There was plenty of hype heading into UFC 316 for the impending debut of former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, who had been considered one of the best fighters to have not been signed by the UFC.
Unfortunately, he didn’t fight as such in his first bout in the Octagon, losing handedly to Mario Bautista.
Mix’s first five minutes were rough — looking like the slower fighter and not doing enough with his footwork. Bautista was able to control the action with his jab, landing a number of shots that resulted in Mix getting busted up on his face. This included one jab that appeared to rock him early, and one shot that did damage right before the horn.
Mix showed some improvement in the second round, including a solid head kick midway through the round. He found moments, including drawing some blood from Bautista under one of his eyes. Bautista, however, continued to stay busy and work combinations, overwhelming Mix with volume, including a surge in the final minute that did damage.
Mix looked to come out aggressive to start the third, but Bautista was right there to answer back. Mix couldn’t get a takedown and continued to get tagged by Bautista’s right hand, which opened a cut on Mix’s face. Mix would land a couple of solid shots and a knee late in the round, but it wasn’t enough.
Patchy Mix Underwhelms In UFC Debut Against Mario Bautista At UFC 316
Bautista has now won eight straight, having come into this fight off wins over Jose Aldo and Ricky Simon.
Mix is a former Bellator bantamweight champion, having defeated the likes of Raufeon Stots, Magomed Magomedov and Sergio Pettis. Mix’s most recent fight prior to tonight came at the Bellator Champions Series event in Paris in May 2024, edging out Magomedov in a controversial decision to retain the Bellator bantamweight championship.
Mark Kerr’s name has been going around the MMA circle of late, thanks in part to the new movie about his life — The Smashing Machine — in addition to his legend status in the sport.
And now, Kerr gets to be cemented for good in honor of his achievements, as he has been announced as the final member of the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
The announcement came during the pay-per-view portion of UFC 316, which Kerr was in attendance for.
Jon Anik added that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who plays Kerr in The Smashing Machine, will be present at the Hall of Fame ceremony in Las Vegas on June 26 to personally induct Kerr.
Mark Kerr Announced As Final Member of 2025 UFC Hall Of Fame Class
Kerr was a collegiate wrestler at Syracuse, becoming a multiple-time EIWA champion and winning the NCAA national championship at 190 pounds in 1992.
Kerr was also a multiple-time ADCC champion, winning gold in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Kerr made his professional MMA debut in 1997, winning three times in one night to win the heavyweight tournament at World Vale Tudo Championship 3. He then joined the UFC and won the heavyweight tournaments at both UFC 14 and UFC 15.
Kerr would then join PRIDE in its earliest days and won six straight. He, unfortunately, would then lose six of his next seven, going on a downward skid. Kerr then won a pair of fights before ending his MMA career on five straight losses, including losses to Oleg Taktarov, Jeff Monson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.
Kerr joins the likes of Amanda Nunes, Vitor Belfort, Robbie Lawler, producer Craig Piligian and the UFC 236 fight between Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya as the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Kevin Holland may very well find himself back in the welterweight rankings after UFC 316, scoring a second-round submission victory over Vicente Luque in the pay-per-view’s opening bout.
Luque looked for an early takedown before Holland’s strikes forced Luque to abandon it. Holland appeared to wobble Luque during the first couple of minutes with an elbow. Luque responded well, but it resulted in a hematoma behind Luque’s left ear. Both men had their moments during this frame, but Holland’s physical advantages helped give him the edge.
Holland managed to catch a kick of Luque’s early in the second round, putting him to the mat. It was there where Holland put Luque away by securing a D’Arce choke and scoring the submission.
Kevin Holland Submits Vicente Luque At UFC 316
Kevin Holland tapping Vicente Luque wasn't on my bingo card.
Great performance. He threw the kitchen sink at Luque until he found his opening.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 8, 2025
Holland has now won two straight and three of his last five. This was Holland’s second fight back at 170 after scoring a decision win over Gunnar Nelson at UFC London.
Luque is now 2-2 in his last four and has now lost four of his last six.
Joshua Van continues to make noise and surge up the flyweight rankings, defeating Bruno Silva in a clinic that capped off the UFC 316 preliminary card.
Van’s crisp striking was on display from the opening frame, overcoming Silva’s leg-kick-based attack by trying to keep distance and using a variety of punches, including a left hook that dropped Silva late in the round.
Van came out in the second round looking to dictate the pace again, controlling the action with more distance work and use of his jab. Van scored another knockdown in this round with a right hand. Though Silva scored a takedown during the second round, Van got around it and managed to trouble Silva some more with a hook and ground-and-pound before the end of the round.
Van continued to overwhelm with accurate and powerful striking in the third round. Van dropped Silva with a right hook and some more ground-and-pound put Silva away about four minutes into the final frame.
Joshua Van Puts Beating On Bruno Gustavo Da Silva At UFC 316
Joshua Van is a force. Could very easily see him winning a UFC title one day.
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) June 8, 2025
Joshua Van with a brilliant performance.
The future of the flyweight division is bright.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 8, 2025
Josh Van made his amateur debut 53 months ago and has since fought 19 times. That is both a ridiculous activity level and insanely quick skill development #UFC316
Why even bother making Joshua Van take the long road to title contention? 1 of the only actually interesting flyweights. Get his ass a top 5 opponent
— 🇸🇴Arman Tsarukyan Stan Account🇸🇴 (@FatCraigKimbrel) June 8, 2025
Van, who improves to 14-2, has now won four straight and 11 of his last 12. This marked his fifth fight in an 11-month span; that span also included a loss to Charles Johnson and wins over Edgar Chairez, Cody Durden and Rei Tsuruya.
Silva has now lost two straight after a four-fight win streak. He came into this fight off a loss to Manel Kape in December.
Azamat Murzakanov can add another impressive knockout to his performance, needing just over three minutes to put away Brendson Ribiero during the preliminary card of UFC 316.
Murzakanov looked to take control right from the start with his power. He landed a couple of noteworthy left hooks early, one of which appeared to really hurt Ribiero. Another left hook managed to drop Ribiero. Murzakanov managed to get into mount, raining down ground-and-pound. Ribiero looked to get away but gave up his back, and Murzakanov continued to rain down blows until Ribiero submitted to strikes.
Azamat Murzakanov might have the slickest boxing in the light heavyweight division.#UFC316
— Giorgi Kokiashvili 🇬🇪 (@iHeartGeorgius1) June 8, 2025
Azamat Murzakanov might be the greatest fighter of all time, but we'd have no idea because he comes out of hibernation once a year just to knock someone out 😂#UFC316pic.twitter.com/iFWgcaush2
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) June 8, 2025
Murzakanov is now 5-0 in the Octagon since coming into the UFC off Dana White’s Contender Series. His was his first fight since his performance bonus-earning knockout of Alonzo Menifield at ABC Abu Dhabi last August.
