UFC 316: Dvalishvili Submits O’Malley, Harrison Dethrones Peña in Newark Title Fights

Newark, NJ – June 7, 2025 – UFC 316 delivered a night of high drama and decisive finishes at the Prudential Center, as Merab Dvalishvili retained his bantamweight title with a dominant submission win over Sean O’Malley, and Kayla Harrison captured her first UFC championship by defeating Julianna Peña.

Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2: The Machine Remains Unstoppable

In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili (20-4) showcased his relentless pace and improved striking against former champion Sean O’Malley (18-3, 1 NC). Dvalishvili, riding the longest winning streak in UFC bantamweight history, pressured O’Malley from the opening bell. Mixing crisp boxing with his trademark wrestling, Dvalishvili wore down O’Malley before securing a fight-ending choke in the third round, notching his 13th consecutive victory and further solidifying his status among the pound-for-pound elite.

O’Malley, returning after hip surgery and nearly nine months away from competition, struggled to find his rhythm against Dvalishvili’s relentless attack. The loss marks O’Malley’s second straight defeat to Dvalishvili, who previously took the belt from him by unanimous decision at UFC 306.

Harrison Makes History, Submits Peña for Bantamweight Gold

The co-main event saw two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison (19-0) deliver a statement performance in her UFC title debut. Harrison dominated Julianna Peña (c), using her superior grappling to control the action before finishing the champion with a kimura submission in the second round. With the win, Harrison becomes the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion, setting up a potential blockbuster showdown with former champion Amanda Nunes, who entered the Octagon post-fight for a faceoff.

Other Main Card Highlights

• Kevin Holland defeated Vicente Luque via second-round submission (d’arce choke).
• Joe Pyfer earned a unanimous decision over Kelvin Gastelum.
• Mario Bautista outpointed Patchy Mix by unanimous decision.

Pre-Fight Fireworks and Rivalries

The event was preceded by a heated press conference, with fighters trading verbal jabs and raising the stakes for their respective bouts. Dvalishvili vowed to “make this guy humble,” while O’Malley promised to reclaim his title and silence doubters.

Looking Ahead

With Dvalishvili’s reign continuing and Harrison’s arrival as champion, the bantamweight divisions have new storylines and rivalries brewing. UFC 316’s results and highlights are available on UFC.com and ESPN+.