Sean O’Malley is set for another opportunity against bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 316 in Newark, NJ. This fight is a rematch of their previous encounter where Dvalishvili secured the title after 25 minutes of work. The co-main event also features a significant women`s bantamweight title clash between Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison, with potential implications for a future fight against Amanda Nunes for the winner.
Given the significance of this fight card, MMA Fighting contributors Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew came together to discuss the key narratives surrounding UFC 316.
Heck: Gentlemen, you know me – I`m straightforward. When this fight was first announced, my interest was about a 2.5 out of 10. However, now that fight week is here, I`m up to at least an 8, and it might even climb higher.
I appreciate the stories leading into this fight, many of which my friend AK will likely elaborate on. The stakes here are genuinely high. Could a victory solidify Dvalishvili`s status as the greatest bantamweight ever? Some already consider him so; a loss would undoubtedly impact that discussion.
For O’Malley, what happens if he loses again? Does he follow Chael Sonnen’s suggestion and become the Rich Franklin of the bantamweight division, potentially moving up to featherweight? Or does “Sugar” become the Max Holloway of bantamweight, clearing out rising contenders until he earns another undeniable title shot? All these potential outcomes are fascinating to consider.
Lee: I`m giving it a 7/10, and that feels somewhat generous. Shouldn`t a UFC title fight have a minimum level of interest higher than that?
Like many, my initial reaction after Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s first fight was relief that it was over and wouldn`t need an immediate repeat. So, I wasn’t thrilled when O’Malley was given an instant rematch after a period of inactivity. But honestly, aside from seeing Umar Nurmagomedov face Dvalishvili again, there weren`t many challengers I was desperate to see him fight next. Cory Sandhagen? Timing didn’t align. Petr Yan? We’ve seen that. Aiemann Zahabi or Mario Bautista? Not quite. Patchy Mix? Maybe soon.
So, I’ve convinced myself about Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2, embracing every possible justification for running it back:
- It`s a title fight rematch.
- The first fight had a definitive outcome (Dvalishvili won the decision).
- Both fighters have compelling narratives.
- It involves a champion known for his relentless style and a superstar challenger.
- It’s the main event of a significant pay-per-view.
Okay, I`m in. 7/10.
Meshew: I must admit, I am genuinely surprised you both rated it so highly. I recall this being one of the rare instances where a fight announcement was met with widespread disappointment from the fanbase. I’m rating this a 2 out of 10, and I think that`s generous.
Let`s address the negatives first: this is one of the weakest title fight bookings in recent memory. While I hesitate to call it the absolute worst because the UFC continues to lower the standard in this regard, it`s quite glaring. O’Malley had only one successful title defense before losing the belt to Merab, which was the undeserved rematch against Chito Vera. Even before becoming champion, O’Malley faced criticism for not having significant wins in the division. Now, after clearly losing a decision to Merab, he gets an immediate rematch just nine months later? It’s absurd.
Then there’s the nature of the fight itself. Be honest, how many of you have revisited the first fight? The number is probably small because it wasn’t an enjoyable spectacle. That was only nine months ago, and while you can argue things might change, the most likely outcome is a repeat of the performance that previously bored us.
And that leads to my main issue with the fight: Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili is undeniably the top bantamweight globally and is making a strong case for being the greatest ever. However, I refuse to pretend he`s interesting to watch. He simply isn`t. He`s an exceptional fighter who has effectively utilized his unique skills for a dominant title run, and I won`t diminish that accomplishment. But I have no desire to watch him compete, similar to how James Harden’s focus on three-pointers and free throws made me dislike watching basketball. Dominating the game in that manner is smart and effective, but it isn`t entertaining, at least not for me. If I wanted to see a test of endurance, I`d watch CrossFit. Until Merab actually tries to inflict damage on opponents instead of solely exhausting them, I won`t be excited for his title defenses.
Lee: I`m not sure I understand the question; is something wrong with the division?
*chuckle*
Okay, even viewing it optimistically, I can concede that the women’s 135-pound roster might not be the most captivating. Could a dominant performance by Kayla Harrison change that? It won’t happen instantly, but having a compelling, top-tier champion is always a positive development.
For one, let`s not discount Julianna Peña’s ability to make it a tough fight for Harrison and potentially earn a rematch to continue their rivalry. Regardless of what you think of “The Venezuelan Vixen,” she is incredibly persistent both inside and outside the cage, and if anyone would stick around for a chance to become a three-time UFC champion, it`s her.
Then there’s the Amanda Nunes factor. She isn’t likely to return for a fight against Peña, but a frequently discussed matchup with Harrison, her former training partner? That’s a legitimate pay-per-view headliner.
Add the possibility of Valentina Shevchenko winning a superfight against Zhang Weili and then moving up for another superfight opportunity with Harrison, and suddenly, there might be some renewed excitement around this division.
Meshew: No. This division is essentially finished, it just hasn’t realized it yet.
You know how in movies a character dies, and someone tries CPR and chest compressions, keeping the heart beating but refusing to accept the reality? That`s the state of women`s bantamweight right now. Sure, maybe Kayla wins, and then there`s the potential Nunes fight, which might keep things alive temporarily, but to what end?