Ribiero is now just 2-3 in the UFC since coming into the promotion off his own DWCS appearance.
Francis Ngannou is calling on Jon Jones to finally settle the long-standing debate over who truly wears the crown as the undisputed baddest man in heavyweight MMA.
Despite numerous efforts from both camps, the highly anticipated superfight never took shape. Frustrated by how he was treated during his reign as UFC heavyweight champion, “The Predator” chose to vacate his belt and sign with the PFL, sidelining the prospects of the the potential bout.
However, Ngannou’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, recently expressed confidence that the Cameroonian powerhouse would “100 percent” consider a return to the UFC—especially to revitalize a division hampered by the inactivity of reigning champion Jon Jones and the sidelining of interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.
Image: PFL MMA/YouTube.
On Friday, “Bones” responded to Nicksick’s remarks on X, expressing his interest in fighting Ngannou if the stars align. He revealed that a potential bout with Ngannou would reignite his competitive fire, unlike a title unification fight against Aspinall.
“I’m hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested… now we’re talking. That’s a real super fight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I’ve defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. Not just one legend facing a mouth that’s hot right now, but two real legacies colliding. That’s the kind of fight that actually adds something special to my story. At least from my point of view,” Jon Jones wrote on X.
I’m hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested… now we’re talking. That’s a real super fight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I’ve defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. Not just one legend facing a mouth that’s hot right…
Francis Ngannou Responds To Jon Jones Eager To Settle Heavyweight Rivalry
On Saturday, Francis Ngannou took to X to respond to Jon Jones’ call for a potential showdown, urging “Bones” to secure the green light from the UFC while he focuses on his own commitments in the PFL. “The Predator” emphasized that their long-awaited clash would definitively determine who stands as the unquestioned heavyweight champion of the sport.
“You take care of the UFC, I’ll take care of the PFL, and we’ll finally find out who’s the KING OF THE HEAVYWEIGHT,” Ngannou wrote on X.
You take care of the UFC, I'll take care of the PFL, and we'll finally find out who's the KING OF THE HEAVYWEIGHT. 🤴 https://t.co/Zz5XwjdFtF
However, several voices within the MMA community have long championed the idea of a cross-promotional collaboration between the UFC and PFL to finally bring this dream matchup to life. Yet, the chances remain slim, as White has consistently opposed such partnerships.
Yoo Joo-sang made an emphatic statement in his UFC debut at UFC 316, scoring the fourth-fastest finish in a debut performance at featherweight.
Joo-sang needed just 28 seconds to put away Jeka Saraigh during the event’s preliminary card.
Saragih looked to come after Joo-sang with a one-two. Joo-sang, however, saw it coming and stepped back away from the charge. Joo-sang then connected with a quick left hook that sent Saragih down, crumbling, like a stack of bricks, face first to the mat.
Yoo Joo-Sang Scores Impressive Sub-30-Second KO In UFC Debut At UFC 316
JOOSANG YOO WITH THE UNREAL FIRST ROUND KNOCKOUT 🔥
Joo-sang, who said he hopes to deliver a UFC title to the man he looks up to, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, is now 9-0 in MMA. The former AFC and Heat featherweight champion earned his fifth career finish in this bout tonight — with four of five now coming in the first round.
Saragih has now lost three of four since entering the Octagon off a pair of 2022 victories on Road to UFC.
UFC 316 took place tonight from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley faced off for the bantamweight title. While in the co-main event, Julianna Peña took on Kayla Harrison for the women’s bantamweight belt.
UFC 316 Results: Main Card
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O’Malley via submission: R3, 4.42
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Kayla Harrison def. Julianna Pena via submission: R2, 4.55
Middleweight: Joe Pyfer def. Kelvin Gastelum via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight: Mario Bautista def. Patchy Mix via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
Welterweight: Kevin Holland def. Vicente Luque via submission: R2, 1.03
Preliminary Card
Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Bruno Gustavo da Silva via TKO: R3, 4.01
Kayla Harrison is able to look back on her past and see it as a road that has well prepared for a potentially cathartic outcome here this weekend. Harrison will do battle for bantamweight gold against defending champion Julianna Pena in the co-main event of UFC 316 on June 7th. The multi time PFL champion and multi-time Olympic gold medalist will look to unseat the multi-time UFC bantamweight champion in what is a massive night for the 135 pound weight classes. Men’s bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili taking on Sean O’Malley in a rematch serves as the PPV closer on the night after Harrison vs. Pena.
As part of the embedded series heading into UFC 316, Harrison was documented getting reflective about her journey as she heads into her first opportunity at UFC gold as a massive betting favorite. As she let the MMA community into her mindset leading into this championship opportunity, Harrison said, “I’ve spent a lifetime chasing my dreams. You know, I think when I was younger, I definitely competed from a place of fear. I always felt like, in order to be worthy of love, I needed to win and be this perfect thing.”
Kayla Harrison Talks FreedomAhead of UFC 316
Kayla Harrison no longer pursues flawlessness in her approach to seemingly all things in her life and centers the three F’s in her existence at this point in her journey. As she expounded upon this, Kayla Harrison quipped, “Perfection is unattainable, but I don’t operate from that place anymore. It’s peace. I had a very ugly, nasty road to get to that kind of awakening and to that kind of peace—and everyone does. You’ve got to go through hell to get to heaven, you know?”
“I have so much more to my life now, and this is what I do, but it’s not who I am. Which gives me a freedom to be—I don’t know—fearless. I just go out there and have fun.”
Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison are just hours away from locking horns with one another at UFC 316 but managed to get in the last few verbal volleys before that cage door shuts behind them. Before the two will do battle for Pena’s 135 pound title, the two went back and forth on the microphone at the final pre-fight press conference before the pugilistic proceedings kick off Saturday night in Newark. Julianna Peña came across as defiant and unbothered by Harrison’s presence, as the reigning bantamweight champion declared:
“I’m not going to let this girl talk all over me and try to think that she’s going to get into my head. It’s not going to happen.”
To that, Kayla Harrison, who is aiming to cement her legacy further here with multiple PFL titles and multiple Olympic gold medals to her credit, responded to the sitting champion as Harrison retorted:
“It would be an honor and a privilege to be the face of women’s MMA. I don’t take it lightly. I consider it a huge responsibility, and Saturday night I’m going to go out there and leave it all in the cage so that I can be a new UFC champion of the world.”
Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison’s War of Words
‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ Julianna Peña would then fire back at the surging bantamweight contender with a biting comeback that got the canines involved when Peña said:
“She definitely hasn’t gotten under my skin. I got thick skin—it takes a little more than a Chihuahua barking to get under my skin. But even your Chihuahua doesn’t like you, Kayla. Even your own dang dog doesn’t even like you. The time for talking is almost over, and Saturday night we’re going to find out who’s the face of women’s MMA—and you’re looking at her!”
