Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O`Malley via submission to claim the Bantamweight title with a dominant performance at UFC 316.
Aptly nicknamed `The Machine`, Dvalishvili`s exceptional cardio makes him a relentless force. He consistently pressures opponents, moving forward and pursuing them – a strategy he executed perfectly at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Saturday night. The event was attended by notable figures including US President Donald Trump and retired heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson.
O`Malley, who was defending the title against Dvalishvili, had shown improvement since their previous encounters but was ultimately outclassed by Dvalishvili`s overwhelming style.
In preparation for this fight, O`Malley reportedly made significant lifestyle changes to reach peak physical condition, including quitting smoking and altering his appearance, ditching his signature brightly dyed hair for a more natural look.
Despite O`Malley`s efforts and more dynamic movement in this bout, he was predominantly on the defensive. Dvalishvili controlled the striking exchanges and successfully secured four takedowns, utilizing his strength on the ground.
In the third round, after being thoroughly worn down, O`Malley left himself vulnerable. Dvalishvili capitalized on the opening, securing a north-south choke to force the tap and claim the 135-pound championship belt.
The victory marks the 34-year-old Dvalishvili`s 13th consecutive MMA win, bringing his overall record to 20-4 and tying him for the fourth longest winning streak in UFC history.
Harrison Earns Shot at Nunes as Legend Plans Octagon Return
In the co-main event, Kayla Harrison defeated women`s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña via submission with just five seconds remaining in the second round. Having become a champion in only her third UFC fight, Harrison is now set to make her first title defense against returning legend Amanda Nunes.
Nunes, widely considered the greatest female fighter in UFC history, retired in 2023 but had indicated she would return to face the winner of this bout. Former Olympic judo champion Harrison earned that opportunity with a dominant string of victories to start her UFC career.
Before joining the UFC last year, the 34-year-old Harrison was a two-time $1 million prize winner in the Professional Fighters League lightweight division. She won her first two UFC fights, and her impressive overall MMA record of 19-1, combined with her established reputation, quickly positioned her as a top title contender.
“I definitely want to fight Amanda. She`s the greatest of all time,” Harrison stated. “I want to be the greatest of all time.”
Following her victory, Harrison called Nunes into the octagon. After some encouragement, Nunes, who is scheduled for induction into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer, entered the cage. Confirming she would indeed fight Harrison for the 135-pound belt at a future date, the two engaged in a brief staredown, much to the excitement of the crowd.
“We`re going to bring women`s MMA to a whole new level,” Harrison added.
Other results on the card included UFC fighter Kevin Holland`s submission victory over Vicente Luque and Joe Pyfer`s unanimous decision win against Kelvin Gastelum in their middleweight bout.
