Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his UFC Bantamweight title against Sean O'Malley in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 316 this Saturday. The Georgian champion, who defeated O'Malley by unanimous decision in September 2024, enters the Prudential Center in Newark with a professional record of 18-4 and an impressive 11-2 run in the UFC.
Dvalishvili's grappling prowess remains his greatest weapon. Averaging 5.89 takedowns every 15 minutes with a takedown defense of 82%, he presents a tactical nightmare for O'Malley.
"Suga" Sean has yet to find an effective counter to Dvalishvili's relentless wrestling approach, which proved decisive in their first encounter. The champion has won 11 times by decision in the UFC – a pattern experts expect to continue this weekend.
The card also features an intriguing co-main event between Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison for the UFC Women's Bantamweight title.
Interestingly, Patrick Mix makes his UFC debut against Mario Bautista with considerable expectations. Despite being new to the promotion, Mix brings an impressive 20-1 record with 15 finishes, including 13 by submission. Can the newcomer live up to the hype against Bautista, who rides a seven-fight winning streak?
The main card opens with what promises to be an explosive welterweight clash between Vicente Luque and Kevin Holland. Both fighters have demonstrated finishing tendencies, with Holland seeing 9 of his last 12 UFC appearances end inside the distance, while Luque has finished 7 of his last 9.
With the bantamweight division's hierarchy at stake, Saturday's main event represents more than just a title defense – it's Dvalishvili's chance to cement his championship status or O'Malley's opportunity for redemption. Who walks away with the gold?