Julianna Peña did not stop there as the two time titleholder at 135 pounds would then challenge Kayla Harrison’s fighting style as Peña quipped,
“How are you going to beat me, Kayla? Are you going to lay on top of me and cook the clock for 25 minutes? Because that is literally your only chance to victory. That’s your only chance to beat me, is lay on top of me for 25 minutes!”
Kelvin Gastelum feels like he is firing on all cylinders leading into his re-booked bout against Joe Pyfer.
The two were initially supposed to compete against one another in late-March at a UFC Fight Night offering before Pyfer pulled out due to illness.
Now in the feature fight of the night on the pay-per-view main card, the two middleweight warriors finally throw down in Newark, New Jersey. At the UFC 316 fight week media day, the promotional stalwart fielded several questions from on-site media members ahead of his fight against Pyfer on Saturday night.
The TUF season 17 champion
Kelvin Gastelum said:
“Oh, absolutely. I’ve been prepared. I’ve known since, I think, October—even November—we’ve been prepping, looking into fighting Joe Pyfer. So it’s been quite a… it’s taken up a lot of my time.”
“We took a little time off—just a week off, went to Disneyland to kind of reset the mind, reset the body. Then we went right back to work and slowly ramped it back up. I think we did it right. I’m peaking just right again, and we only built off the last camp, so everything is just that much better.”
Images: UFC.com
Kelvin Gastelum isn’t thrilled with Pyfer re-booking
Kelvin Gastelum had a sour taste left in his mouth after Joe Pyfer utter some disparaging words about Mexico. This happened in the wake of Pyfer having tot pull out of his UFC on ESPN 64 fight with Gastelum which was set for Q1 2025 in Mexico City. Pyfer fell ill in Mexico and referred to the country as a ‘s**t hole’ which Gastelum admitted left a sour taste in his mouth. At that same UFC 316 pre-fight media day Gastelum described Pyfer’s comments as not right and felt the comments were a little rude.
The frustrations ran a bit deeper as Gastelum felt like he had the confluence of monetary loss and losing a tactical advantage due to his familiarity with the Mexican altitude. The former interim UFC middleweight title challenger invested time and money into a camp out there to acclimatize and it obviously put a dent in his bank account to not end up stepping into the octagon against Joe Pyfer.
UFC 316 is almost here, and we here at MMANews are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, June 7. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 6PM ET/3PM PT.
The headline attraction for the event will feature a UFC bantamweight championship rematch between current champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champion Sean O’Malley.
In the co-main event, Julianna Pena makes her first defense in her second reign as UFC women’s bantamweight champion, taking on former two-time PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison.
The pay-per-view card will also feature Kelvin Gastelum facing Joe Pyfer, former Bellator champion Patchy Mix making his Octagon debut against Mario Bautista and Vicente Luque going toe-to-toe with Kevin Holland.
UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 316 as of June 6 at 8:30pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (-310) vs. Sean O’Malley (+250)
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Julianna Pena (+455) vs. Kayla Harrison (-625)
Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum (+295) vs. Joe Pyfer (-375)
Bantamweight: Mario Bautista (+150) vs. Patchy Mix (-180)
Welterweight: Vicente Luque (+180) vs. Kevin Holland (-218)
Preliminary Card:
Flyweight: Bruno Gustavo da Silva (+500) vs. Joshua Van (-700)
Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov (-600) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+440)
Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac (-155) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (+130)
Welterweight: Khaos Williams (-198) vs. Andreas Gustafsson (+164)
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Flyweight: Ariane da Silva (+350) vs. Wang Cong (-455)
Featherweight: Jeka Saragih (+400) vs. Yoo Joo-sang (-535)
Lightweight: Quillan Salkilld (-470) vs. Yanal Ashmouz (+360)
Lightweight: MarQuel Mederos (-170) vs. Mark Choinski (+142)
We’re about 24 hours away from UFC 316, and MMANews is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
UFC 316 takes place on June 7 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The main event will see a rematch for the UFC bantamweight championship, as this time it’s Merab Dvalishvili defending the title against Sean O’Malley. Dvalishvili won the championship by defeating O’Malley in the main event of Noche UFC 2 (UFC 306) in September and defended the title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. The UFC women’s bantamweight gold will also be at stake in the co-main event, as defending two-time champion Julianna Pena faces the challenge of former two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison.
The rest of the main card will also see Kelvin Gastelum taking on Joe Pyfer, former Bellator champion Patchy Mix facing Mario Bautista and Kevin Holland going toe-to-toe with Vicente Luque.
Only Ariane da Silva missed weight – coming in six pounds over the limit – but all fights are in tact and are a go for tomorrow night!
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!
Sean O’Malley is back in the UFC spotlight, and he’s not just promising fireworks, he’s practically guaranteeing them. With his trademark bravado, O’Malley has declared that after UFC 316, “no one’s gonna care about Merab Dvalishvili,” at the recent UFC pre-fight press conference. It’s a bold claim, but if anyone’s got the receipts to back up knockout talk, it’s “Sugar” Sean.
Knockout Machine Sean O’Malley
Let’s get everyone up to speed. Sean O’Malley’s UFC run has been a highlight reel of stoppages. He’s racked up 12 KO/TKO wins in his pro career, with some of the most memorable coming against big names like Aljamain Sterling (TKO, UFC 292), Raulian Paiva (TKO, UFC 269), Kris Moutinho (TKO, UFC 264), Thomas Almeida (KO, UFC 260), Eddie Wineland (KO, UFC 250), and Jose Alberto Quiñónez (TKO, UFC 248). His style? Precision, timing, and a knack for making opponents look like they’re auditioning for a nap.
“I truly believe I’m going to knock Merab out. Come Sunday, no one’s going to give a [expletive] about Merab, and that’s just it. Keep talking and you’re going to get more humble. I’m making people humble, and you will see June 7.”
The US-born Sean O’Malley’s knockout of Sterling was especially notable, he needed less than a minute of the second round to claim the bantamweight belt, cementing his place as one of the division’s most dangerous finishers. But the sugar rush hit a speed bump last September at UFC 306. Merab Dvalishvili, the relentless machine from Georgia, outwrestled O’Malley over five rounds to snatch the bantamweight crown by unanimous decision. Since then, Dvalishvili has defended the title once, while O’Malley has been plotting his return—promising he’s coming in “70 percent better” for the rematch.
Now, the stakes at UFC 316 couldn’t be higher. O’Malley is the underdog (+220 to +240), looking to reclaim the belt and restore his knockout mystique. Dvalishvili, riding a 12-fight win streak, is favored to grind out another win with his relentless wrestling. But O’Malley’s camp insists he’s healthier and sharper than ever, and if his fists find the target, the belt could flip in an instant. Will Dvalishvili’s wrestling smother the “Sugar” show again, or will O’Malley’s right hand make everyone forget about Merab, just as he promised?
