Photo credit: www.forbes.com
The UFC is set to make its return to Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, June 7 for UFC 316, featuring an exciting lineup headlined by two championship bouts. The main event sees the bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defend his title against Sean O’Malley, the fighter he defeated for the belt. In the co-main event, Julianna Peña aims for a successful title defense against Kayla Harrison, a formidable competitor with a stellar background in MMA. This article will explore these high-stakes matches and the accompanying fights that complement the UFC 316 card.
UFC 316 Fight Card: Matchups Overview
The official fights announced for UFC 316 are as follows:
- Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley – Men’s bantamweight title fight
- Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison – Women’s bantamweight title fight
- Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland – Welterweight bout
- Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer – Middleweight clash
- Marlon Vera vs. Mario Bautista – Bantamweight matchup
- Gustavo da Silva vs. Joshua Van – Flyweight contest
- Ariane da Silva vs. Wang Cong – Women’s flyweight bout
- Johnny Walker vs. Azamat Murzakanov – Light heavyweight fight
Date and Venue Details for UFC 316
The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
Ticket Information for UFC 316
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, with prices ranging from $256 for standard admission single seats to $6,006 for Official Platinum front row seats.
Main Event Preview: Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2
Merab Dvalishvili, with a record of 19 wins and 4 losses, emerged as a standout in the bantamweight division after triumphing over Sean O’Malley during UFC 306. Dvalishvili, a long-time training partner of former champion Aljamain Sterling, began his UFC journey in 2017 as a promising prospect but faced challenges with consecutive losses at the onset. However, he turned his career around by embarking on a remarkable 11-fight winning streak, defeating notable fighters such as Marlon Moraes and Petr Yan before ultimately capturing the bantamweight title.
On the other side of the octagon, Sean O’Malley, who holds a record of 18 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no contest, originally gained prominence through the Dana White’s Contender Series after an impressive knockout performance. Since then, O’Malley has built a reputation for his striking ability and knockout power, though his journey has not been without setbacks. Following a loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera, O’Malley rebounded to claim victories, including a pivotal split decision over Petr Yan in October 2022, paving his way to contend for the title again.
Co-Main Event Preview: Peña vs. Harrison
Julianna Peña, with a record of 12 wins and 5 losses, first made a name for herself by winning The Ultimate Fighter’s 18th season. Her career trajectory saw her achieve significant victories, culminating in a historic upset over Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title in December 2021. Although her title reign was short-lived, following a rematch loss against Nunes, Peña silenced critics with a split decision win against Raquel Pennington that earned her another title shot.
Her challenger, Kayla Harrison, boasts an impressive 18-1 record and is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo. Harrison transitioned into MMA in 2018 and quickly dominated the competition, claiming the PFL women’s lightweight title. After an unbeaten streak of 15-0, she suffered her first loss in 2022 but rebounded successfully in her PFL appearances. Recently signed by UFC, Harrison made a strong debut at 135 pounds by submitting Holly Holm and is now positioned as a top contender in the division.
As UFC 316 approaches, fans can anticipate more insights, including fight predictions and odds to further enhance their viewing experience.
Source
www.forbes.com