-naked choke to no avail.

Rodriguez starts trying to pull Osbourne back to mount but can’t. Another 12-6 elbow gets through from Rodriguez without a warning. They aren’t legal quite yet, “Lazy Boy.”

Osbourne finds a moment late in the round to explode and escape to take top position and land big punches before the round ends. Crazy ground action in this one.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Rodriguez, 19-19 overall.

Round 3:

High kicks early from each but neither gets through before Rodriguez whiffs on a wild left. Nice jabs land for Osbourne. The pace seems to have slowed, understandably. Another jab catches Rodriguez off balance as he attacks in. Rodriguez grazes the chin with a left hook.

Spinning wheel kick attempts start to come from Rodriguez as the jab from Osbourne keeps finding a home. Big blast double from Osbourne gets defended. A lot of energy in that one. They tie up against the cage with Osbourne controlling overhooks. They break. Left hand lands clean from Rodriguez. Osbourne gets the takedown on his second attempt. Rodriguez seeks the kimura but Osbourne manages to release the position and stand up.

Final minute. Hard leg kick lands from Rodriguez. Another takedown attempt stuffed by Rodriguez. Potential guillotine is there before the round ends. Osbourne maneuvers to his back and Rodriguez rains down punches and elbows to close out the fight. Pretty fun scrap.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Rodriguez, 29-28 Rodriguez overall.

Official Decision: 29-28, 29-27, 29-27 - Unanimous Decision for Rodriguez

Post-fight:

Rodriguez celebrates with clear emotion. Solid win for him especially considering the adversity he got through. Dude is tough.

No call out or anything, but he gets the crowd all fired up with a “Viva Mexico”