Valentina Shevchenko, the UFC’s reigning flyweight queen and a woman with more title defenses than most fighters have Instagram followers, has a training rule that’s left the MMA world parched: no water during exercise. Yes, you read that right – while most athletes are guzzling fluids between rounds, Shevchenko is channeling her inner Soviet scientist and keeping her water bottle firmly capped.
Valentina Shevchenko Says No Water In Training
“I don’t drink water during exercise. It comes from Soviet sports science—if you drink during intense exercise, it can disrupt your body’s rhythm. After training, you rehydrate, but during, you want everything working like a clock. Excess is never good, whether it’s water, protein, or caffeine,” she explained, in an interview with Helen Yee, with all the certainty of someone who’s kicked heads from Kyrgyzstan to Las Vegas.
This isn’t just a quirky personal habit. Valentina Shevchenko’s “no water” policy is a relic of Soviet-era sports science, where the idea was to toughen athletes up and keep their bodies running with mechanical precision. The theory? If you can train under the harshest conditions, parched and focused, then you’ll perform better when it counts, especially when water breaks aren’t guaranteed. Some former Soviet coaches believed that minimizing water intake during training would help athletes adapt to competition scenarios where hydration is limited.
But here’s where modern science throws a wet towel on the tradition. Leading sports nutritionists, including Jordan Sullivan (a.k.a. “The Fight Dietitian”), have called Shevchenko’s approach “outdated.” According to Sullivan, depriving athletes of water during training doesn’t build toughness it just makes them train worse.
Medical experts also warn that dehydration during exercise can impair performance, increase fatigue, and even pose serious health risks like heat exhaustion. Still, Shevchenko isn’t budging. She’s doubled down on her policy, even imposing it on her team during “The Ultimate Fighter” season 32, insisting that it’s about cultivating a champion’s mindset and keeping the body “like a clock.”
Critics may scoff, but it’s hard to argue with her results. And what results they are. She’s a two-time UFC women’s flyweight champion, boasting several successful title defenses in her first reign. Her resume reads like a who’s who of women’s MMA: victories over Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Jessica Andrade, Holly Holm, and Lauren Murphy, among others.
Is Shevchenko’s no-water rule a secret weapon or just a stubborn throwback? The science says hydrate, but “Bullet” Shevchenko says stay thirsty.
We are just one day away from UFC 316, and we’ve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMANews.
Just as they have the last two years, the UFC brings its early June pay-per-view offering to the city of Newark, New Jersey. The world’s fighting leader will provide the Prudential Center with two title fights and a whole lot of action to go down.
The main event will see Sean O’Malley look to re-capture the UFC bantamweight championship against the man who took it from him, Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili took a clear unanimous decision, troubling O’Malley with his grappling expertise, when the two first faced off at Noche UFC 2 (UFC 306) in September. While O’Malley has not fought since the loss, Dvalishvili successfully defended the title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January.
The co-main event will also have 135-pound gold on the line, as women’s champion Julianna Pena defends the title against Kayla Harrison. Pena became a two-time champion at UFC 307 in October, scoring a controversial decision win over Raquel Pennington to reclaim the gold. Pena’s first run with the belt came when she upset Amanda Nunes in December 2021 at UFC 269 — only to lose it back to her at UFC 277. Harrison, a former two-time PFL champion, has defeated Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira since jumping ship to the UFC.
The main card will also see Kelvin Gastelum taking on Joe Pyfer, the UFC debut of former Bellator champion Patchy Mix against Mario Bautista and Vicente Luque battling Kevin Holland.
UFC 316 Weigh-In Video, Results
UFC 316 takes place Saturday, June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.
See above for a replay of the UFC 316 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (134) vs. Sean O’Malley (135)
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Julianna Pena (135) vs. Kayla Harrison (135)
Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum (185) vs. Joe Pyfer (185)
Bantamweight: Mario Bautista (135) vs. Patchy Mix (135)
Welterweight: Vicente Luque (170) vs. Kevin Holland (170)
Preliminary Card:
Flyweight: Bruno Gustavo da Silva (125) vs. Joshua Van (125)
Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov (205) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205)
Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac (251) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (265)
Welterweight: Khaos Williams (170) vs. Andreas Gustafsson (170)
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Flyweight: Ariane da Silva (132*) vs. Wang Cong (125)
Featherweight: Jeka Saragih (145) vs. Yoo Joo-sang (145)
Lightweight: Quillan Salkilld (156) vs. Yanal Ashmouz (155)
Lightweight: MarQuel Mederos (155) vs. Mark Choinski (155)
The Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight saga has become the UFC’s longest-running “will they, won’t they” drama, and Jon Jones is doing his best to make sure nobody blames him for the mess. In a series of recent social media posts, Jones has sidestepped any responsibility for the fight falling through, instead pointing fingers at the UFC, the division, and, of course, everyone but himself.
Jones Plays the Blame Game While UFC Heavyweight Division Hits Pause
Let’s recap: Tom Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champ, has been waiting for his shot at Jon Jones since knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in late 2023. Jones, meanwhile, spent a year on the sidelines with injury, returned to beat Stipe Miocic, and then promptly vanished from the conversation about unifying the belts. While fans and UFC brass have pushed for a Jones-Aspinall showdown, Jones has been busy filming reality TV, collecting presidential memorabilia, and, apparently, counting the money he claims to make by “doing nothing at all… and holding the position.”
Image: @UFCEspanol/X
On social media, Jon Jones has been quick to downplay Aspinall’s threat. In one tweet, he wrote, “He is no threat to me whatsoever, he should start with just trying to be the best heavyweight of all time, that goal would be plenty. My career is on a completely different planet if we’re being honest.” He’s also taken shots at Aspinall’s record, claiming, “I’ve seen Tom get tapped out twice now by two different people. Time will show. Here today gone tomorrow.”
Image: UFC.com
As for the fight itself, Jon Jones insists he’s not the roadblock. “It sucks to see the rest of the division get slowed down like this, but that has nothing to do with me. I don’t pull the strings,” he posted, painting himself as a humble company man who just happens to be sitting on the title while the rest of the division twiddles their thumbs. He’s even suggested he hasn’t trained since his last fight and that the UFC is happy to keep him as champion, not Tom. Meanwhile, Aspinall has been left in limbo, defending his interim belt just to stay active, a rarity in UFC history.
I spoke to the UFC a long time ago about what my future plans were. I haven’t really worked out since my last fight in New York City. Honestly, I believe it’s been in the UFC’s best interest to keep presenting me as the company’s champion—not Tom.
