MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 11: (L-R) Opponents Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley face off during the … More
Two title fights sit at the top of the next pay-per-view on the UFC schedule. That event, UFC 316, takes place on Saturday, June 7, from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
A rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley is the main event of the UFC 316 fight card. In the first meeting between these two, Dvalishvili scored a unanimous decision win over O’Malley to win the UFC bantamweight title. Dvalishvili’s victory ended O’Malley’s title reign after one defense, a decision win over Marlon Vera.
The co-main event of UFC 316, Julianna Pena, looks to accomplish what she could not during her first run as the UFC women’s bantamweight champion, successfully defend that title. Pena, who defeated Raquel Pennington in October to claim UFC gold for the second time, has her work cut out for her as she faces former PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison in Newark.
UFC 316 Fight Card: Main Card Opening Odds
Merab Dvalishvili (-300) vs. Sean O’Malley (+240)
Julianna Peña (+525) vs. Kayla Harrison (-700)
Kelvin Gastelum (+250) vs. Joe Pyfer (-300)
Mario Bautista (-110) vs. Patchy Mix (-110)
Vicente Luque (-140) vs. Kevin Holland (-160)
UFC 316 Fight Card Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Sean O’Malley 2
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 11: Merab Dvalishvili is seen on stage during the UFC 316 press conference at … More
Merab Dvalishvili (19-4), a long-time training partner of former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling stepped into the spotlight of the promotion’s 135-pound division in September 2014 when he scored a unanimous decision win over then-champion Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306.
The 33-year-old Dvalishvili joined the UFC in 2017 as much-hyped prospect. At the time, Dvalishvili was 7-2 and had won and defended the Ring of Combat bantamweight crown.
Dvalishvili did not have a smooth start to his UFC run, losing his first two fights. Falling to Frankie Saenz by decision, and the second, to Ricky Simon, via submission. In September 2018, things clicked in place for the Serra-Longo Fight Team product, and he has not lost since.
Heading into UFC 306, Dvalishvili was on a 10-fight winning streak. Prior to his matchup against O’Malley, Dvalishvili had defeated Marlon Moraes, Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. The win over O’Malley stretched his winning streak to 11 straight. Dvalishvili extended that streak to 12 when he defended his title with a unanimous decision win over the previously unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 11: Sean O’Malley is seen on stage during the UFC 316 press conference at … More
Sean O’Malley (18-2-0-1) was 7-0 with six finishes when he got the chance to fight for a UFC contract on the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2017. O’Malley, scored a first-round knockout, and a UFC contract that night.
He went 4-0 in his first bouts with the promotion, picking up three fight-night bonus awards for his efforts, including a brutal one-punch KO win over UFC veteran Eddie Wineland at UFC 250.
The win over Wineland put O’Malley at No. 14 in the UFC bantamweight rankings and got him a fight against Marlon “Chito” Vera. Vera won that fight by TKO, handing O’Malley the only defeat on his record.
The loss to Vera knocked O’Malley out of the rankings, but he bounced back in his next fight, knocking out Thomas Almeida and earning another fight-night bonus in the process. He followed that win with a TKO win over Kris Moutinho.
Despite those back-to-back wins, O’Malley remained unranked when he next stepped into the Octagon for a December 2021 matchup against Raulian Paiva. O’Malley wrapped that fight up with a knockout at the 4:42 mark of the first round. That victory put O’Malley back in the rankings.
O’Malley’s next bout ended in a no contest, when an eye poke in the second round left Pedro Munhoz unable to continue.
Then, in October 2022, O’Malley was matched up with former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan. He entered that contest as the +230 underdog to the -275 ex-champ. The pair went the three-round distance, with O’Malley getting the split decision nod. That victory set up O’Malley to face Sterling in August 2023.
O’Malley has not fought since his loss to Dvalishvili. He is the No. 1 fighter in the official UFC bantamweight rankings.
UFC 316 Fight Card Co-Main Event: Julianna Pena Vs. Kayla Harrison
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 11: Julianna Pena is seen on stage during the UFC 316 press conference at … More
Julianna Pena (12-5) earned her UFC contract by winning Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter. A member of Team Tate, Pena knocked out Jessica Rakoczy in the first round of their November 2013 matchup. The win moved Pena’s record to 5-2.
Pena ran off three victories after that, beating Milana Dudieva, Jessica Eye and Cat Zingano before Valentina Shevchenko ended her winning streak with a January 2017 armbar submission.
In October 2017 Pena announced her pregnancy. When she returned to action in July 2019, Pena defeated Nicco Montano by decision. A submission loss to De Randamie in October 2020 followed.
In January 2021, Pena submitted Sara McMann. Pena, sitting at No. 3 in the women’s bantamweight rankings, earned a shot at Amanda Nunes and her bantamweight title in December 2021. She entered that contest as a -650 underdog to the champ, who was the -1000 betting favorite.
In one of the more shocking upsets in UFC title fight history, Pena submitted Nunes in the second round, ending the Brazilian’s title reign.
Pena’s time at the top of the division was short, as Nunes won their July 2022 rematch by decision.
Pena was set to face Nunes in a trilogy bout at UFC 289, but an injury knocked the former champ from that scrap. Nunes defeated Pena’s replacement, Irene Aldana, on that card and then retired.
When Pena returned to action it was at UFC 307 where she defeated then-champion Raquel Pennington via split decision. She makes her first defense of that belt at UFC 316.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 11: Kayla Harrison is seen on stage during the UFC 316 press conference at … More
two-time Olympic gold medal winner in judo (2012 and 2016), Kayla Harrison (18-1) made her MMA debut in the 155-pound division with PFL in 2018. Harrison ran over her first six opponents, picking up three submissions, two knockouts, and a decision before winning the women’s lightweight title by defeating Larissa Pacheco by decision.
In November 2020, Harrison defeated Courtney King by TKO in a 145-pound scrap. Shen then moved back to 155 pounds. In 2021, Harrison won the PFL 155-pound tournament with a submission win over Taylor Guardado.
By 2022, Harrison had amassed a 15-0 record. However, her unbeaten ended in the finals of the 2022 PFL lightweight tourney when Pacheco scored a unanimous decision win over Harrison. The ex-champ fought once more for the PFL, beating former UFC fighter Aspen Ladd via decision in November 2023 in a 150-pound catchweight fight.
In January 2024, the UFC announced it had signed Harrison and that her promotional debut would take place in the 135-pound weight class. Harrison impressed in that performance, submitting former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm by submission in the second round at UFC 400.
In her next, and most recent, outing, Harrison defeated Ketlen Vieira via unanimous decision.
Harrison is the No. 2 ranked fighter in the official UFC women’s 135-pound rankings.
We will have more on this upcoming UFC 316 PPV as fight night approaches, including previews, odds, and predictions for the UFC 316 fight card.
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