UFC 316: Dvalishvili Defends Bantamweight Title Against O’Malley

NEWARK, N.J. — UFC 316 returns to the Prudential Center this Saturday, featuring a thrilling lineup headlined by bantamweight championship bouts. Champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against Sean O'Malley in a highly anticipated rematch.

Dvalishvili enters the octagon with a 12-fight winning streak, having successfully defended his title against Umar Nurmagomedov earlier this year. Known for his relentless conditioning and pressure, Dvalishvili remains confident in his ability to rally back in fights.

O’Malley, meanwhile, is coming off his first loss in nearly eight fights, where he was outwrestled by Dvalishvili in their first meeting. Following surgery to address an injury suffered during that fight, he hopes to reclaim his title.

The co-main event features Julianna Peña defending her women’s bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison. Peña seized her title via split decision against Raquel Pennington last October, showcasing her tenacity in the octagon.

Aside from the championship bouts, several other exciting matchups are set for the night, including Kelvin Gastelum facing Joe Pyfer in a critical middleweight clash. Gastelum moves back up to middleweight, aiming for redemption after management issues previously hindered his performance.

Mario Bautista and promotional newcomer Patchy Mix will also clash in a pivotal bantamweight fight. Bautista boasts a seven-fight winning streak and intends to showcase his well-rounded skills against Mix, who comes in with a strong 20-1 record.

This action-packed card includes notable prelim bouts featuring flyweights Bruno Silva and Joshua Van, as well as light heavyweights Azamat Murzakanov and Brendson Ribeiro. The evening promises to deliver intense matchups and possibly reshape the future of various divisions.

UFC 316’s prelims begin at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET, in what is expected to be a memorable night for fight fans.