The UFC, for its part, claims negotiations are ongoing, with Dana White promising that the fight will happen – eventually. But with Jones hinting at retirement and Aspinall openly questioning whether the champ will ever return, fans are left wondering if this is all just a drawn-out exit strategy for Jones. In short, Jones is playing the blame game with a straight face, dodging responsibility for the stalled division while taking potshots at Aspinall’s credentials.
No, honestly, I wish Tommy no ill will. He is no threat to me whatsoever, he should start with just trying to be the best heavyweight of all time, that goal would be plenty. My career is on a completely different planet if we’re being honest. I really don’t hate on other… https://t.co/cr38SjwCC6
We’re in the midst of UFC 316 fight week, and with the build reaching it’s boiling point, it’s time to make things potentially boil further with a good ol’ fashion question-and-answer session.
The sixth UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday, June 7. UFC 316 will be headlined by a UFC bantamweight championship rematch featuring champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champion Sean O’Malley.
The co-main event will also see gold on the line, as Julianna Pena makes her first defense in her second reign as women’s 135-pound UFC champion, taking on former two-time PFL champion and Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison.
The main card of UFC 316 will also feature middleweight action from Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer, the UFC debut of former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix (who takes on Mario Bautista) and a welterweight clash between Vicente Luque and Kelvin Gastelum.
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
Merab Dvalishvili has a natural passion for fighting that has allowed him to carve out a path where many see him as the best bantamweight fighter in MMA history. Heading into his sophomore title defense this weekend as he prepares to run things back in a rematch with Sean O’Malley, Dvalishvili radiated gratitude for what he is able to do for a living. The reigning kingpin of 135 pounds addressed several subjects to on-site media members at the fight week media day before the two warriors get locked into the octagon for the pay-per-view headliner at UFC 316 which is set to transpire in Newark.
When addressing his passion for the career path of being a high level combat sports athlete while offering insights into how he sees this seuqle clash with ‘Suga’ playing out, Merab Dvalishvili said.
“I love training and fighting. Everybody knows I’m always training—even on vacation, I’m still running and doing my best. Every time I have a fight in the UFC, I’m blessed. I’m happy to be busy and have the best job in the world. After this fight, I want to test a new weight-cutting style to make it even easier for me to fight often.”
“Every fight is a risk, and life is a risk. If I lose and don’t get an immediate rematch, I don’t care—I just want to fight and be busy. I believe I can beat Sean again, and I’m looking to do it in even more dominant fashion. How dangerous he is excites me more.”
Image: @merab.dvalishvili/Instagram
Merab Dvalishvili contemplates next opponent post-UFC 316
Merab Dvalishvili seems locked into the task at hand this weekend as he looks to garner a second win over the former UFC bantamweight champion in Sean O’Malley but he is not obtuse to who the likely next title challenger will be if Dvalishvili emerges victorious on Saturday. The Georgian fighter touted Cory Sandhagen as the likely next title challenger and praised the talented bantamweight fighter for having a skillset that should lead to an exciting future contest for the fans. Ultimately though, Dvalishvili stated that it is the UFC’s call and as the champion, he will fight whoever the promotion decides is next up.
Kayla Harrison knows a thing or two about gold. The American judoka made history by claiming two Olympic gold medals, first in London 2012 and again in Rio 2016, becoming the first American to ever top the podium in Olympic judo.
Olympic Gold vs. UFC Gold? Kayla Harrison Answers
Not content with just conquering the tatami, Harrison made a seamless leap into mixed martial arts, where she quickly collected two PFL titles in 2018 and 2019, remaining undefeated and earning the distinction of being the PFL’s first female champion. She later jumped to the UFC.
Image: @kaylaharrisonofficial/Instagram
Now, the stage is set for Kayla Harrison’s next mountain: a shot at UFC gold. This Saturday night at UFC 316, against Julianna Pena, she steps into the Octagon for her first UFC title fight, a moment that could see her add another accolade to her already weighty trophy case. This is Harrison’s chance to prove that her determination can translate just as well in the UFC as they did on the Olympic mats and in the PFL cage.
Kayla Harrison herself isn’t shy about the significance. “Can winning a belt compare to an Olympic gold?” She was asked at the UFC 316 pre-fight press conference.”We’re going to find out on Saturday night,” she said with a wry grin. “I’m sure it’s going to feel very similar … It’s a testament, I think, to my character, my grit, my determination. I’m very happy with my career—I’ve climbed a lot of mountains, I’ve done more than most will ever do, and I’m very satisfied with it. But this belt is for me.”
UFC 316
Kayla Harrison’s UFC tenure has been short but impactful, and now she stands on the brink of making history once again. After signing with the UFC in early 2024, Harrison wasted no time making her mark, debuting in the bantamweight division with a statement win over former champion Holly Holm by submission at UFC 300. She followed that up with a dominant unanimous decision victory against Ketlen Vieira, quickly climbing to the No. 2 spot in the women’s 135-pound rankings.
With an 18-1 professional record and a reputation for overwhelming her opponents with both judo and striking, Harrison now faces reigning bantamweight champion Julianna Peña in the co-main event at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey. If Harrison prevails, she will become just the second athlete ever – after Henry Cejudo – to win both Olympic gold and a UFC title, joining an elite club.
The UFC heavyweight division has become the stage for the sport’s most expensive game of chicken, as Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall circle each other with the promise of a $12 million mega-fight – the biggest guaranteed check in UFC history – dangling in the balance. The only thing heavier than the potential payday is the cloud of uncertainty hanging over whether this blockbuster will ever actually happen.
UFC Negotiation Stalemate: Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall
Negotiations for this unification bout have dragged on since last November, with both fighters and the UFC locked in a will-they-won’t-they saga that’s left fans, contenders, and even Dana White himself in a holding pattern. Tom Aspinall, the British interim champ with a penchant for first-round finishes, has spent the past year defending his belt and insisting that Jon Jones is, for all practical purposes, retired “The guy’s living his best life,” Aspinall said this week, “We know Jon’s a religious man, so I want to say: God bless him moving forward with what he does in his life and career.”
Chael Sonnen’s Scoop: Inside the Alleged Mega-Deal
But not everyone is buying the retirement talk. Enter Chael Sonnen, former Jones rival, who claims to have the inside scoop: “There’s a story going around that is largely believed… Jon Jones just wants that guarantee. He doesn’t have a past of selling huge pay-per-views, so when they tell him how great this is going to be, he’s looking around going, ‘Hey, I’ve never had great before. I want my money up front.’ What is believed in our industry is whatever that number was – and I believe that to be $12 million, in case you’re interested, got my own sources – but the UFC said, ‘Okay.’”
