Merab Dvalishvili Extends UFC Bantamweight Win Streak to 13

Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his UFC bantamweight title at UFC 316 by submitting Sean O'Malley in the third round, marking his 13th consecutive victory and solidifying his status as one of the sport's premier bantamweights. The bout took place in New Jersey with President Donald Trump in attendance, adding to the event's prominence. O'Malley acknowledged the loss but expressed a positive mindset, appreciating the support from his family. Meanwhile, former champion Cody Garbrandt, once considered a tough stylistic matchup for Dvalishvili due to his speed and takedown defense, has struggled recently with back-to-back losses, including a unanimous decision defeat at UFC Atlanta. Umar Nurmagomedov, who lost to Dvalishvili in a title fight earlier this year, remains optimistic about his future and potential rematch, despite a broken hand affecting his previous performance. UFC CEO Dana White hinted that Dvalishvili's next title defense could be against Cory Sandhagen, while a rematch with Nurmagomedov remains a possibility but is not prioritized.