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UFC 316 just wrapped. The pay-per-view event took place on June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and marked the promotion's first visit to the city since UFC 302 in June 2024.
The event featured 13 fights across 10 weight classes, with two intriguing title fights with far-reaching consequences at the top of the card. This article recaps the fights and explores the UFC 316 full results.
Main event: Bantamweight - Merab Dvalishvili (c) vs. Sean O'Malley
In the main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili attempted his second title defence against Sean O'Malley in the rematch. In their first encounter at Noche UFC 306, Dvalishvili defeated O'Malley by unanimous decision to win the title.
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It was later revealed that O'Malley was dealing with a labrum injury heading into the fight, which added a layer of intrigue about his performance heading into the rematch.
In the fight, both men started on a cautious note. Dvalishvili pressed forward while O'Malley opened with shots early, targeting the champion's body. and head. Dvalishvili was able to secure a takedown early, but O'Malley managed to get back to his feet and avoid taking damage. Dvalishvili continued to press the action, securing another takedown and dropping ground-and-pound strikes until the closing seconds of the round.
The fighters showcased their ability to compete in each other's area of expertise in Round 2 as O'Malley defended all the takedowns and Dvalishvili appeared to have landed the more impactful strikes, stunning the challenger a few times.
Dvalishvili increased the pace in Round 3, aggressively pursuing and securing a takedown early. While O'Malley took some big shots from the bottom position, he was unable to stand back up despite repeated attempts.
O'Malley tried to stand back up against the cage, but Dvalishvili tripped him. As O'Malley dropped to his knees and tried to grab the legs, Dvalishvili trapped him in a north-south choke and forced the challenger to tap.
Official result: Merab Dvalishvili (c) def. Sean O'Malley by submission (North-south choke) (R3, 4:42)
Co-main event: Women's bantamweight - Julianna Pena (c) vs. Kayla Harrison
In the co-main event, two-time women's bantamweight Julianna Pena attempted the first defence of her second title reign against Kayla Harrison. Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist Judoka and former PFL tournament winner, is considered one of the most skilled female MMA fighters. Pena pitted her toughness and durability against Harrison.
After a tentative start, Harrison initiated striking exchanges, worked her way into the clinch and tripped Pena to take the fight to the ground. Harrison was able to land a few strikes on the ground, and Pena was deducted a point for an illegal upkick.
In Round 2, Harrison had success in the stand-up with leg kicks and punches before the fight went to the ground again. Harrison landed vicious ground-and-pound shots, forcing Pena to give up her back. After transitioning through an arm-triangle choke, Harrison locked in a tight kimura, and Pena tapped out with a few seconds left in the round.
With the win, Harrison became the first Olympic gold medalist Judoka to become the UFC champion.
Official result: Kayla Harrison def. Julianna Pena by submission (Kimura) (R2, 4:55)
UFC 316: Main card results
Middleweight - Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
Following his win over Daniel Rodriguez, Kelvin Gastelum returned to competition against rising middleweight contender Joe Pyfer.
Pyfer dropped Gastelum twice in Round 1, signaling a dominant performance that could unfold. However, his activity level significantly dropped after the early rally and Gastelum found a second wind, landing several big shots of his own.
To the disappointment of observers, Pyfer stuck to single shots instead of stringing combinations, enabling Gastelum to recover and make the fight more competitive. Despite Gastelum's impressive comeback, Pyfer had done enough to win on the scorecards and walked away with a unanimous decision victory.
Official result: Joe Pyfer def. Kelvin Gastelum by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight - Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix
Former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, one of the UFC's most anticipated new signees, made his promotional debut against a streaking Mario Bautista.
In the fight, Bautista established an early lead with his striking, primarily utilizing the jab anad straight punch combo. Mix struggled to launch meaningful offence, and appeared to be struggling to figure out his range. While he answered with a few strikes of his own in the later part of the fight, Bautista maintained the lead and walked away with a unanimous decision victory.
Official result: Mario Bautista def. Patchy Mix by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 X 2)
Welterweight - Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland
Vicente Luque, who registered a statement victory in his last fight after a few difficult losses, attempted to score a second straight win as he took on Kevin Holland on the UFC 316 main card.
In the fight, Holland was able to establish his dominance in the striking department, landing the more impactful strikes, particularly an elbow that drew a a visible reaction from Luque and caused a swelling on his head. While Luque responded with a few good shots, he struggled with Holland's reach.
In Round 2, Holland pushed Luque back to the ground after catching a kick from him. As Luque tried to get up, Holland caught him in a tight brabo choke, ultimately forcing the Brazilian to tap out.
Official result: Kevin Holland def. Vicente Luque by submission (Brabo choke) (R2, 1:03)
UFC 316: Preliminary card results
Flyweight - Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van
In the preliminary card headlining bout, Joshua Van showcased crisp boxing to outclass Bruno Silva in the three-round contest. He dropped Silva twice in the fight, and ultimately finished him in the final minute of the three-round contest.