“And the problem with giving a guy that big of a quote… Jon’s check at the end of the night will be the biggest check he’s ever got. It’ll be the biggest check anyone has ever got from the UFC.“
According to Sonnen, this would see Jones out-earn the likes of Brock Lesnar, Georges St-Pierre, and Ronda Rousey, whose paydays now look positively modest by comparison. The UFC, for its part, seems ready to write the check. Reports suggest that the promotion has agreed to Jones’ terms, meaning the only thing left is for “Bones” to sign on the dotted line.
“If Jon wants the fight to happen today… it could be a done deal today. It’s up to him, and it’s always been up to him,” MMA journalist Ariel Helwani recently said, echoing the industry consensus that the ball is firmly in Jones’ court.Yet, for all the money and hype, the fight itself remains stuck in neutral. Sonnen points out the risk for the UFC: if Jones gets $12 million for Aspinall, he’ll want the same for every fight after, even if the next opponent is less marquee than the British knockout artist. And with heavyweight options thin, the UFC is left with a dilemma – pay up now, or risk the division slipping further into limbo.
Aspinall Waits, Fans Agitate
Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall waits, the division stalls, and fans grow restless. The petition to strip Jones of his title has nearly 180,000 signatures. As Sonnen quipped, “This fight is getting smaller, not bigger.” The anticipation that once made this matchup feel inevitable now feels more like a tease, with each passing week eroding the excitement.
Image: Jon Jones on Instagram
Will the UFC’s biggest-ever check finally tempt Jon Jones back into the Octagon for the showdown everyone wants? Or will this be remembered as the fight that never was, a $12 million question mark hanging over the heavyweight crown? For now, all eyes are on Jon Jones.
For the third year in a row, the UFC brings its early June pay-per-view offering to the city of Newark, New Jersey, as the UFC goes down at the Prudential Center. Get yourself ready and in the know with another edition of MMA News staff fight predictions.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, June 7. The main card will begin at its usual 10pm ET start time, with preliminary card action kicking off at 6pm ET.
The main event of the evening will be a second clash over the UFC bantamweight championship between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. The two first met at Noche UFC 2 — UFC 306 — this past September, with Dvalishvili taking a strong decision win to claim the gold and become just the second man to defeat O’Malley. Dvalishvili retained the title in comeback decision fashion against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 this past January, while this marks O’Malley’s first fight since the title loss.
The co-main event of the evening will also see a title be decided, as Julianna Pena defends the UFC women’s bantamweight championship against former Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison. This marks Pena’s first defense of the title since her controversial decision victory over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 in October to win the title. On the same card, Harrison, in her second fight since jumping ship to the UFC, scored a dominant decision over Ketlen Vieira to earn the title shot.
The UFC 316 main card will also see middleweight action featuring Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer, Mario Bautista taking on the debuting former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix and a welterweight encounter featuring Vicente Luque and Kevin Holland.
UFC 316: MMA News Staff Predictions
With UFC 316 just a couple of short days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have provided our picks for the fights that make up the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through five cards in 2025.
Pranav Pandey (13-9) Thomas Albano (12-10)
Ryan Jarrell (11-11)
And now, let’s take a look at everyone’s picks for UFC 316!
Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Honestly, I’m not quite sure where Holland stands these days. His recent form has been all over the place, especially when compared to a battle-tested veteran like Luque. Sure, Holland got back in the win column with his victory over Gunnar Nelson, but truth be told, that fight felt awkward and lacked real rhythm. Meanwhile, “The Silent Assassin” looked sharp in his last outing. That said, facing someone like Holland presents a unique challenge. “Trailblazer” holds a significant reach advantage, and in my opinion, he’s going to use every inch of it to keep Luque’s grappling threat at bay. If Holland stays composed and strategic, this could turn into a frustrating night for Luque. (Prediction: Holland)
Thomas Albano: This is the fight on the main card that I’m having the most trouble picking. Both Vicente Luque and Kevin Holland can flash power. Both Luque and Holland have strong grappling abilities. Both men have had a mix bag of results in their most recent string of match-ups – and both have had struggles against upper-level competition.
This is one of those fights that could fall either way. I and others in the MMA media space probably give the edge in power to Holland versus the edge in grappling to Luque. While Holland has problems with consistency, there should be concern about Luque’s health given his losses to Joaquin Buckley and Geoff Neal. I’m not the most confident in this pick, and I wouldn’t put any money on this fight. But if I had to pick a side, while my initial gut reaction was to go with Luque, I’m going to go with the “Trailblazer” here. (Prediction: Holland)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a tricky fight for me to pick because I think Luque at his best would beat Holland. Even with his most recent victory over Themba Gorimbo, I am not sure the ‘Silent Assassin’ is still in his prime. Kevin Holland is always a wild card to me and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go in and look like the absolute best version of himself. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see him get finished like he did against RDR. This is a coin flip to me, and I’ll side with Luque because I would imagine he restored his confidence after his recent quick victory over a rising star. (Prediction: Luque)
Consensus: 2-1 Holland
Bantamweight: Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix
Images: UFC.com, PFL
Pranav Pandey: It’s an intriguing stylistic matchup. Bautista is a high-pressure, in-your-face fighter who relentlessly pushes the pace and blends his striking with slick level changes. He knows his strengths and leans into them with purpose. On the other hand, Mix is stepping into the Octagon for his promotional debut. While I haven’t seen a ton of him firsthand, what I do know is that “No Love” is a submission savant. I’m more than ready to hop aboard the hype train and see if he can put the clamps on someone as durable and aggressive as Bautista. (Prediction: Mix)
Thomas Albano: I’m excited to see Patchy Mix back in action, now competing in the UFC. During his time as Bellator champion, I always viewed him as a face of the promotion – especially during the time period he was there after PFL purchased Bellator (tumultuous as it was). He legitimately up until his official signing weeks ago, at least in my mind, was one of the top talents not signed to the UFC. And he’ll already have the opportunity to make a big statement in this one.
