With president Donald J. Trump watching cageside, Merab Dvalishvili and Kayla Harrison stormed to 2 unimaginable finishes at UFC 316.
Headlined by Dvalishvili and the previous champion, Sean O’Malley, the UFC returned to Newark, NJ for a significant evening of fights. Historical past marched on as the group watched in awe as each Dvalishvili and Harrison labored in two dominating performances.
Kayla Harrison additionally defeated the ladies’s 135 champion Juliana Pena with a second spherical kimura and referred to as out Amanda Nunes. The 2 had a implausible faceoff that was healthful and respectful.
Merab Dvalishvili continues to steamroll 135
Merab Dvalishvili is seemingly invincible. Now on a 13 battle successful streak, one of many longest in UFC historical past. His rematch with Sean O’Mally was way more definitive than the 2’s first spherical resolution the place “The Machine” captured the title. This time, the Syndicate MMA champion submitted O’Malley with a north south choke in spherical three, placing to relaxation a rivalry that’s been happening for years.
After Dvalishvili defeated O’Malley, he thanked the president for popping out and accepted Joe Rogan’s suggestion that Cory Sandhagen could also be subsequent for the shot on the bantamweight throne. Dvalishvili, with the group roaring behind him, gladly accepted the callout.
No matter could also be subsequent for Dvalishvili, it doesn’t appear that he’ll decelerate. Along with his present win streak, he’s crushed champions Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and now O’Malley twice. Along with that, Dvalishvili has run by means of Umar Nurmagomedov, Marlon Moraes, and John Dodson amongst others.
The arrival of Kayla Harrison
Within the co-main occasion, Kayla Harrison captured UFC gold together with her second spherical demolishing of Juliana Pena. Pena, who captured again the title in October of final yr, stood no likelihood in opposition to the previous two time judo Olympic gold medalist and the previous PFL champion.
With floor management for almost the complete battle, Harrison slowly labored her technique to the submission on the finish of spherical two with solely 5 seconds to spare.
She and Amanda Nunes stated that combating one another can be an honor and plenty of agree. Nunes, who’s seen as the best ladies’s MMA fighter of all time, stated that she was prepared to return out of retirement following her final win over Irene Aldana in June of 2023.
Elsewhere on the cardboard, Joe Pyfer jumped out to a scorching begin in opposition to Kelvin Gastelum earlier than cooling down however nonetheless getting the win. Mario Bautista put a hurting on promotional newcomer Patchy Combine. Kevin Holland walked by means of Vicente Luque with a second spherical anaconda. The Myanmar native, Joshua Van, additionally placed on a masterlcass with a 3rd spherical end over Bruno Silva.
Different winners at UFC 316 had been Azamat Murzakanov, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Andreas Gustafsson, Cong Wang, Joo Sang Yoo, Quillan Salkilld, and MarQuel Mederos.
