Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili locked eyes in a tense faceoff during the UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Both fighters made weight successfully for the bantamweight title fight scheduled to headline Saturday’s event.
Dvalishvili stepped on the scale at 134 pounds, while O’Malley came in exactly at the 135-pound championship limit. Their long-awaited rematch has built significant hype after their first bout at UFC 306, where Dvalishvili shocked many fans by dethroning O’Malley with a dominant performance.
The intensity at the weigh-ins reflected the importance of this rematch. Both men stared each other down with no smiles or handshakes, keeping the energy serious and focused.
What Happened in the First Fight
The first time Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili met was at UFC 306 in Las Vegas in September 2024. O’Malley entered the fight as the reigning bantamweight champion, having won the belt from Aljamain Sterling in August 2023 and defended it against Marlon Vera at UFC 299.
However, Dvalishvili’s pace, wrestling, and pressure overwhelmed O’Malley over five rounds. Judges scored the bout in favor of the Georgian fighter, awarding him the bantamweight title in a major upset. Since then, Dvalishvili defended his belt once against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, winning a decision in another fast-paced battle.
This upcoming fight at UFC 316 gives O’Malley the chance to get revenge and reclaim his title, while Dvalishvili looks to prove the first win was no fluke.
Robert Whittaker expressed his admiration for both fighters but made it clear he was once again supporting Merab Dvalishvili ahead of his UFC 316 rematch against O’Malley. He spoke about Merab’s relentless cardio and wrestling style, and his desire to see Dvalishvili’s underdog story continue.
Despite the online noise, O’Malley has appeared focused and in shape, ready to put on a better showing than their first meeting.
THE REMATCH AWAITS 😤@MerabDvalishvil vs @SugaSeanMMA
[ #UFC316 | TOMORROW 10pmET | Live on @ESPNPlus 📺 ] pic.twitter.com/mAqKMJR1td
— UFC (@ufc) June 6, 2025
Kayla Harrison Makes Weight for UFC Debut
Also on the UFC 316 card, two-time Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champion Kayla Harrison made weight for her bantamweight debut. She hit the mark at 135 pounds and will challenge current champion Julianna Peña in the co-main event.
This is one of the most anticipated UFC debuts in recent years, with Harrison leaving the PFL behind to chase a belt in the Octagon. Peña, the former champion who regained her title earlier this year, looks to stop the momentum of the Olympic judo star.
The intensity in this one 👀@VenezuelanVixen vs @KaylaH
[ #UFC316 | TOMORROW 10pmET | Live on @ESPNPlus 📺 ] pic.twitter.com/cOOYG6mLCT
— UFC (@ufc) June 6, 2025
Fighter Misses Weight on Preliminary Card
Ariane da Silva came in six pounds over the flyweight limit, weighing 132 pounds for her scheduled bout against Wang Cong. The fight will still happen, but da Silva will give up a percentage of her purse due to the weight miss.
UFC 316 Full Main Card Preview
- Main Event: Bantamweight Title Fight – Merab Dvalishvili (champion) vs. Sean O’Malley (former champion)
- Co-Main Event: Women’s Bantamweight Title Fight – Julianna Peña (champion) vs. Kayla Harrison (UFC debut)
- Middleweight Bout: Joe Pyfer vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- Bantamweight Bout: Patchy Mix vs. Mario Bautista
- Welterweight Bout: Kevin Holland vs. Vicente Luque
The main card begins at 10 PM Eastern Time on ESPN+ pay-per-view. Early prelims start at 6:30 PM ET.
You don’t want to miss this middleweight clash 👊@KelvinGastelum vs @Joe_Pyfer96
[ #UFC316 | TOMORROW 10pmET | Live on @ESPNPlus 📺] pic.twitter.com/l3CrjGn90g
— UFC (@ufc) June 6, 2025
No more talking 🤐@Bautista_MMA vs @TeamMixMMA
[ #UFC316 | TOMORROW 10pmET | Live on @ESPNPlus 📺 ] pic.twitter.com/fQzgwFfQPS
— UFC (@ufc) June 6, 2025
The main card kicks off with a BANGER 💥@VicenteLuqueMMA vs @Trailblaze2Top
[ #UFC316 | TOMORROW 10pmET | Live on @ESPNPlus 📺 ] pic.twitter.com/yJDjRZ7HBk
— UFC (@ufc) June 6, 2025
