UFC 316 has two champions in motion, although just one is being proven the respect worthy of a titleholder.
Males’s bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has already confirmed he can beat Sean O’Malley and he’s anticipated to do the identical after they rematch in Saturday’s fundamental occasion. Since their first battle in September, Dvalishvili defended his belt as soon as with a powerful efficiency towards the extremely touted (and now not undefeated) Umar Nurmagomedov, whereas O’Malley has loved a while away from the grind whereas recovering from hip surgical procedure and making just a few pivotal way of life modifications.
In Dvalishvili’s previous 12 fights, nobody has been in a position to remedy the puzzle the relentless Georgian presents, and few count on O’Malley to interrupt that pattern.
On the ladies’s facet of the 135-pound roster, two-time champion Julianna Peña is a large underdog to challenger Kayla Harrison. Followers have lengthy touted Harrison as a future UFC champion—she is already No. 1 within the division within the MMA Preventing World Rankings—and her fight sports activities accolades thus far are spectacular: She grew to become the primary American to win gold in judo on the 2012 Olympics after which repeated that feat 4 years later. She gained her first 15 professional bouts, a run that included two event wins at 145 kilos.
Harrison has made a clean transition to the UFC, ending former champion Holly Holm in her debut after which profitable a gritty resolution over longtime contender Ketlen Vieira. Relying the place you look, oddsmakers have positioned Harrison as excessive as an 8-to-1 favourite. “And New” is predicted within the co-main occasion.
However Peña’s complete fame is constructed on doing the unimaginable as she was the lone lady to attain a win over Amanda Nunes in the course of the former two-division champion’s legendary 14-1 run. If she may upset Nunes, then a win over the less-heralded Harrison can’t be out of the query.
In different fundamental card motion, Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer meet in a middleweight grudge match initially scheduled for UFC Mexico, streaking UFC bantamweight contender welcomes former Bellator star Patchy Combine to the octagon, and Vicente Luque and Kevin Holland sq. off in a welterweight strikers’ duel.
What: UFC 316
The place: Prudential Heart in Newark, N.J.
When: Saturday, June 7. The four-fight early preliminary card begins at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Disney+, adopted by a four-fight preliminary card airing on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+ at 8 p.m. ET. The five-fight fundamental card begins at 10 p.m. ET completely on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing within the MMA Preventing World Rankings and Pound-for-Pound Rankings)
Merab Dvalishvili (1, P4P-4) vs. Sean O’Malley (3, P4P-19)
Alright, so what’s completely different this time round?
On the Sean O’Malley facet, at the least, we’re instructed there are some wholesale modifications to think about. At the start, O’Malley’s hip must be in significantly higher situation after he underwent surgical procedure to handle a torn labrum he had going into the primary Merab Dvalishvili battle. Whether or not it could have made a distinction or not, that’s a respectable excuse, and one thing to think about if O’Malley is certainly absolutely recovered.
Secondly, he’s given up the wacky tobacky. It’s attainable this would possibly hinder greater than assist, however the reality he’s even keen to make that type of sacrifice in his quest to regain the bantamweight title speaks volumes. He’ll placed on a greater effort Saturday.
Will that change the result? It’s unclear.
Dvalishvili has all the time been a tricky fashion matchup for O’Malley and it’s no thriller why. He can take O’Malley down at will to nullify his harmful placing and he lives for five-round fights. None of that is preferrred for O’Malley, who constructed his fame on being an exhilarating knockout artist. Even when he manages to land extra massive hits than within the final battle, he’s nonetheless coping with a, ahem, machine that refuses to cease working.
O’Malley will get 25 extra minutes to land the knockout blow and if he does, it wouldn’t shock me within the slightest. However I noticed sufficient of their first battle to lean in the direction of Dvalishvili even when they fought a dozen instances.
Decide: Dvalishvili
Julianna Peña (2, P4P-13) vs. Kayla Harrison (1, P4P-4)
what else wouldn’t shock me? Julianna Peña beating Kayla Harrison.
That may be blasphemous to say given what number of followers are placing their hopes on Harrison to revitalize the ladies’s bantamweight division—particularly with an Amanda Nunes return looming—however the MMA Gods care not to your narratives. If the scales tip Peña’s approach, leading to a continued 135-pound malaise and “The Lioness” deciding to only chill along with her cubs as an alternative of coming again, then so it’s.
