UFC 316 concluded with significant outcomes, featuring a successful title defense and the crowning of a new champion. The event, held in Newark, N.J., saw Merab Dvalishvili successfully defend his men`s bantamweight title by submitting Sean O’Malley in their main event rematch. With this second title defense, Dvalishvili is rapidly ascending the ranks of the division`s all-time greats, prompting debate on his historical standing.
Earlier on the card, Kayla Harrison made an impactful UFC debut. She claimed the women`s bantamweight title by securing a second-round submission victory over Julianna Peña, a win that immediately set the stage for a highly anticipated superfight against Amanda Nunes. In the aftermath of these major developments, a panel of MMA experts convened to break down the key talking points from UFC 316.
Event Review
Experts shared their impressions of UFC 316:
Martin: The event significantly exceeded expectations. Despite initial concerns about the lineup, the fights delivered considerable drama. Even though the outcomes of the main and co-main events were largely anticipated, the way they unfolded was genuinely thrilling.
Lee: The top two bouts featured performances from legitimate all-time greats that made strong statements. Several less-heralded contenders stepped up, and a few promising prospects also made their mark. Overall, it was a clean and efficient night for the UFC, serving as an excellent preview for the more star-studded event scheduled for June 28th.
Heck: This card was one of the better ones of the year. Four out of the five main card fights offered compelling storylines. Kayla Harrison positioned herself for one of the biggest possible fights the UFC can book right now, and Merab Dvalishvili demonstrated truly dominant form.
Meshew: The event was surprisingly enjoyable! While the main event might be viewed as one of the most questionable title fights in recent history, the outcome was entertaining (a rare occurrence for a Dvalishvili fight). The rest of the card was equally filled with meaningful and memorable performances. It was a very solid event presented by the UFC.
Is Merab Dvalishvili Already the Bantamweight GOAT?
The panel debated whether Merab Dvalishvili has already cemented his status as the greatest of all time in the bantamweight division:
Meshew: Absolutely not, and the rush to label every fighter with one title defense as the GOAT is frustrating. Dvalishvili has only two defenses, including a questionable rematch. He may reach that status eventually, but it`s premature and disrespectful to established champions. His win over Aljamain Sterling, for example, was not a championship fight, and shouldn`t be equated to a title defense. Fighters need to prove their GOAT status over time through multiple defenses against top contenders.
Martin: Yes, he is the GOAT, primarily due to the caliber of competition he has faced. While Dominick Cruz is certainly a legend, many of his key wins in the WEC era were against fighters who were essentially flyweights before the division existed (like Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez). In contrast, Dvalishvili has defeated a string of elite contenders and former champions in a much deeper bantamweight division, including Jose Aldo, Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Sean O’Malley (twice). His accomplishments in this challenging era solidify his claim.
Lee: While I`m not entirely convinced yet, it`s hard to argue strongly against it. Dominick Cruz has historically held the top spot, having dominated his era and beaten many of his contemporaries. However, Dvalishvili`s current run is incredibly impressive and unlike Cruz, he hasn`t faced significant time off due to injuries. I still lean towards Cruz for now, but I would consider Dvalishvili the GOAT if he secures another win against a top contender other than O’Malley.
Heck: He`s not there quite yet, but he`s very close. Dvalishvili`s win streak is phenomenal, featuring victories over multiple former champions and now two wins over Sean O’Malley for and after the title. While Cruz`s legacy and three UFC title defenses (one more than Merab) are significant, the gap is rapidly closing. If Dvalishvili defeats Cory Sandhagen in a similar dominant fashion, it would likely elevate him to GOAT status in the bantamweight division.
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes Superfight
The panel shared their excitement and thoughts on the potential superfight between new champion Kayla Harrison and returning legend Amanda Nunes:
Heck: I`m incredibly excited for this fight, especially after the faceoff following Harrison`s win, which was a standout moment. This matchup provides a much-needed boost to the women`s divisions. It`s a fight long anticipated that many thought might never happen, now standing as one of the UFC`s top potential bouts. Its timing aligns well with promotional opportunities like potential new TV deals or streaming partnerships, possibly even headlining a major event like Madison Square Garden or a Netflix debut. A win for Harrison would significantly elevate discussions about her combat sports legacy. It`s a dream matchup involving top talent and a compelling storyline.
Meshew: I`m surprisingly enthusiastic about it, despite my initial lukewarm feelings about the potential matchup before the event. The post-fight faceoff completely changed my perspective. The bantamweight division, once prominent in women`s MMA, is currently struggling, and while this single fight may not revitalize it entirely, it offers a significant boost. It`s simply great to feel genuinely excited about a women`s bantamweight title fight again.
Martin: This is precisely the fight women`s MMA requires. Having followed Harrison`s career from her Olympic judo dominance and transition to MMA, I`ve always believed she was a future star. Now a UFC champion, she faces the ultimate test against the recognized GOAT, Amanda Nunes, in a bout that could define her own GOAT status. Women`s MMA, particularly the bantamweight class, has lacked momentum recently, but Harrison vs. Nunes is a high-stakes matchup capable of headlining a major pay-per-view that fans would eagerly purchase.
