UFC 316 Results: Merab retains, Kayla Harrison wins title

LockerRoom Team

09 Jun 2025

UFC 316 delivered a blockbuster night of fights at the T-Mobile Arena, featuring title changes, rising stars, and emotional post-fight moments in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,343 fans. With a gate of $6.5 million, the event ranked as the fourth-highest in the venue’s history — with UFC events now holding three of the top five spots.

In the main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili retained his title with a dominant performance against former champion Sean O’Malley in their highly anticipated rematch. Dvalishvili used relentless wrestling to control the early rounds before securing a third-round submission via ninja choke at 4:33.

"I'm on top of the world! I'm a world champion!" Dvalishvili said. "It doesn't matter what you have as long as you know where you're going. Believe in your dreams and just follow it."

The co-main event saw the crowning of a new women’s bantamweight champion. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison overwhelmed Julianna Peña with her grappling, eventually forcing a tap via kimura in the second round. Harrison, now 2-0 in the UFC, addressed the crowd with emotion and purpose.

"This is for all the moms, especially the single moms," Harrison said. "You're being positioned, not punished. You're seen."

Moments after her win, former champion Amanda Nunes entered the Octagon for a faceoff with Harrison, confirming her return and setting up a blockbuster clash between two of the most decorated female athletes in MMA history.

Earlier on the card, Myanmar’s Joshua Van continued his meteoric rise through the flyweight division. Van showcased elite striking and pace against No. 12 ranked Bruno Silva, securing a TKO in the third round. Van, who has now surpassed 750 significant strikes in just eight UFC fights, called his victory another step toward greatness.

"I told you guys, I'm going to get better," Van said. "And this is what we're talking about."

The event solidified Dvalishvili’s reign, welcomed a new champion in Harrison, and set the stage for future legacy-defining bouts across multiple divisions.

UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 – Official Results

Main Card

• Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O’Malley via submission (ninja choke) – Round 3, 4:33 (UFC Bantamweight Championship)
• Kayla Harrison def. Julianna Peña via submission (kimura) – Round 2, 3:22 (UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship)
• Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Stephen Thompson via TKO – Round 2, 1:17
• Arman Tsarukyan def. Mateusz Gamrot via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Roman Dolidze def. Paul Craig via KO – Round 1, 3:10

Prelims

• Joshua Van def. Bruno Silva via TKO – Round 3, 2:39
• Maycee Barber def. Amanda Ribas via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Chase Hooper def. Gabriel Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
• Brad Tavares def. Eryk Anders via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Early Prelims

• Carlos Ulberg def. Modestas Bukauskas via KO – Round 1, 0:53
• Terrance McKinney def. Trey Ogden via TKO – Round 2, 4:12
• Shauna Bannon def. Montserrat Ruiz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Attendance: 17,343 (sold out)
Gate: $6.5 million (4th highest in T-Mobile Arena history)