Sean O'Malley is determined to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title from the man who took it from him. The 29-year-old striker will face champion Merab Dvalishvili in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey on June 7.
O'Malley's seven-fight unbeaten streak came to an end when Dvalishvili defeated him at the Sphere to capture the bantamweight gold. Since then, "Suga" underwent surgery to address an issue he claims affected his performance in their first encounter.
"I wasn't 100% when we first fought. Now I'm healthy and ready to show everyone what happens when I'm at my best," O'Malley has insisted ahead of the rematch.
Dvalishvili enters the contest riding an impressive twelve-fight winning streak, having most recently defeated Umar Nurmagomedov in January. The Georgian fighter's relentless pressure proved too much for O'Malley in their first meeting.
The co-main event features another compelling bantamweight title clash as two-time champion Julianna Pena defends her crown against former PFL star Kayla Harrison. Their rivalry has intensified with Pena openly accusing Harrison of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, appears unfazed by the trash talk. The highly-touted fighter aims to prove why she was considered one of the best in the world during her PFL tenure.
By the way, the Prudential Center, home to the NHL's "New Jersey Devils," can accommodate up to 19,500 spectators for this stacked fight card.
The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET, with the headliners expected to enter the octagon around 12:45 a.m. ET. Earlier action starts at 6:30 p.m. ET with the early prelims, followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. ET.
The complete UFC 316 card features several other intriguing matchups, including Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer at middleweight and Vicente Luque facing Kevin Holland in a welterweight contest.
Will O'Malley's surgical repairs be enough to overcome Dvalishvili's relentless pressure? Can Harrison silence her critic by capturing UFC gold in just her second appearance with the promotion? Fight fans won't have to wait long to find out.