Official result: Joshua Van def. Bruno Silva by T/KO (R3, 4:01)
Light heavyweight - Azamat Murzakanov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Undefeated veteran of the light heavyweight division, Azamat Murzakanov secured his fifth UFC win against Brendson Ribeiro on the preliminary card.
Murzakanov took a more patient approach, figuring out the range and timing through the first couple of minutes and clipped Ribeiro with a left hook that hurt him. He followed up with a few ground-and-pound strikes, prompting the referee to stop the contest.
Official result: Azamat Murzakanov def. Brendson Ribeiro by T/KO (R1, 3:25)
Heavyweight - Sergey Spivak vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Sergei Spivak and Waldo Cortes-Acosta delivered a gritty back-and-forth battle in this heavyweight bout. Spivak was off to a good start and landed more significant strikes in Round 1. However, Corte-Acosta slowly took over, outlanding Spivak 110-48 in total strikes. While Spivak had more success with grappling with two takedowns, the judges scored the contest in Cortes-Acosta's favor.
Official result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Sergey Spivak by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 X 2)
Welterweight - Khaos Williams vs. Andres Gustafsson
Andres Gustafsson dominated Khaos Williams en route to a unanimous decision victory. Gustafsson applied pressure from the get-go, taking down Williams and landing the bigger shots throughout the three-round contest. To his credit, Williams showed toughness and survived the onslaught, but could not implement his offence to make the fight competitive.
Official result: Andres Gustafsson def. Khaos Williams by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26 X 2)
UFC 316: Early prelims results
Women's flyweight - Ariane Lipski vs. Wang Cong
Wang Kong secured the most notable win of her career as she outworiked Ariane da Silva in the early prelims headlining bout.
Kong used her leg kicks effectively to damage da Silva's lead leg, and opening up opportunities for other strikes. Da Silva answered in Round 3 with a few good combinations of her own, but it was not enough to convince the judges, who ultimately scored the contest in Cong's favor.
Official result: Wang Cong def. Ariane Lipski by unanimous decision(30-27 X 3)
Featherweight - Jeka Saragih vs. Yoo Joo-sang
Highly touted newcomer Yoo Joo-sang made a statement with a quick first-round knockout win over Jeka Saragih in his UFC debut. In a sequence that was eerily similar to Conor McGregor's knockout of Jose Aldo Jr., Joo-sang clipped Saragih with a left hook as he rushed in with a right hand. The punch knocked Saragih out on impact as he landed face-first on the canvas. The end came at the 0:28 mark of Round 1.
Official result: Yoo Joo-sang def. Jeka Saragih by T/KO (R1, 0:28)
Lightweight - Quillan Salkilld vs. Yanal Ashmouz
Australia's Quillan Salkilld controlled the action in the three-round contest against New Jersey native Yanal Ashmouz. Salkilld won most of the striking exchanges and showcased superior grappling as well. The judges scored the contest in his favor, declaring him the winner by unanimous decision.
Official result: Quillan Salkilld def. Yanal Ashmouz by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 X 2)
Lightweight - Marquel Mederos vs. Mark Choinski
in the first fight of the night, Marquel Mederos outclassed Mark Choinski with striking, scoring a unanimous decision win. Mederos was able to outstrike him two-to-one in total strikes and scored the only knockdown of the fight. He also thwarted nine of Choinski's 11 takedown attempts.
Official result: Marquel Mederos def. Mark Choinski by unanimous decision (30-27 X 2, 29-28)
Check out the UFC 316 full results below:
Main card
Main event: Bantamweight - Merab Dvalishvili (c) def. Sean O'Malley by submission (north-south choke) (R3, 4:42)
Co-main event: Women's bantamweight - Kayla Harrison def. Julianna Pena (c) by submission (Kimura) (R2, 4:55) (Title fight)
Middleweight - Joe Pyfer def. Kelvin Gastelum by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight - Mario Bautista def. Patchy Mix by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 X 2)
Welterweight - Kevin Holland def. Vicente Luque by submission (Brabo choke) (R2, 1:03)
Preliminary card
Flyweight - Joshua Van def. Bruno Silva by T/KO (R3, 4:01)
Light heavyweight - Azamat Murzakanov def. Brendson Ribeiro by T/KO (R1, 3:25)
Heavyweight - Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Sergey Spivak by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 X 2)
Welterweight - Andres Gustafsson def. Khaos Williams by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26 X 2)
Early prelims
Women's flyweight - Wang Cong def. Ariane Lipski by unanimous decision(30-27 X 3) (Lipski missed weight by 6 pounds)
Featherweight - Yoo Joo-sang def. Jeka Saragih by T/KO (R1, 0:28)
Lightweight - Quillan Salkilld def. Yanal Ashmouz by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 X 2)
Lightweight - Marquel Mederos def. Mark Choinski by unanimous decision (30-27 X 2, 29-28)
