Merab Dvalishvili Retains Bantamweight Title UFC 316 Newark

At UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his bantamweight title by submitting Sean O'Malley with a third-round modified choke, marking Dvalishvili's 13th consecutive victory and solidifying his status as one of the sport's top bantamweights. President Donald Trump was present cageside to witness the fight, where Dvalishvili showcased his wrestling prowess and dominance. Post-fight, Dvalishvili expressed interest in defending his title next against Cory Sandhagen, a top contender with recent strong performances, a matchup UFC President Dana White is considering as the likely next fight. In the co-main event, Kayla Harrison won the women's bantamweight title by submitting Julianna Pena, and subsequently called out Amanda Nunes, who is teasing a comeback after retiring in 2023, setting up a highly anticipated bout. Both Harrison and Pena displayed great sportsmanship after the fight, and Harrison highlighted the difficulty of her weight cut, emphasizing the rarity and significance of winning a UFC title. Additionally, middleweight Joe Pyfer returned to competition with a unanimous decision win over Kelvin Gastelum.