As amusingly macabre as that will be, I’m going with the protected decide in Harrison.
The 34-year-old nonetheless has loads of rising to do and she or he’s been thrown into the deep finish of the bantamweight rankings after going through lesser competitors in a number of of her PFL bouts. Her grappling stays her best power, however she additionally has more-than-enough energy in her arms to flooring Peña if a brawl breaks out.
Peña has to depend on her cardio and stick-to-itiveness to get by way of this one. I’m curious to see how she’ll react if she’s taken down early, whether or not she’ll try to battle off her again or work to rise up to her toes instantly. If she will apply any ahead strain within the battle, that may change the tone. Assuming she doesn’t get judo-throwed to a different dimension.
There are such a lot of voices trashing Peña’s fashion, it nearly looks like its future for her to stay it to the haters and go away one other indelible stamp on the bantamweight division. That day might come, but it surely gained’t be at Harrison’s expense. Talking of future, it’s time for Harrison to say hers.
Decide: Harrison
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
After I wrote about this matchup again in March, I highlighted Joe Pyfer’s measurement and athleticism whereas mentioning how Kelvin Gastelum’s expertise, toughness, and boxing may give him the benefit because the bout progresses. One different side to think about was the elevation of Mexico Metropolis, which can have performed an element within the bout falling by way of altogether when Pyfer fell unwell.
The re-booked matchup takes place on the significantly much less elevated Newark and that may solely be good for Pyfer. He nonetheless has to take care of a veteran identified for by no means gassing out, however Pyfer ought to have the ability to handle his vitality higher with out worrying about any debilitating exterior components.
Really, there’s no excuse for Pyfer to be at something however his greatest, and at his greatest he has the makings of a compelling contender that may knock out anybody at 185 kilos. If he stays affected person, the end will come, more than likely through submission after scoring a knockdown.
Decide: Pyfer
Mario Bautista (10) vs. Patchy Combine (6, P4P-16)
Justice for José Aldo!
OK, we must always most likely all transfer on from Aldo’s loss to Mario Bautista—joking, by no means will—and give attention to how he has a golden alternative to spoil Patchy Combine’s debut. Bautista doesn’t deserve half the crap—joking, he does—he will get for walling-and-stalling to “beat” the nice Aldo, however he ought to undoubtedly take into account mixing issues up towards Combine.
Simply holding on to Combine and praying for a few favorable scorecards isn’t a viable technique. If Bautista needs to hang around alongside the fence, Combine will fortunately battle for underhooks and cage place till he’s on Bautista’s again. That’s when issues get actually bushy.
There’s a dormant dynamic fighter within Bautista, I really wish to imagine that, particularly if he’s to show he’s deserving of a title shot. However I do know Combine will ship, unintimidated by the brilliant lights, and when the scenario presents itself he’ll lock in a rear-naked choke for the win.
Decide: Combine
Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland
I used to be untimely declaring Vicente Luque as being “washed” (I used to be simply making an attempt to sound edgy and funky) forward of his most up-to-date battle with Themba Gorimbo. The ability and expertise distinction was an excessive amount of and Luque cruised to a submission win in underneath a minute.
As my man Jed Meshew likes to say, “I’m by no means incorrect. Simply early.”
Kevin Holland ought to have this one. When he competes at 170 kilos, Holland can seem like a world beater. I’m inclined to imagine his anti-hype for this battle during which he flat-out mentioned this matchup is previous its best-before date and he expects to run by way of Luque.
The Brazilian veteran gained’t make it simple for him, however finally Holland’s pace will decide up and he’ll push a tempo that Luque can’t match because of all of the tread on his tires. I’m going so far as to foretell Holland dominates the vast majority of this matchup earlier than knocking Luque out in Spherical 1 or Spherical 2.
Decide: Holland
Preliminaries
Joshua Van def. Bruno Silva
Azamat Murzakanov (13) def. Brendson Ribeiro
Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Serghei Spivac (9)
Andreas Gustafsson def. Khaos Williams
Wang Cong def. Ariane da Silva
Joo Sang Yoo def. Jeka Saragih
Quillan Salkilld def. Yanal Ashmouz
MarQuel Mederos def. Mark Choinski
