Two blockbuster bantamweight title fights are set for UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 7, 2025. UFC CEO Dana White announced on April 1, 2025, that Merab Dvalishvili will defend his men’s 135-pound belt against Sean O’Malley in a rematch, while Julianna Peña faces Kayla Harrison for the women’s championship in the co-main event.
Merab Dvalishvili won the men’s title from Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in September 2024 and defended it against Umar Nurmagomedov in January 2025 at UFC 311, extending his win streak to 12 fights, while Sean O’Malley, sidelined by hip surgery in October 2024 after that loss, returns for redemption.
In the women’s division, Julianna Peña reclaimed her belt with a split decision over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 in October 2024, setting up a clash with Kayla Harrison, who joined UFC in 2024 and remains unbeaten with wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira.
Taking TWO title fights to the Garden State 🏆🏆@MerabDvalishvil vs @SugaSeanMMA 2@VenezuelanVixen vs @KaylaH
[ #UFC316 | @Visit_NJ ] pic.twitter.com/rVZUgoK9C9
— UFC (@ufc) April 1, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili Takes on Sean O’Malley Again
Merab Dvalishvili, a 34-year-old from Tbilisi, Georgia, now based in Las Vegas, overwhelmed Sean O’Malley with wrestling and pace in their first fight at the Sphere, winning all five rounds on two scorecards. Sean O’Malley, a 30-year-old from Helena, Montana, earned the title in August 2023 by knocking out Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 and defended it once against Marlon Vera in March 2024 at UFC 299. After surgery, he aims to reclaim the belt with his sharp striking in this June rematch.
Julianna Peña Meets Kayla Harrison in Title Clash
Julianna Peña, a 35-year-old from Spokane, Washington, stunned Amanda Nunes with a submission in December 2021 at UFC 269 to win the women’s bantamweight title and lost it in a 2022 rematch. She now faces Kayla Harrison, a 34-year-old from Middletown, Ohio, and a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist from 2012 and 2016. Kayla Harrison debuted in UFC with a second-round submission of Holly Holm at UFC 300 in April 2024 and beat Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision at UFC 307, earning her first title shot against Julianna Peña’s seasoned striking and grit.
