The main card for UFC 316, set for June 7, has undergone notable changes, primarily due to the signing of former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, who has accepted a short-notice fight for the pay-per-view event.
The updated five-fight main card lineup was finalized after Marlon “Chito” Vera was forced to withdraw from the event following an injury sustained during training. Patchy Mix will now step into the vacant spot.
Mix is scheduled to face Mario Bautista in a bantamweight clash. This bout will serve as Patchy Mix`s debut inside the Octagon. As the last champion of Bellator`s 135-pound division, Mix is immediately presented with an opportunity to challenge a ranked opponent in Bautista and demonstrate that he belongs among the UFC`s elite bantamweights.
The main event for UFC 316 remains unchanged: bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is set to defend his title in a highly anticipated rematch against Sean O’Malley. According to the previous announcement, Dvalishvili reportedly defeated O`Malley when they first met last September, setting the stage for this second encounter on June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
In the co-main event, reigning women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena will face two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison. Since joining the UFC, Harrison has amassed a 2-0 record, including a victory over former champion Holly Holm. She will be aiming to add a UFC championship to her already impressive collection of accolades when she meets Pena.
The remainder of the main card features a middleweight bout between Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer, and a welterweight fight serving as the opener, pitting Vicente Luque against Kevin Holland.
The complete order for the preliminary fights leading up to the main card is still pending confirmation.
Updated Main Card Bouts for UFC 316
- Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley (Bantamweight Championship)
- Co-Main Event: Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison (Women`s Bantamweight Championship)
- Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
- Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix (Bantamweight)
- Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland (Welterweight)