Merab Dvalishvili dominates Sean O'Malley again at UFC 316 and remains the -61kg champion

1.68m, a huge fighter. Merab Dvalishvili had agreed to a rematch with star Sean O'Malley, from whom he had taken the belt at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September 2024. He knew the path to success, in his unique style against a virtuoso athlete of the foot and fist. The stakes were high. The challenger, so colorful, appeared very sober. With one credo: change everything to win.

In the first round, Sean O'Malley showed signs of success. His footwork shone, and his unnerving striking angles gave him confidence. The champion quickly regained control of the arena to set his own pace. If he was being hunted for his crown, the hunter in the cage was Merab. Little by little, "The Machine" did what he did best: smother until exhaustion. Once again, all his takedown attempts didn't land (5/12), but that didn't matter. A close first round gave way to a more controlled second from the Georgian. And what about the third?

This round must have seemed long for Sean O'Malley. After throwing himself into the fight, Dvalishvili belted him to carry him and bring him to the ground. More than four minutes of hell ensued for a challenger short on ideas. Bolstered by this unchallenged dominance, Merab attempted the guillotine and then a rare north-south choke. On this inspiration, O'Malley struck. The epilogue to a dream evening and only the second submission in the champion's career. All this, before the eyes of a very lonely Donald Trump, abandoned by his close guard, led by Elon Musk.

There was another title fight on Saturday night in Newark. Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo champion (2012, 2016) and multiple PFL champion, won by submission in the twilight of the second round against Julianna Pena. The American spent more than four minutes on the ground against a powerless champion, overwhelmed on every level.

Following this success, the legend Amanda Nunes returned to the cage and made her return to action official, having retired since June 2023. It was undoubtedly one of the greatest comebacks in the history of women's MMA.