Newark, New Jersey — UFC 316 takes center stage Saturday night at the Prudential Center, featuring an exhilarating rematch for the bantamweight title and a highly anticipated co-main event between two rising stars of women’s MMA. Champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title against Sean O’Malley in a matchup that promises to be as compelling as their first encounter. Meanwhile, Julianna Peña seeks to solidify her status as a champion in her grudge match against Kayla Harrison.

Dvalishvili, known as “The Machine,” boasts an impressive record of 19 wins and 4 losses. He has made history with the longest active win streak in the bantamweight division, having captured 11 consecutive victories. His relentless cardio and strategic prowess were on full display when he dethroned O’Malley last September and further solidified his reign with a thrilling win over Umar Nurmagomedov in January. With additional notable victories against renowned fighters like Henry Cejudo and Petr Yan, Dvalishvili enters this rematch as a formidable opponent.

O’Malley, with a record standing at 18 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no contest, has not stepped into the octagon since losing to Dvalishvili at the UFC’s only event at the Las Vegas Sphere. Widely regarded as one of the biggest names in the bantamweight division, O’Malley earned the title in 2023 after a stunning knockout of Aljamain Sterling. He faced a setback when he lost the title in his most recent fight, which ended a remarkable seven-fight win streak. Now, he aims to reclaim his championship status.

In the co-main event, Julianna Peña, the current women’s bantamweight champion, will defend her belt against Kayla Harrison. Peña has quickly established herself as a force in the division, capturing the title with a split decision win over Raquel Pennington last October. Meanwhile, Harrison, a decorated two-time Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champion, is looking to extend her perfect record in the UFC to 3-0, further enhancing her credentials in this high-stakes matchup.

Fans are eager for the main card, which will also feature an intriguing middleweight clash between Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer, along with bantamweight bouts involving Mario Bautista against Patchy Mix and Vicente Luque facing Kevin Holland. The preliminary card has its share of excitement too, showcasing competitors in flyweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight, and welterweight divisions.

UFC 316 will kick off with early prelims starting at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the main event at 10 p.m. ET, broadcast on ESPN+ pay-per-view. As fighters prepare for battle, anticipation builds among fans and pundits alike for what is sure to be an unforgettable night of mixed martial arts action.