Lee: While it wasn`t a fight I felt was essential beforehand, now that it`s set up, I`m eagerly awaiting the official announcement. Harrison executed her part perfectly on Saturday, delivering a dominant win over Peña followed by a compelling post-fight speech and a clear callout to Nunes, who was ringside. The timing is ideal, with Harrison in her prime and Nunes returning from retirement, making the outcome unpredictable. The questions about Harrison`s evolution and how Nunes` layoff will impact her performance make this a compelling, must-see event.
Who Was the Biggest Loser at UFC 316?
The panel identified fighters whose stock fell the most after the event:
Lee: Without question, the biggest loser was Patchy Mix. His performance was completely unexpected and shocking. Whether due to octagon jitters, an injury, a difficult stylistic matchup, or simply Mario Bautista performing exceptionally well, Mix failed to showcase his dynamic grappling and struggled significantly in striking. His actions during the fight were baffling, especially when he was clearly losing. This outcome was particularly disappointing for those who had high expectations for his UFC debut.
Heck: Patchy Mix is definitely the primary answer, as his performance revealed his likely ceiling in the UFC is among the top 10-15 bantamweights, but not a future champion. While he took the fight on short notice, his confident demeanor and pre-fight comments downplaying his opponent diminish the weight of that excuse. However, I`d also name Julianna Peña as a significant loser. Her dominant defeat by Kayla Harrison leaves her immediate future uncertain. A trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes seems off the table, and a rematch with Harrison is improbable. In a thin division, she might now be relegated to facing rising contenders rather than title challenges, despite her status as a two-time champion and future Hall of Famer.
Meshew: While Merab Dvalishvili narrowly avoided a serious incident during his walkout, the biggest loser was arguably Tom Aspinall. He`s been waiting for a potential fight with Jon Jones for nearly two years, and Dana White`s recent comments suggesting Jones might retire indicate that matchup is likely dead. Furthermore, White also dismissed rumors of a potential Francis Ngannou return to the UFC, another major fight option for Aspinall. This leaves Aspinall likely facing Ciryl Gane next, which feels like a significant letdown compared to the superfights he was hoping for.
Martin: While Patchy Mix`s performance was certainly poor, Sean O’Malley arguably suffered the biggest setback. Positioned as a potential future superstar for the UFC, he now has two consecutive losses to the current champion, Merab Dvalishvili, pushing a title shot far out of reach. His attempts to shed his previous persona and focus solely on performance didn`t prevent a third-round submission loss. This situation leaves O`Malley in a difficult position; he likely needs Dvalishvili to lose the belt before he can realistically challenge again, unless he achieves an extraordinary run through the division. While still a potential draw, he lacks the compelling rivalries that boosted previous stars and needs a significant opponent for his next fight to maintain relevance.
Biggest Winner or Highlight of UFC 316?
The panel highlighted the most positive outcomes or memorable moments from the event:
Martin: Mario Bautista was undoubtedly a major winner. Previously unpopular for his controversial win over Jose Aldo, he delivered a dominant performance against the highly anticipated Patchy Mix. Despite Mix being touted as a potential title challenger ready to bypass friendship with Dvalishvili, Bautista thoroughly outclassed him for three rounds, bloodying and busting him up. Bautista looked excellent and deserves significant credit for welcoming the former Bellator champion to the UFC in such convincing fashion.
Lee: I nominate Waldo Cortes-Acosta. He is now realistically just one significant win away from challenging for the UFC heavyweight title. With the Jon Jones-Tom Aspinall situation needing resolution, new contenders are required. Cortes-Acosta currently boasts the longest active win streak in the division. If he defeats a top-10 opponent like Sergei Pavlovich or Ciryl Gane in his next fight, his path to a title shot becomes very clear. Keep an eye on “Salsa Boy”.
Heck: Kevin Holland stole both the show and the day. It began with a cryptic tweet that generated massive online buzz, mistakenly suggesting his fight was off, proving to be a genius promotional move. He then delivered in the cage, dominating and submitting Vicente Luque, followed by a perfect callout of Colby Covington. Holland exemplifies a successful modern prize-fighting career; he fights frequently, has helped the UFC out, and earns substantial money, prioritizing financial success while remaining entertaining. His “Trailblazer” moniker is fitting, and more fighters could learn from his approach.
Meshew: Amidst all the GOAT discussions for fighters, the true highlight was the emergence of a GOAT referee: Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro. As a former BJJ champion and MMA pioneer, Ribeiro is now a referee and made a rare, decisive call by deducting a point from Julianna Peña for illegal upkicks. Unlike many referees who hesitate, Shaolin acted immediately and correctly, reinforcing the rules for championship-level fighters. His perfect execution of his role was awesome and makes him the new standard for officiating.
