UFC 306 about more than MMA when it takes place at the Sphere on Saturday

UFC President Dana White was in audience soon after U2 began its highly celebrated run at Sphere last fall, taking in all that one of world's most unique venues has to offer.

He watched inside technological marvel near Las Vegas Strip that makes full use of its massive high-definition LED screen that was as much a part of show as Irish band performing its biggest hits from past four deces.

White knew UFC h to place one of its marquee pay-per-view events inside Sphere — even if it was just a one-time shot given cost and commitment. Nearly 12 months and some $20 million later, White will watch his vision come true when UFC 306 occupies Sphere on Saturday night with two title fights serving as heline events.

“I truly believe that this event is going to be such a game changer,” White said. “It's first time that entertainment and sports truly come toger. I think Sphere and what we’re doing (Saturday) is going to make some of se venues change ir vision and how y build m.

"You go to a Lakers game and y've got some guy that comes out juggling at halftime, mascot's dunking a ball off trampoline. I think y're going to start to get more creative in how you can truly create better experiences for people at live sporting events."

White and chief content officer Craig Borsari said y plan to make event dynamic through use of technology to those inside venue and also bring that in-arena feeling to those watching on PPV by use of “specialty” cameras and lenses.

“We usually produce two different shows,” White said. “re's a live in-house show you experience and re's a television experience. We're going to try to bring that toger live and on television.”

timing of event is not by accident, occurring on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Seven Mexican fighters, including women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso in co-main event against Valentina Shevchenko for ir third meeting in a row, fill out card. Bantamweight title holder Sean O'Malley faces Merab Dvalishvili in main event.

“It's going to be a really, really huge event,” Grasso said. “It's going to be new for all of us. On one side's going to be crowd and behind ( fighters) big screen. A completely different arena we are used to, but it's amazing. I'm proud and super thankful to UFC for allowing me to be part of this card.”

White calls this card his “love letter to Mexico."

“I’m a huge boxing fan since I was a kid, and I love a lot of Mexican fighters," White said. “Some of bdest dudes that have ever walked face of Earth came from Mexico, legends in sport. Mexico, culture, m as a people, who y are and how y are, I love everything about m.”

Stories highlighting Mexican culture and history will be shown between fights on big screen.

“This is first time we're going to be telling a story that's weaved throughout night in between our live fight content," Borsari said.

Putting on this event was no small feat.

UFC personnel have taken on extra responsibilities while ir boss has looked for a way to pay for it. in-house production crew included Zach Candito, Tucker Greene and Chris Kartzmark, and UFC also used Antigravity Acemy production led by founder and Acemy Award-nominated filmmaker Carlos López Estra and producer Valerie Bush.

White secured a title sponsor for first time for one of his PPV cards, making official name Riyh Season Noche UFC.

re have been times in which White questioned why he would take on such a project, but with his eyes regularly on end point, he is excited to see final production.

Because it's such an enormous undertaking, White has said this is a one-time thing.

But as event draws closer, he's less sure. UFC has a contract with MGM Resorts, which owns T-Mobile Arena, where its top Las Vegas events usually take place. An exception was me for this card.

That could be a future conversation with MGM if White considers an encore performance at Sphere.

“I would never say no to anything,” White said. “I don't know what I would do. I wasn't supposed to do this.”