Sean O'Malley aims to reclaim the bantamweight title from the man who took it from him when he faces Merab Dvalishvili in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 316. The event, scheduled for June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, features two championship bouts with the women's bantamweight title also on the line.
Dvalishvili (19-4) ended O'Malley's seven-fight unbeaten streak in their first meeting at the Sphere, securing his eleventh consecutive victory. The Georgian fighter hasn't slowed down since, adding a twelfth straight win against Umar Nurmagomedov in January.
O'Malley (18-2, 1 NC) underwent surgery after their first bout to address an issue he dealt with during the fight. Now fully recovered, "Suga" is determined to prove he can defeat Dvalishvili when at full strength.
The co-main event features another compelling title clash as two-time champion Julianna Pena (12-5) defends her bantamweight belt against former PFL star Kayla Harrison (18-1). The build-up has been heated, with Pena openly accusing Harrison of performance-enhancing drug use.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, has dismissed the trash talk and focused on proving why she's considered one of the world's elite fighters. This marks her biggest opportunity since joining the UFC from the Professional Fighters League.
The main card also includes an intriguing middleweight bout between Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer, plus Vicente Luque facing Kevin Holland in a welterweight clash that promises fireworks.
Broadcast details? The main card will air on ESPN+ pay-per-view starting at 10 p.m. ET, with prelims beginning at 8 p.m. ET and early prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET. All preliminary fights will be available on Disney+.
The Prudential Center, home to the New Jersey Devils, can accommodate up to 19,500 fans for what shapes up as one of the year's most significant UFC events. Will O'Malley's post-surgery form be enough to reclaim his title, or will Dvalishvili's winning streak continue?
