UFC 316 featured Merab Dvalishvili defending his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley, Kayla Harrison winning the women’s bantamweight title, and setting up a superfight with Amanda Nunes, while the event overall was praised for its unexpected excitement and standout performances, despite some debate over Dvalishvili’s GOAT status and notable losses for fighters like Patchy Mix.
UFC 316 Recap: New Champions and Rising Legends
UFC 316 is now history, and it brought us a new champion while another fighter cemented their legacy. In Newark, N.J., Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his men’s bantamweight title, submitting Sean O’Malley in their rematch. With two title defenses, Dvalishvili is climbing the ranks of all-time greats. But how far has he really come?
Earlier, Kayla Harrison added to her legendary status by claiming the women’s bantamweight title with a second-round submission over Julianna Peña. This victory sets up a superfight with Amanda Nunes. With so much to discuss, MMA Fighting gathered experts to break down the big topics from UFC 316.
Blurb Reviews of UFC 316
Martin thought the event exceeded expectations. Despite initial doubts, the fights delivered drama, especially the main and co-main events. Lee noted the top fights featured all-time greats, with dark horse contenders and promising prospects making an impact.
Heck called it one of the year’s better cards, with four out of five main card fights delivering compelling storylines. Meshew found it surprisingly fun, despite the main event being an undeserving title fight, noting memorable performances throughout the card.
Is Merab Dvalishvili the Bantamweight GOAT?
Meshew dismissed the idea, saying it’s premature to crown Dvalishvili as the GOAT. He emphasized the difficulty of defending a belt, citing Dominick Cruz’s five defenses. Martin argued that Dvalishvili has faced tougher competition than Cruz, making a strong case for his GOAT status.
Lee remained on the fence, acknowledging Cruz’s past dominance but recognizing Dvalishvili’s impressive run. Heck agreed that Dvalishvili is close to being the GOAT but highlighted Cruz’s defining impact on the division.
Excitement for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes
Heck expressed immense excitement for the Harrison vs. Nunes fight, calling it one of the coolest moments of 2025. Despite a lack of buzz in women’s divisions, this matchup has been eagerly anticipated. Meshew admitted unexpected excitement after witnessing their faceoff.
Martin believed this fight is exactly what women’s MMA needs, with Harrison poised to challenge Nunes for GOAT status. Lee didn’t initially need the fight but now eagerly awaits its official announcement, intrigued by the potential outcomes.
Biggest Loser at UFC 316
Lee argued that Patchy Mix was the biggest loser, failing to showcase his grappling game in his UFC debut. Heck agreed, noting Mix’s overconfidence and subsequent underperformance. Meshew nearly named Dvalishvili due to a near-miss with falling stands but ultimately chose Tom Aspinall, who missed out on a potential Jon Jones fight.
Martin believed Sean O’Malley took the biggest hit, losing twice to Dvalishvili and jeopardizing his title aspirations. O’Malley now faces a difficult path back to the top without a clear rival to maintain interest.
Who Stole the Show at UFC 316?
Martin praised Mario Bautista for his dominant performance over Patchy Mix, despite previous criticism. Lee highlighted Waldo Cortes-Acosta as a rising contender in the heavyweight division. Heck chose Kevin Holland, who captivated social media with a vague tweet and delivered an impressive performance against Vicente Luque.
Meshew celebrated Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro, a former BJJ champion turned referee, for taking a point from Julianna Peña for illegal upkicks—a rarity in MMA officiating. Shaolin’s decisive action earned him praise as a standout referee.