The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to host UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday. The event will feature highly anticipated title fights and matchups that are expected to draw a large crowd.
Main Event: Bantamweight Title Fight
In the main event of the evening, Merab Dvalishvili will defend his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley. This marks a rematch between the two fighters after their initial encounter at UFC 300 last summer.
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Merab Dvalishvili:
- Record: 19-4
- Recent Performance: Dvalishvili has won five consecutive fights since losing to Aljamain Sterling at UFC Fight Night in February.
- Training: He has been training with coach John Wood for several months.
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Sean O’Malley:
- Record: 18-2
- Recent Performance: O’Malley has won three consecutive fights since losing to Sterling at UFC Fight Night in March.
- Training: He has been training with coach Eric Nicksick for several months.
Co-Main Event: Women’s Bantamweight Title Fight
The co-main event features Julianna Peña facing off against Kayla Harrison for the women’s bantamweight title.
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Julianna Peña:
- Current Title: Interim champion
- Opportunity: Competing for her first undisputed championship.
- Background: Originally scheduled to face Amanda Nunes for her first undisputed championship but was forced out due to injury. Harrison stepped in as her opponent just over six weeks ago.
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Kayla Harrison:
- Record: 18-1
- Recent Performance: Considered one of the top contenders in her division after defeating Irene Aldana by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night last month.
Amanda Nunes’ Return
Amanda Nunes announced plans earlier this week to return from retirement later this year, with hopes of challenging for bantamweight gold again. This comes after she suffered back-to-back knockout losses at both welterweight and featherweight titles last year.
Other Notable Matchup
In other action on Saturday night, Patchy Mix makes his long-awaited debut inside The Octagon against Mario Bautista, who currently ranks No. 6 according to ESPN’s divisional rankings. This matchup is expected to provide stiff competition early in Mix’s career.
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