There are no new fighters bolstering the women`s bantamweight division. The UFC simply hasn’t invested in developing what was once their flagship women’s weight class (light heavyweight faces a similar issue). There are barely any fighters on the roster, they rarely compete, and no significant new talent has emerged. Just look at the UFC rankings.
Chelsea Chandler is ranked, despite only one bantamweight win in her entire career – an Invicta fight in 2019! Miesha Tate is still present in the rankings, for crying out loud! The only relatively new fighter who might have made an impact was Macy Chiasson, and she recently lost what many consider the worst fight of the year against Ketlen Vieira.
I say this not to be cruel, but with a clear understanding of the situation: if Kayla Harrison wins on Saturday, book her against Nunes for what should be the final women’s bantamweight title fight. Market it as the belt`s retirement match, and then phase out the division. Perhaps in a few years, they could reintroduce it, similar to how lightweight was brought back.
Heck: Hmm… somewhat? And I say that because it would require a combined effort for any sort of short-term revival.
Amanda Nunes has hinted at a return, and in my opinion, that only happens if Kayla Harrison wins the belt. And I think that “if” is quite significant here.
I’ve seen widespread predictions that Pena will be easily overwhelmed by Harrison, and that outcome is certainly possible. Call me crazy, but I’m actually looking forward to this fight because I believe Pena has a better chance than people expect. Harrison hasn`t been tested in prolonged, difficult MMA fights very often. When she has, she lost to Larissa Pacheco and won a competitive decision against Ketlen Vieira. The longer Harrison allows Pena to stay in the fight, the more the outspoken champion can narrow the gap. However, if Harrison swiftly dominates Pena, the demand for a Harrison vs. Nunes matchup would be substantial.
But what would come next? That’s a major question, and a HUGE challenge for this division. Women`s 135 pounds is in a difficult spot primarily because there are so few active fighters.
Meshew: Wow, I just reviewed the rest of this card, and, well, yikes. Either the UFC has immense confidence in Sean O’Malley’s (and perhaps Kayla Harrison’s) drawing power, or they`ve just accepted this card won`t be a massive seller overall. Usually, a pay-per-view either features 1-2 stellar top fights with average depth, or a collection of decent `B+` level matchups. UFC 316 seems to have opted for a mix of two questionable title fights and a collection of bouts that inspire little interest. A bold strategy, indeed.
I`ll skip discussing Fighter X vs. Mix because that individual is irrelevant to me. His name is taboo, making it hard to discuss, even though Patchy Mix represents a much-needed injection of excitement. After the title fights, the most significant bout on paper is Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (ranked heavyweights!), but I just can`t get excited about it. Definitely not.
Joe Pyfer vs. Kelvin Gastelum could potentially be entertaining – or Pyfer might mess up his weight cut, get sick, and then blame his mistakes on anyone but himself, perhaps attributing it to xenophobia. So, that’s off the list. This leaves Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland as the only genuinely appealing fight (and a shoutout to Joshua Van, who is always fun to watch).
Luque might be 33 but fights like he`s much older, yet he remains a dangerous fighter and is almost always involved in entertaining bouts. Holland has somewhat hindered his own career by unsuccessfully competing at middleweight, where he isn`t particularly effective. However, this fight is back at 170 pounds, where he is quite capable, so I anticipate a good scrap. Holland will probably win, but it should be fun while it lasts, and on paper, it might be the most enjoyable non-title fight on Saturday night.
Heck: Despite the buzz within the dedicated fanbase, the wider, more casual audience needs to take notice of Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix. I could write extensively about my enthusiasm for this fight and my intrigue regarding it. However, for those unfamiliar with Mix, he was the final Bellator bantamweight champion. He`s been largely inactive since PFL acquired Bellator, for various reasons. Fortunately, PFL made the right decision by allowing Mix to move to where he can actively compete and have the chance to prove he`s the best 135-pound fighter in the world.
I admit, Mix’s recent performance against Magomed Magomedov gave me slight pause. Perhaps Mix was losing motivation within an organization he wanted to leave, or maybe Magomedov is significantly better than people realize. However, this matchup against Bautista is perfect. Why? Because we will understand Mix`s potential in the UFC within 15 minutes or less, in my opinion.
If Mix dominates Bautista, especially if he secures a finish, he will emerge from the event as a major star and might even earn the next title shot. If he loses to Bautista, he will likely remain a consistently ranked top-10 fighter globally but won`t challenge for a UFC title. Beyond the two title fights, no fighter on this card has more at stake than Mix.
Lee: I’m going with a less obvious pick here and highlighting Azamat Murzakanov vs. Brendson Ribeiro.
Admittedly, this is more of an endorsement of Murzakanov than the fight itself, given that Murzakanov is one of the biggest favorites on the card aside from Kayla Harrison. But I`ve been impressed by his performances so far and believe he`s not far from a title shot in the somewhat depleted light heavyweight division.
At 36, Murzakanov doesn`t have time to waste. He will be looking to make a statement, hoping to improve his UFC record to 5-0 and build a strong case for a title opportunity. Although it`s placed on the preliminary card, Murzakanov vs. Ribeiro could serve as a showcase for a future title contender in 2026.