Mario Bautista is not going to be a pushover. Bautista has a pressure-heavy, striking-heavy style, bringing forth plenty of power and momentum into his fights against opponents who may not be ready. And considering his wins over Ricky Simon and Jose Aldo (controversial as the latter was) last year, he’s ready to face a competitor like Mix. If Mix can take advantage and bring the fight to his world – to the mat – and negate Bautista’ striking game as much as possible, he can pick up the win here. And I believe that very well can happen come Saturday. (Prediction: Mix)
Ryan Jarrell: I really like what I’ve been seeing out of Mario Bautista during his win streak. Forget all the haters that jumped all over him for his game-plan against Jose Aldo. At the end of the day he got the job done and had his hand raised. I do think Patchy Mix will be a force in the UFC and someone to contend with at the top of the division for quite some time. But there is something to be said about the octagon jitters and historically speaking, debuting fighters have not faired well when competing with the elite regardless of the division. Give me Bautista to edge out a tough fought decision and continue his march up the top 15. (Prediction: Bautista)
Consensus: 2-1 Mix
Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: In my opinion, Gastelum still has that bulldozer-like durability he’s always been known for, but his inconsistency over the years makes me hesitant, especially against a power-punching sniper like Pyfer, who holds a clear reach advantage. I don’t think this will be an easy outing for either man, but if “Bodybagz” can manage the range and dish out damage from the outside, I could easily see him picking apart Gastelum, whose tendency to absorb shots has often put him in dangerous waters. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Thomas Albano: I really don’t want to come off as I’m quickly writing Gastelum off. After all, he has victories in two of his last three fights (including his most recent one), and he’s had some noteworthy performances regardless of result. But given Joe Pyfer’s momentum, and Gastelum losing a lot more than he’s been winning over the last several years, this just feels like a situation where an older fighter is being brought in as a lamb to slaughter for the younger rising star. I’ll respect Gastelum for trying to fight fire with fire, but he’ll need to mix up his grappling skills with it to have a shot in this one. And even then, I’m not sure if his pressure will be enough against the precision, speed, and power behind Joe Pyfer’s hands. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Ryan Jarrell: I think this fight is a case where one guy is coming into his fighting prime and the other guy is on the way out. If Gastelum can recreate his younger self he can definitely make this a tough one for Pyfer to win. But I just don’t see him having enough to deal with the power and physicality of his younger foe. I respect Gastelum so I will say he toughs it out and doesn’t get finished, but I expect him to lose rather handily on the judges score cards. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Consensus: 3-0 Pyfer
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title: Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: This fight feels genuinely tough for me to call. Peña will undoubtedly come into this matchup riding the wave of confidence that comes with being the reigning champion, and I get the sense she’s a bit more polished across the board when it comes to all-around MMA skills. But Peña also has a weak spot in her takedown defense—an area where former Olympian Kayla Harrison is poised to exploit her advantage. Still, I believe it’s never that straightforward with the gritty “Venezuelan Vixen,” who fights with relentless heart and refuses to back down.
On the other hand, Harrison showed some vulnerability in striking during her last bout against Ketlen Vieira, yet she weathered the storm with composure. If she keeps her grappling sharp and capitalizes on Peña’s takedown defense, I believe Harrison will drag the champ into deep waters where she thrives and ultimately emerge victorious. (Prediction: Harrison)
Thomas Albano: I have been following Kayla Harrison since she won her second Olympic gold medal in 2016 – and then transitioned into the sport. She dominated the PFL scene, becoming a two-time champion and fell just short of three titles (and Larissa Pacheco is not a loss to be ashamed of). Of course, there were questions on how she’d handle the step up in competition at the UFC level – and I think it’s safe to say, after her finish of Holly Holm and her dominant decision over Ketlen Vieira, Harrison was more than delivered.
It was cool to see Julianna Pena re-capture the UFC women’s bantamweight title at UFC 307, but not everyone was happy with her receiving the nod over Raquel Pennington. I was uncertain, too. And while Pena has shown some power, I don’t think she’s going to be any match for Harrison’s judo expertise and grappling abilities. I’m also curious how the size battle will go here (Pena has a three-inch reach advantage, but Harrison has the height edge and has competed in a heavier weight class previously). Like the oddsmakers feel, I expect to hear “and new” in the co-main event of the evening. (Prediction: Harrison)
Ryan Jarrell: According to the odds, we should have a new champion when this title fight concludes. I am very interested to see how the challengers cardio holds up if Pena is able to hang in there and deliver some punishment of her own in the early rounds. At the end of the day, I do expect Kayla’s wrestling and control time to be the difference in this one. I’m not terribly confident she will finish the champion, but I do expect her to win via decision because of her elite grappling skill set. (Prediction: Harrison)
Consensus: 3-0 Harrison
UFC Bantamweight Title: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Here we go again with the rematch. In their first meeting, Dvalishvili put on a masterclass in pressure fighting. It honestly felt like he had O’Malley tactically trapped from the opening bell. The Georgian’s breakneck pace and chain-wrestling blitz were overwhelming, and “Suga” looked like he had no escape route. However, I think this time around, things could look drastically different. O’Malley has likely overhauled his strategy. What has me particularly curious is the influence of Demetrious Johnson in his camp. I’m genuinely eager to see what kind of tools “Mighty Mouse” might’ve passed down, because if O’Malley shows up as a more complete, defensively sound version of himself, we might just get a tactical chess match instead of a one-sided beating.
But “The Machine” has finely tuned his blend of striking and grappling into a weapon that has repeatedly proven his dominance. I struggle to imagine him finding himself in any real trouble during this fight. Sure, “Suga” carries the knockout threat; there’s no denying that. However, I firmly believe Dvalishvili’s ironclad chin and unyielding toughness will see him through any storm. I fully expect him to weather every challenge effortlessly and sail smoothly to yet another dominant win. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Thomas Albano: Merab Dvalishvili has been someone who has seemed unstoppable in the division. His relentless pressure and his wrestling expertise have led him to plenty of success before, and it led to him fulfilling his potential and becoming champion the first time he met Sean O’Malley in the Octagon. I’m one of those who isn’t a fan that O’Malley is receiving a rematch in his first fight since while Dvalishvili already defended the belt four months ago.
On one hand, you could look at that circumstance and say O’Malley’s time off to develop and better prepare, combined with Dvalishvili needing to come from behind to retain against Umar Nurmagomedov may point to O’Malley recapturing the title. After all, Aljamain Sterling only defended the title three months before he faced O’Malley and lost. That said, O’Malley’s grappling hasn’t been his greatest asset, and I need to see true improvement out of him – and we haven’t had that opportunity yet. And when you manage to put on the performance Dvalishvili did against someone in the great Nurmagomedov family, my confidence is fully behind “The Machine” in this one. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Ryan Jarrell: After I watched Suga put away Aljamain Sterling, I wondered if anyone could stop the Suga Show at 135 pounds. Enter a machine, who literally never stops. Merab will get hit and O’Malley will have the chances he hopes to clip the Champion and potentially get a finish. But until I see it actually happen, I cannot pick against Merab. His output picks up as the fight goes deeper and his opponents have no chance but to wilt to his pressure. I don’t think O’Malley will have the answers in this rematch and I expect a very similar visual to the first go round. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Consensus: 3-0 Dvalishvili
That’ll do it for our UFC 316 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section!
Also, you can check out the full UFC 316 card below.
Main Card:
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison
Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
Bantamweight: Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix
Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland
Preliminary Card:
Flyweight: Bruno Gustavo da Silva vs. Joshua Van
Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Welterweight: Khaos Williams vs. Andreas Gustafsson
Sean O’Malley has a message for UFC fighters grumbling about their paychecks: if you’re not happy with “10 and 10,” there’s always a red vest waiting for you at Target. As O’Malley gears up for his blockbuster rematch at UFC 316 this Saturday, the bantamweight star isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the sport’s most heated debate.
