UFC 316 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili submits Sean O’Malley after Kayla Harrison crowned champion
Dvalishvili dominated to force an O’Malley tap in the third round of their high-stakes rematch
Merab Dvalishvili produced another dominant title defence to submit Sean O’Malley in their rematch at UFC 316 and stake his claim as the greatest bantamweight of all time.
Dvalishvili made his second defence of the belt, having dethroned O’Malley with a comprehensive decision win in September, before outpointing Umar Nurmagomedov in a stunning comeback in January. And after going two rounds up, he locked in a neck crank in the third round to secure the first finish of his title reign.
It came after Kayla Harrison dethroned Julianna Pena in the co-main event to become the UFC’s bantamweight queen, promptly using the throne to invite women’s GOAT Amanda Nunes to return from retirement in a mouth-watering clash. In lifting the title, judo-master Harrison became only the second athlete ever to boast an Olympic gold medal and UFC gold on their resume.
Also in action were former Bellator champion Patchy Mix, whose UFC debut proved incredibly underwhelming as he lost convincingly to Mario Bautista, as well as fan favourite Kevin Holland, who kicked off the main card with a submission victory over Vicente Luque.
Relive all the action from UFC 316 below:
UFC 316 LIVE: Kelvin Gastelum vs Joe Pyfer
Round two
Early uppercut stuns Gastelum before another nice Pyfer one-two knocks him back. He manages to stay on his feet this time, but every time Pyfer connects, it feels like the fight could end there and there.
Pyfer gets called into a bit of defensive work and rises to the challenge, dodging a couple overhands from Gastelum. The Mexican then moves for the leg kicks, a level change that was probably overdue.
Gastelum is closing the gap more and tries to tee off on Pyfer, getting in there with jabs while the bigger man tries to plot one killer blow.
A better round from Kelvin, no doubt.
UFC 316 LIVE: Kelvin Gastelum vs Joe Pyfer
Round one
Straight away, the size difference is striking. Pyfer is an enourmous middleweight and Gastelum is, well, a former welterweight.
And it only takes one punch for Gastelum to get knocked down! The ever-resilient Mexican is able to get back up, but within the first minute, his chin takes a serious test.
Pyfer allows Gastelum to get a foothold back in the fight and lands a good left to the body. But after getting hit so heavy so early, he’s hesitant to close the distance.
With good reason too, because after a headkick catches the back of the head, Pyfer drops Gastelum with another vicious right before raining down ground and pound!
Once again, Gastelum is able to survive, but he’s hurt as the first round comes to a close.
UFC 316 LIVE: Kelvin Gastelum vs Joe Pyfer
Next up, Mexican favourite Kelvin Gastelum takes on hard-hitter Joe Pyfer at middleweight!
This has been hotly-anticipated for a while, but was forced to be rescheduled after the original bout for UFC Noche was cancelled.
But we’re getting it now - and with the fighters in the cage, this one gets underway imminently!
UFC 316 LIVE: Patchy Mix vs Mario Bautista
After the Jose Aldo bout, Mario Bautista barely saw his stock rise. He was effective but his style was so boring that not even the purists could really get on board.
That, however, was an absolute clinic. A performance worthy of hurting the hype of debutant Patchy Mix, who has a lot to work on if he ever wants to enter the UFC welterweight title picture.
UFC 316 LIVE: Patchy Mix vs Mario Bautista
Round three
Patchy finally goes for a takedown but his timing in this has been all wrong. Bautista is a strong grappler and with the added slipperiness that comes with sweat, Mix is going to really struggle to get him to the mat.
Mix’s eye, now bleeding, is also appearing a real problem as his vision becomes increasingly impaired.
The debutant clips Bautista with a hook but it’s still Bautista who is doing the greater damage, responding with a wonderful combination. Mix still looks so stiff and Bautista’s body work is making it increasingly hard from him to change levels.
Mix produces a late flurry as he searches for a Hail Mary finish, but it’s just that - too late. We go to the scorecards...
Mario Bautista def. Patchy Mix via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
A perfectly executed gameplan from Bautista, credit where it’s due. But that was a very, very underwhelming debut from Patchy Mix.
UFC 316 LIVE: Patchy Mix vs Mario Bautista
Round two
Bouncing Bautista is a cardio king and is looking the complete opposite of Mix, who is so heavy on his feet.
Bautista switches to southpaw and lands a nice left hand, but Patchy responds with a combo of his own just to rattle the cage of his opponent.
Mix’s corner is shouting “level change”, but he’s not adhering. He’s sticking to the kickboxing, and it nearly pays off as he connects with a beautiful headkick that gets Bautista retreating.
Bautista weathers the brief storm and responds by snapping Patchy’s head back with a straight right. The pair enter the final minute trading blows after what has been a much closer round two.
But it’s Bautista who ends on top, poking at Mix and further chipping with body shots as the buzzer goes.
The crowd boos, for some reason. This has been an relentless clinic from Bautista so far, who is this time commanding respect for his display in the cage.
UFC 316 LIVE: Patchy Mix vs Mario Bautista
Round one
Bautista has started on top here. Two big right hands knocks Patchy back, whose head is not moving. Body kick to a right hand and at the moment, Patchy has no response.
Patchy looks very flat-footed at the moment. Bautista is just picking him a part.
They briefly enter the clinch and Patchy connects nicely with a knee. But as the distance increases again, Bautista keeps chipping away at the body and is staying out of reach of Patchy.
Another nice kick and jab to the body makes Patchy wince. The slapper sounds and Bautista stings the debutant with a right flush on the nose to see out the opening round.
As far as first rounds in the UFC go, that wasn’t good for Patchy Mix. He looks a bit lost in there.
UFC 316 LIVE: Patchy Mix vs Mario Bautista
Next up, it’s the highly-anticipated debut of Patchy Mix who takes on Mario Bautista at bantamweight.
Mix is a former Bellator bantamweight champion and arrives in the UFC with an impressive record of 20-1 as well as vast hype behind him.
He takes on Bautista, whose previous outing against icon of the sport Jose Aldo, while a win, did nothing to raise his stock with the fans - as he all but hugged the Brazilian for 15 minutes straight to eke out a lacklustre decision victory.
Can Bautista produce something a little more inspiring to derail Patchy before his UFC journey has even started?
UFC 316 LIVE: Mark Kerr inducted into UFC Hall of Fame
Mark Kerr is the final inductee of the UFC Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025!
Kerr was a pioneer of the sport and was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament winner.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who will play Kerr in this year’s release “The Smashing Machine”, will induct him into the Hall of Fame.
UFC 316 LIVE: Kevin Holland calls out 'worst guy at welterweight' Colby Covington
Kevin Holland already has his eyes on getting back in the cage - he wants to stay at 170lbs, and he wants public enemy number one Colby Covington.
“Colby Covington, you’re the worst guy in the welterweight division and I like beating up old sorry people,” Holland said post-fight.
“Luque was a tough fight, Colby will be an easy one. Book us in the summer time, or book us in the fall.”
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