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: Kevin Holland vs Vicente Luque
Round two
Early in the second, Holland catches a leg-kick and quickly jumps for the D’Arce choke - Luque is in real trouble here!
It’s locked in tight and while Luque does everything in his power to escape, Holland is so long that there is simply no way out other than to tap - and that’s exactly what he does!
Kevin Holland def. Vicente Luque via second-round decision (D’Arce choke, 1:03)
Holland jumps out of the cage and celebrates by getting a moment one-on-one with Trump, who is sitting cageside.
UFC 316 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Vicente Luque
Round one
We’re off! And right from the outset, Holland is sending a barrage of verbal taunts the way of Luque. We expect nothing less!
Holland goes for the body kick which is caught by Luque, but Holland is able to land a few heavy shots in the clinch to get the crowd going.
Good combination from Luque but Holland reacts with a sharp elbow off the ear that hurts the Brazilian! Luque then comes back with a strong right of his own, and still, Kevin is not relenting with the trash talk!
Luque stuns Holland again with a left hook but nothing devastating as the first comes to a close.
Pumped up, the pair slap hands after the buzzer. Business it may be, but these two are fully committed to putting on a show.
UFC 316 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Vicente Luque
Right, who’s ready to get going?
We kick tonight’s main card off with the UFC’s most active fighter as Kevin Holland returns for what is already his third fight of the year, this time against Vicente Luque.
Two proven finishers who will already have their eyes on bonuses, this should be a barnburner as both jockey for positions in the welterweight rankings.
Read more on what Holland had to say on his relentless fight schedule below:
UFC’s most active fighter Kevin Holland ‘had so many fights I don’t remember’
UFC 316 LIVE: Merab’s team to warn ref about controversial O’Malley tactic
Dvalishvili’s coach has said the bantamweight champion’s team will warn the referee ahead of tonight’s main event, as they aim to combat a controversial tactic used by O’Malley’s trainer.
When O’Malley knocked out Aljamain Sterling to win the belt in 2023, the latter appeared to bite on a deceiving shout from “Sugar Sean”’s coach Tim Welch, who cried: “Aljo, you’ve got to go!” Sterling might have believed it was his own coach shouting, but in any case, he closed range and was knocked out by O’Malley.
Welch tried the same tactic when his fighter defended the gold against Dvalishvili in September, but he was unsuccessful in two senses; Welch was warned by referee Herb Dean, and Dvalishvili cruised to a decision win to become champion.
Ahead of tonight’s rematch, the champion’s head coach, John Wood, will make sure to speak to whichever referee is appointed.
More here:
Merab Dvalishvili’s team to warn referee over controversial Sean O’Malley tactic
UFC 316 LIVE: Time for the main card!
Fasten your seatbelts, it’s time for the UFC 316 main card!
Tonight’s stacked card will culminate in two bantamweight title fights tonight, with the main event pitting men’s champion Merab Dvalishvili against Sean O’Malley.
Dvalishvili makes his second defence of the belt here, having dethroned O’Malley with a comprehensive decision win in September, before outpointing Umar Nurmagomedov in a stunning comeback in January.
Tonight’s rematch in New Jersey is a classic striker versus grappler match-up, with “Sugar Sean” confident he can find the knockout blow that he was unable to produce in his first clash with the Georgian grappler.
And the co-main event sees the women’s bantamweight title contested, as Julianna Pena aims to extend her second reign, taking on Olympic judo champion Kayla Harrison, who previously held gold in the PFL as well.
Also in action are former Bellator champion Patchy Mix, who makes his UFC debut here, fan favourite Kevin Holland, and former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum. Holland’s bout with Vicente Luque and Gastelum’s fight against Joe Pyfer are ones to follow.
We’ll have you covered with all the action, right here!
UFC 316 LIVE: Donald Trump is in the building...
US president Donald Trump strolls into the arena ahead of tonight’s main card to (mostly) cheers, accompanied by Dana White.
Better hope Elon Musk isn’t in the crowd, given their explosive, very public divorce. Otherwise, expect a repeat of the Du Plessis-Strickland antics at UFC 296...
UFC 316 LIVE: Joshua Van vs Bruno Silva
Round three
This is KO or bust for Silva.
Van is not rushing into anything - he’s waiting for the perfect openings to do damage, in full knowledge that he just needs to get through the round to win this.
But when he does land, Silva is still able to eat his punches. At least for now...
A vicious body shot lands from Van as a bloodied, hurting Silva retreats to the fence. One more headshot and Silva is dropped and finished!
Joshua Van def. Bruno Silva via third-round TKO (ground strikes, 4:01)
Just 23 years old, this man. Some talent - flyweight has been put on notice!
UFC 316 LIVE: Joshua Van vs Bruno Silva
Round two
Silva’s corner tells him to keep targeting the legs and that’s exactly what he does to start the second, but it’s Van who’s doing the damage upstairs.
Van is too quick and too precise for Silva, backing out of harm’s way before landing shots off the head of the underdog.
Then BANG! Van drops Silva again with a sharp right hook and goes for the finish, but the Brazilian once again survives! He gets back to his feet and manages to find a takedown - but Van’s defence is superior, with Silva unable to get the reprieve on the mat he so desperately needs.
Silva eats a knee but goes down again as follow-up strikes rain in, but he just about gets to the buzzer. We go to a third.
UFC 316 LIVE: Joshua Van vs Bruno Silva
Round one
Early knockdown for Silva as he sweeps Van off his feet with a sharp low kick. Perhaps a much-appreciated confidence booster for the heavy underdog of this fight.
Van doesn’t look fazed by this immediate trip to the mat and begins to pop off. Two nice combos gets Silva on the retreat, and it’s the third that drops him! The Brazilian wasn’t expecting the second and third punches to come in, but Van’s speed and power simply overwhelmed him in that moment.
Silva is, however, able to survive and get back to his feet - and he ends the round in decent stead, finding success with those leg kicks.
UFC 316 LIVE: Featured prelim time!
Time for our featured prelim of the night!
The ever-exciting Joshua Van looks to put flyweight on notice as the Myanmar native takes on Bruno Silva, who was on a four-fight tear before suffering defeat last time out to Manel Kape.
This has everything needed for fireworks.
A reminder that this is our last prelim of the night before the UFC 316 main card kicks off - so stay tuned!
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