Sean O’Malley to UFC Fighters: Don’t Like the Pay? Try Target
Former UFC champ ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley doubled down on his blunt philosophy regarding fighters who are just starting out in the UFC. In an interview with Demetrious Johnson, he explained:
“People complain, ‘I’m only getting paid 10 and 10.’ But in reality, who’s there to see you fight? Your mom, your dad, your sister, a couple buddies, no one’s paying to watch you on TV. You have to build your name up, bring value to the promotion. If you don’t want to make $50,000 a fight, go work at Target. No one’s forcing you to fight.”
UFC Fighter Pay Debate Heats Up
The US-born O’Malley’s comments land at a time when fighter pay remains a hot-button issue in MMA. Critics say the UFC’s entry-level deals, $10,000 to show, $10,000 to win, are too low for the risks fighters take. The UFC, meanwhile, contends that the real money comes to those who can draw a crowd, sell pay-per-views, and become stars. Sean O’Malley, who started on those same “10 and 10” contracts, says the key is self-promotion and performance.
Image: @ufc/X
“I understood early that you have to bring value to the UFC and build your own brand,” he said, pointing to his own rise through highlight-reel knockouts and a knack for marketing himself, rainbow hair included.
He’s quick to credit the UFC for his platform: “I still make – probably about the same amount of money outside the UFC as I do inside the UFC right now. It’s wild to think about. But I know the reason I’m making that much is because of the UFC. I wouldn’t have this platform or following without them. It’s very mutual: I’ve done a lot for the UFC, but they don’t need me. I need the UFC to get to where I want to go. I’m very grateful for the platform they give me.”
Building a Brand, Building a Paycheck
‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley’s hustle started long before the bright lights. “Even when I was 16, I was hustling – selling tickets, merch, getting sponsors. Tim Welch told me to get an Instagram when I moved down here. I always wanted to be different. The rainbow hair? That was 6ix9ine-inspired. The first time I did my hair was the Eddie Wineland fight, hair plus that knockout was a recipe for success. Every fight, a new hair. But it always comes down to performance. People want to see knockouts.”
UFC 316
Now, he returns to the Octagon at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, looking to reclaim the bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili, the man who took it from him last September. Sean O’Malley has left no stone unturned in his preparation, even making lifestyle changes like swearing off podcasting, video games, and, reportedly, taking a vow of celibacy in the lead-up. He’s hoping to erase any doubts from their first meeting, when he fought through injury.
Image: @ufc/Instagram
Merab Dvalishvili, for his part, has been on a dominant run, dismantling O’Malley in their first fight and defending his belt in style against Umar Nurmagomedov. Saturday’s main event is a chance for O’Malley to prove he belongs at the top, and for Dvalishvili to cement his reign. The UFC 316 card is stacked, with a co-main event featuring Julianna Peña defending her women’s bantamweight title against two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison.
As O’Malley puts it, if you want the big checks, you need to bring something extra to the cage. Otherwise, there’s always Target.
Kayla Harrison may involve the chrome dome of Dana White into her celebrations if all goes well at UFC 316. Speaking with Mike Heck of MMA Fighting ahead of her bid for UFC bantamweight gold this weekend, Harrison discussed several subjects. The multi-time Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champion looks to claim the 135 pound crown presently held by Julianna Pena when the two clash in the pay-per-view co-maine vent set for Saturday, June 7th in Newark, New Jersey. When discussing her mindset heading into such a massive matchup considering her martial arts pedigree ons ome of the biggest stages in the world, Kayla Harrison said.
Kayla Harrison
“This is what it’s all about, you know? It’s all about daring to dream big. I know that I’ve put in the work, I know that I have the best team, I have the best game plan, I’m prepared, I’m ready—and that is going to be the fruit of my labor. To feel those feelings, to feel the weight of the UFC belt go around my waist, to probably give Dana a big old kiss on his bald head and just hug my family… yeah, I can’t wait for that moment.”
“I think it’s probably a little more nerves, just because it’s my dreams on the line. But every fight matters, especially in MMA. It’s been a long journey to get here, and I’ve just been trying to be mindful of that. When the days are long or the sessions are hard, I remember that it’s all going to be worth it. Practicing gratitude, I think quite a bit about the fact that I’m living my dream. I don’t know that there are many people on the planet who get to say that—every day I wake up and I do exactly what I want to do; I chase my dream. When I remember that, it’s easy.”
Image: @ufc/Instagram
Kayla Harrison and her run in the UFC octagon so far
Kayla Harrison came into the octagon with a lot of hype from her days as a star in the PFL smart cage and she has lived up to the hype so far in her UFC tenure. Harrison debuted with the promotion on one of the biggest shows in company history as she submitted former bantamweight champion Holly Holm at UFC 300 last April. In her sophomore contest withthe MMA powerhouse, Kayla Harrison would defeat Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision at UFC 307 last October to punch her ticket for this championship opportunity versus Julianna Pena.
Julianna Peña does not seem intimidated at all by the deep martial arts pedigree of her next opponent Kayla Harrison as we are all now immersed in fight week proceedings. Peña will aim to make the first defense of her second reign with the UFC bantamweight belt when she takes on multi-time Olympc judo gold medalist and former PFL champion, Kayla Harrison. This battle for the 135 pound crown will take place in the co-main event attraction for UFC 316 which is set for Saturday, June 7th in Newark, New Jersey.
The reigning women’s bantamweight champion took part in an interview with Submission Radio and when addressing how much her opponent is a highly rated favorite heading into the cage this weekend, Julianna Peña said.
“They got me as, you know, another underdog situation where everybody just thinks I’m an absolute wash—and that’s kind of how they’ve had me my entire career. For me, I’m more concerned about the process than the outcome. When everybody thinks that you’re a walkover, when they don’t want to give you any respect, when they all think that you’re just going to die in there and get killed in 10 seconds—I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. That makes me a very dangerous woman.”
“Maybe because I don’t have the perfect rock ’em, sock ’em robot punches. Or maybe because I don’t have two gold medals in judo or a silver medal in wrestling. I’m very—maybe what they would consider—unorthodox. But the thing that always carries me through is that unwavering belief that I have in myself, a faith of: I don’t care who you are, what your accolades are, or what you’ve done—you are going to remember the day that you faced the Peña power.”
Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC
Julianna Peña and her history with shocking upsets
Julianna Peña is a sizable betting underdog heading into this Kayla Harrison fight which is a familiar narrative for the current UFC champion as she mentioned in the quote above. It seems like many are forgetting that ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ pulled off one of the bigegst upsets in the history of the sport when Peña unseated Amanda Nunes from her bantamweight throne. Julianna Peña submitted Nunes via rear naked choke at UFC 269 to shock the world with the latter eventually regaining the title from the former at UFC 277 when Nunes won on points.
