UFC 316 delivered an electrifying night of combat sports at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where fans witnessed the highly anticipated rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley. This main event showcased Dvalishvili defending his bantamweight title against former champion O'Malley, creating a buzz among mixed martial arts enthusiasts. The event also featured a co-main event where Julianna Peña faced off against Kayla Harrison for the women's bantamweight championship.
The fight card kicked off a thrilling evening that included several standout performances. The main card began at 10 p.m. ET, following the preliminary bouts, which started at 8 p.m. ET. The early preliminaries kicked off at 6 p.m. ET, ensuring fans had a full night of action-packed fights to enjoy.
In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili secured his title with a decisive victory over Sean O'Malley. Dvalishvili showcased his grappling prowess, winning via submission with a north-south choke at 4:42 of Round 3. This victory confirmed Dvalishvili's status as a dominant champion in the bantamweight division.
In the co-main event, Kayla Harrison submitted Julianna Peña with a kimura at 4:55 of Round 2, claiming the women's bantamweight title. Harrison's performance solidified her position as one of the premier fighters in the division, demonstrating exceptional grappling skills and strategic prowess.
The main card featured additional dramatic moments. Joe Pyfer earned a unanimous decision victory against Kelvin Gastelum, with judges scoring the fight 29-28, 29-27, and 30-27. Pyfer's strong performance showcased his striking ability and tactical awareness throughout the bout.
Mario Bautista also emerged victorious, winning via unanimous decision against Patchy Mix with scores of 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27. This win added to Bautista's growing reputation in the bantamweight category, emphasizing his effective striking and control during the match.
Kevin Holland showcased his grappling skills by submitting Vicente Luque with a D'arce choke just 1:02 into Round 2, adding another highlight to his impressive performance record.
The preliminary card featured notable bouts as well. In a thrilling matchup, Joshua Van defeated Bruno Silva via TKO from punches at 4:01 of Round 3. Azamat Murzakanov also showcased his power, finishing Brendson Ribeiro with a TKO at 3:25 of Round 1. These victories demonstrated the rising talent within the UFC ranks.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta claimed a unanimous decision victory over Serghei Spivac with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28, while Andreas Gustafsson decisively defeated Khaos Williams, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-26, and 30-26.
The early prelims featured impressive outings as well, with Wang Cong defeating Ariane da Silva by unanimous decision, scoring 30-27 across the board. Joo Sang Yoo stunned the crowd with a knockout of Jake Saragih just 28 seconds into Round 1. Quillan Salkilld secured a unanimous decision win over Yanal Ashmouz, and MarQuel Mederos rounded out the early prelims with a unanimous decision victory against Mark Choinski.
UFC 316 delivered high-stakes matchups and unforgettable moments, underlining the excitement and unpredictability of mixed martial arts while showcasing the best fighters in the division. With thrilling finishes and decisive outcomes, this event solidifies its place in UFC history.
