UFC 316 Breakdown: Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2, Peña vs. Harrison Clash – Fight Card, Predictions & Hype

UFC 316 brings the heat on June 7, 2025, in Newark, NJ, with Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 and Peña vs. Harrison title fights. Discover the full fight card, predictions, and how to watch on ESPN+. Get your UFC 316 tickets now!

Newark’s MMA Showdown

UFC 316, set for June 7, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, is the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s 11th trip to the city, following UFC 302’s massive $7,255,040 gate and 17,834 attendees in June 2024 [1]. Newark’s passionate MMA fanbase and history of hosting epic UFC events make it the perfect stage for this pay-per-view extravaganza. Social media is buzzing, with fans hyping the stacked card and championship drama.

Headlined by two title fights, UFC 316 features bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defending against Sean O’Malley in a rematch, and women’s bantamweight champ Julianna Peña facing Olympic judo star Kayla Harrison. Add in newcomers like former Bellator champ Patchy Mix and fan-favorite matchups, and this event is a Gen Z and Millennial dream. Whether you’re streaming on ESPN+ or cheering live with UFC 316 tickets, expect a night of jaw-dropping MMA action.

UFC 316 Fight Card

Fight	Division	Fighters
Main Event	Bantamweight Championship	Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley
Co-Main Event	Women’s Bantamweight Championship	Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison
Middleweight	Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
Welterweight	Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland
Bantamweight	Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix
Flyweight	Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van
Women’s Flyweight	Ariane Lipski da Silva vs. Cong Wang
Heavyweight	Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Featherweight	Joo Sang Yoo vs. Jeka Saragih
Welterweight	Khaos Williams vs. Uros Medic
Light Heavyweight	Azamat Murzakanov vs. Bruno Ribeiro
Lightweight	Quillan Salkilld vs. Yanal Ashmouz

Table 1: UFC 316 Fight Card as of May 2025 [2].

Championship Bangers

Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley

The main event is a bantamweight title rematch between Merab Dvalishvili (19-4) and Sean O’Malley (18-2). Dvalishvili, “The Machine,” dominated O’Malley at UFC 306 in September 2024 with a unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47), leveraging his relentless wrestling [3]. He followed up with a title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January 2025, winning by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) [4]. His 49 takedown attempts against Petr Yan in 2023 set a UFC record, making him a grappling beast [4].

O’Malley, aka “Suga,” is a striking wizard with 7.67 strikes landed per minute, ranking fourth in UFC history [3]. After his loss to Dvalishvili and hip surgery in October 2024, he’s back for redemption [5]. Some fans have called the rematch a “waste of time,” arguing others deserve a shot [2]. Still, O’Malley’s charisma and knockout potential make this a Gen Z and Millennial magnet. Can Dvalishvili grind out another win, or will O’Malley land a highlight-reel KO? This fight is pure fire.

Co-Main Event: Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison

The co-main event features women’s bantamweight champ Julianna Peña (11-5) defending against Kayla Harrison (18-1). Peña, the “Venezuelan Vixen,” reclaimed the title at UFC 307 in October 2024, edging out Raquel Pennington via split decision [6]. Her upset submission of Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in 2021 proved her clutch factor, though Nunes took the belt back in 2022 [6]. With six submission wins, Peña’s ground game is lethal.

Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and ex-PFL champ, stormed into the UFC with a second-round submission of Holly Holm at UFC 300 in April 2024, followed by a unanimous decision over Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 [6]. Her judo prowess and athleticism make her a nightmare matchup. This clash of Peña’s grit vs. Harrison’s dominance is a must-watch, with even Amanda Nunes eyeing the result [2]. Gen Z and Millennials will eat up this high-drama showdown.

Newcomers & Fights You Can’t Miss

UFC 316 isn’t just about the belts—it’s a launchpad for new stars and banger matchups. Former Bellator bantamweight champ Patchy Mix (20-1) makes his UFC debut against Mario Bautista, bringing his slick submissions and 13 submission wins to the Octagon [3]. His Bellator pedigree has fans hyped for a breakout performance [2].

The prelims spotlight talents like Cong Wang, who debuted with a 62-second KO at UFC Fight Night in August 2024 but dropped a submission loss in November [2]. Australian lightweight Quillan Salkilld stunned with a 19-second KO at UFC 312 in February 2025 [2]. Their bouts against Ariane Lipski da Silva and Yanal Ashmouz, respectively, add spice to the card. Don’t sleep on Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer’s middleweight war or Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland’s welterweight thriller—both could steal the show [2].

Fighter Spotlight: Key Stats

Fighter	Record	Notable Stat	Recent Highlight
Merab Dvalishvili	19-4	49 takedown attempts (UFC record) [4]	Title defense vs. Nurmagomedov, UFC 311
Sean O’Malley	18-2	7.67 strikes/min (4th all-time) [3]	KO win vs. Vera, UFC 299
Julianna Peña	11-5	6 submission wins [6]	Title win vs. Pennington, UFC 307
Kayla Harrison	18-1	2-0 in UFC [6]	Submission vs. Holm, UFC 300
Patchy Mix	20-1	13 submission wins [3]	Bellator bantamweight champion

Table 2: Key Fighter Stats for UFC 316 Main Card [2], [3], [4], [6].

Conclusion

UFC 316 is set to light up Newark’s Prudential Center on June 7, 2025, with Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2, Peña vs. Harrison, and a stacked card of newcomers and veterans. From championship drama to breakout stars like Patchy Mix, this event is a Gen Z and Millennial must-watch. Stream every moment on ESPN+, or snag UFC 316 tickets to feel the Octagon energy live. Don’t miss Newark’s biggest MMA night of 2025!