
UFC 316: Dawg Energy & Submission Bombs
By • 6/10/2025
🏟 Event Basics
- Date: June 7, 2025
- Location: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- Attendance: 17,343 – gate $6.5M
📈 Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley (Bantamweight Title Rematch)
- Result: Merab retains via submission (north-south choke), Round 3 at 4:42
- Why It Matters: Revenge complete. Merab proved he’s a cardio grappling machine and a finisher when it counts.
👊 Co-Main: Kayla Harrison vs. Julianna Peña (Women’s Bantamweight Title)
- Result: Harrison won via kimura choke, Round 2 at 4:55
- Takeaway: The Olympian mauled Peña and showed she’s ready to take over the division. Pure domination.
🧠 Mike Pyfer vs. Kelvin Gastelum (Middleweight)
- Result: Pyfer wins via unanimous decision
- Recap: Pyfer showed patience, power, and maturity against the battle-tested Gastelum. Big step forward.
💥 Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix (Bantamweight)
- Result: Bautista upsets Mix via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27)
- Surprise Alert: Mix came in hot, but Bautista stayed cool and executed. Huge underdog W.
🧩 Kevin Holland vs. Vicente Luque (Welterweight)
- Result: Holland wins via Brabo choke, Round 2 at 1:03
- Highlight: Classic unpredictable Holland — turned a striking match into a submission masterclass.
🚀 Joshua Van vs. Bruno Silva (Flyweight - Prelim)
- Result: Van wins via TKO, Round 3 at 4:01
- Underdog Rise: Van pieced up Silva and finished strong. The hype is real — this kid’s a problem.
🏆 Bonus Awards
- Performance of the Night:
- Merab Dvalishvili
- Kayla Harrison
- Kevin Holland
- Yoo Joo‑sang (Prelim KO)
🔥 Dawg-Worthy Highlights
- Merab: Submits O’Malley, secures legacy
- Kayla: Total control, instant top-tier threat
- Holland: Wild sub, bonus secured
- Van: TKO on a vet, star rising
- Bautista: Out-pointed a killer, big upset
💭 Final Take
UFC 316 had it all — title revenge, breakout performances, and real dawg moments. If you bet bold and backed your gut, this card rewarded you in full. Let’s see who barks next.