- Date: June 8th, 2025
- Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Are you prepared for an action-packed night? UFC 316 is just around the horizon, with Merab Dvalishvili defending his bantamweight title in a highly anticipated rematch against the dazzling Sean O'Malley. This bill has something for everyone, from high-stakes title fights to exciting contests between emerging stars and seasoned fighters.
Main Event: Bantamweight Championship
Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Sean O’Malley 2—Redemption or Repeat?
The UFC 316 headliner brings us a highly anticipated rematch between Merab "The Machine" Dvalishvili and the ever-popular "Suga" Sean O’Malley. Their first fight at UFC 306 was a grappling clinic by Merab, who suffocated O'Malley with pace, takedowns, and endless cardio.
Tale of the Tape:
| Fighter | Age | Height | Weight | Reach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merab Dvalishvili | 34 | 1.68m | 61.2kg | 172.7cm |
| Sean O’Malley | 30 | 1.80m | 61.2kg | 182.9cm |
Since their last bout:
Merab defended his title in a grueling five-rounder against Umar Nurmagomedov, proving he can adjust and overcome elite talent.
O'Malley returns refreshed, healed from injury, and has reportedly tightened his defense and footwork for this shot at redemption.
Expert Analysis & Prediction
Merab Dvalishvili is a puzzle that few bantamweights can solve. His cardio, relentless wrestling, and control time are unmatched. In his first fight with O'Malley, he attempted 15 takedowns and succeeded in completely neutralizing the striker's offense.
However, Sean O’Malley rejected 9 of those 15 takedowns, which means he had some answers — just not enough. For O'Malley to win this rematch, he'll need to maximize striking exchanges, cut angles, and capitalize on range. A flash KO is always possible with his precision, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
Betting Odds (as of June 4th, 2025):
Merab Dvalishvili: -300
Sean O'Malley: +240
Pick: Merab by Decision (-163)
Best Bet: Play Merab by decision. O’Malley bettors can hedge with a small stake on the KO/TKO prop.
Co-Main Event: Women's Bantamweight Title
Julianna Peña (C) vs. Kayla Harrison—Strength vs. Chaos
In another must-watch title fight, champion Julianna Peña puts her belt on the line against former PFL champion and Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison.
Harrison is the strong favorite at -600 after she steamrolled over UFC veterans like Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira. While Peña is well known for controlling the pace, her judo-based grappling and top control are elite, which makes for a dirty, unpredictable, high-octane clash that Peña thrives within.
Prediction: If Harrison maintains control, she wins comfortably. But if Peña can turn it into a scrap, she could shock the world — again.
Featured Main Card Fights
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
Gastelum drops back to middleweight to take on Joe “Bodybagz” Pyfer, a rising KO artist. Pyfer is the favorite at -400, and this could be his breakout moment.
Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix (Bantamweight)
A low-key banger. Bautista is on a 7-fight win streak, while Mix arrives with a 20–1 record and the Bellator bantamweight belt on his résumé. Expect fast scrambles, volume, and violence.
Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland (Welterweight)
Both are fan favorites and known for never backing down. Holland has been more active in 2025 and comes in as the -280 favorite. Still, Luque fighting close to home adds intrigue.
UFC 316 Preliminary Card Highlights
Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van—Flyweight clash with serious ranking implications
Azamat Murzakanov vs. Brendson Ribeiro—Undefeated Murzakanov looks to shine.
Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta—Classic striker vs. grappler battle
Jeka Saragih vs. Joo Sang Yoo—A treat for striking purists
Other notable fighters: Quillan Salkilld, Khaos Williams, Ariane da Silva, MarQuel Mederos
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According to Stake.com, the betting odds for Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley 2 are 1.35 and 3.35, respectively.
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Full UFC 316 Fight Card & Latest Odds
| Fight | Odds |
|---|---|
| Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Sean O'Malley | Merab -300 |
| Kayla Harrison vs. Julianna Peña (C) | Harrison -600 |
| Joe Pyfer vs. Kelvin Gastelum: Pyfer | Pyfer -400 |
| Patchy Mix vs. Mario Bautista | Mix -170 |
| Kevin Holland vs. Vicente Luque | Holland -280 |
| Joshua Van vs. Bruno Silva | Van -550 |
| Azamat Murzakanov vs. Brendson Ribeiro | Murzakanov -550 |
| Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta | Spivac -140 |
Final Predictions: UFC 316 Is Unmissable
UFC 316 is stacked from top to bottom with elite talent, violent matchups, and high-stakes consequences. The rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley headlines a card filled with explosive potential.
No matter whether you believe in Merab's machine-like pressure or O'Malley’s counter-striking brilliance, this is a true crossroads moment in the bantamweight division.
