This Saturday, the UFC rolls into Newark, New Jersey, for its annual stop at the Prudential Center — and it’s bringing a stacked card with it. UFC 316 features a pair of bantamweight title fights at the top of the bill, making for one of the most anticipated events of the summer.
In the headliner, reigning men’s bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili puts his title on the line against a familiar foe: Sean O’Malley, the man he dethroned at UFC 306 last fall. Meanwhile, the co-main event sees former PFL standout Kayla Harrison challenge Julianna Peña for the women's 135-pound strap in what could be a historic night for the Olympic gold medalist.
Here’s how the main card shapes up ahead of Saturday night:
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley (Bantamweight Championship)
Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) is riding a 12-fight win streak — the longest in UFC bantamweight history — and enters UFC 316 looking to cement his status as a dominant champion. Known for his relentless pace and suffocating wrestling, “The Machine” holds the record for most takedowns in both bantamweight (79) and overall UFC history (92).
Across the Octagon will be former champ Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC), eager to reclaim the belt. If he manages a knockout win, he’ll match T.J. Dillashaw for most KO victories in the division (7). O’Malley also leads the bantamweight ranks in both significant strike accuracy (61.5%) and post-fight bonuses (9).
Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison (Bantamweight Championship)
Two-time Olympic judo champion Kayla Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has already made waves in the UFC, and now she’s aiming to add gold to her legacy in just her third fight with the promotion. After capturing lightweight titles in the PFL in 2019 and 2021, Harrison dropped two divisions to chase a UFC championship.
She’ll face Julianna Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who recently recaptured the bantamweight title with a win over Raquel Pennington. A victory over Peña would make Harrison just the second Olympic gold medalist — alongside Henry Cejudo — to also become a UFC champion, and the first multi-time Olympic gold medalist to do so.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
Former title contender Kelvin Gastelum (19-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) returns to middleweight after continued issues making the welterweight limit. Despite past success, including a win over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in 2018, Gastelum has struggled in recent years, dropping five of his last seven at 185 pounds.
He’ll face surging middleweight Joe Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who has finished all four of his UFC wins and has 12 stoppage victories to his name. This matchup promises fireworks — and possibly another highlight-reel finish for Pyfer.
Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix (Bantamweight)
After a dominant run in Bellator, Patchy Mix (20-1) finally makes his UFC debut. The submission ace has earned finishes over a who’s-who of elite competition, including James Gallagher, Kyoji Horiguchi, Magomed Magomedov, and Sergio Pettis.
He’ll be welcomed by the red-hot Mario Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), who enters the contest riding a seven-fight win streak. His most recent win — a hard-fought split decision over Jose Aldo at UFC 307 — solidified his status as a rising contender in the division.
Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland (Welterweight)
The main card opens with a clash between fan-favorite veterans. Vicente Luque (23-10-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC) is hunting for his 15th career finish in the UFC, a milestone that would tie him with Matt Brown for the most in welterweight history.
Opposite him is the ever-active Kevin Holland (27-13 MMA, 13-10 UFC), who owns the most UFC wins (14) of any fighter to come out of Dana White’s Contender Series. Holland remains one of the most unpredictable and entertaining fighters on the roster — making this matchup a must-watch.
