UFC 316 is now complete, an event that saw one fighter crowned as a new champion and another champion significantly strengthening their claim for all-time greatness.
Held on Saturday in Newark, N.J., Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his men’s bantamweight title. He defeated Sean O’Malley via submission in their main event rematch. With two title defenses now under his belt, Dvalishvili is rapidly ascending the ranks of the sport’s all-time greats, prompting discussions about how far he has come.
Earlier on the card, Kayla Harrison added another significant achievement to her already decorated career, capturing the women’s bantamweight title by submitting Julianna Peña in the second round. This victory sets up a highly anticipated superfight against Amanda Nunes.
With numerous noteworthy events unfolding at this latest pay-per-view, MMA Fighting assembled its panel of experts to discuss the major talking points from UFC 316.
Initial Reaction to UFC 316 Card?
Martin: It surpassed expectations. There was considerable skepticism regarding the UFC 316 lineup beforehand, but the fights largely delivered compelling drama. While the main and co-main events ended as many predicted, the manner in which they unfolded was still exciting.
Lee: The top two fights truly delivered, featuring two genuine all-time great athletes giving impressive performances. Several dark horse contenders stepped up, and some promising prospects made their mark. Overall, it was a productive night for the UFC and served as a good lead-in for the more star-studded pay-per-view scheduled for June 28.
Heck: Generally, it was one of the year`s better cards. Four out of the five main card bouts offered some level of compelling narrative. Kayla Harrison positioned herself for one of the biggest potential fights the UFC could make currently, and Merab Dvalishvili simply demonstrated he is a force of nature.
Meshew: Surprisingly entertaining! Yes, the main event felt like one of the most undeserved title bouts in recent memory, but the outcome was enjoyable (something rare for Dvalishvili). The rest of the card also featured many impactful and memorable performances. A very solid event from the UFC.
Is Merab Dvalishvili Already the Bantamweight GOAT?
Meshew: (Laughs) No, and I find this question tiresome. Every time a fighter wins a belt and gets just one defense, people immediately start calling them the new GOAT. Dvalishvili has two defenses, and one was this rather peculiar rematch that wasn’t really warranted. He might eventually reach that status, but crowning him prematurely is foolish and disrespectful to champions with long, dominant reigns. Honestly, Merab might not even be ahead of Aljamain Sterling right now.
If Merab manages to beat Cory Sandhagen, *then* we can potentially start the conversation. If he adds another title defense after that, he’s probably secured it. But there’s a significant difference between ‘if’ and ‘does.’ I’m old enough to recall when people were saying Kamaru Usman was the welterweight GOAT; you don’t hear that anymore because he lost his next fight. That’s the point: defending a belt is the sport`s most difficult challenge. That’s why Dominick Cruz earning five title defenses commands respect.
(Also, since everyone highlights his current win streak—which is indeed impressive—I want to remind you that two of those victories were three-rounders. Those are NOT championship fights. Suggesting his wins over Henry Cejudo and Jose Aldo are equivalent to title defenses is completely illogical.)
So please, for everyone`s sake, let a fighter *prove* their greatness before hastily anointing them the GOAT out of impatience. If he’s as good as some believe, he will get there in due time.
Martin: Yes, he is the GOAT, and the core reason is the level of competition he has faced.
It`s not pleasant to praise one fighter by criticizing another, but the reality is Dvalishvili has faced tougher opposition during his journey to the championship and his subsequent title defenses compared to someone like Dominick Cruz. Cruz unquestionably deserves mention in this discussion, but many of his most significant wins in the WEC were against fighters who were naturally flyweights.
The most prominent examples are Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, who competed as bantamweights essentially because the flyweight division didn`t exist back then. Cruz also defeated Ian McCall, another true flyweight. Cruz`s most notable victories were over Urijah Faber (legitimate) and a contested decision against T.J. Dillashaw.
Meanwhile, Dvalishvili has consistently been fighting and defeating incredibly tough opponents over the past few years: Jose Aldo, Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, and now Sean O’Malley twice. The truth is, Cruz competed when the bantamweight division was still developing, while Dvalishvili benefits from competing in a very deep division that is arguably the best in MMA right now. That`s why he is the GOAT, and each additional win only strengthens Merab`s case.
Lee: I don’t believe so yet, but I also struggle to formulate a strong counter-argument.
For a long time, Dominick Cruz was the default answer, and deservedly so. In his prime, “The Dominator” was the undisputed king at 135 pounds, and his list of victories is incredible. People often forget he was the only fighter to defeat “Mighty Mouse” between 2012 and 2017! Add his multiple wins over Faber and Benavidez, along with a questionable decision against Dillashaw, and he defeated nearly all of his top contemporaries (yes, there was the odd Cody Garbrandt loss), which is truly all you can ask of a great fighter. So, I’m comfortable keeping him at No. 1 for the moment.
The emphasis is on “for the moment,” because the run Dvalishvili is currently on is almost unbelievable, and he hasn`t suffered the extensive periods of inactivity that plagued Cruz`s career. Before anyone else starts shouting, I will declare now: regardless of who Dvalishvili beats next (as long as it`s not O’Malley again), I will finally rank him at the top spot.
Heck: I`m not quite ready to say yes just yet, but he is certainly in the running.
Make no mistake, Dvalishvili’s win streak is phenomenal. He has defeated multiple former champions, he beat Sean O’Malley for the title, submitted him impressively in the rematch, and handed the fighter many considered the division`s boogeyman his first loss in January. To claim he isn`t fully part of the GOAT discussion is ridiculous in my opinion. I tried to approach this fight with O’Malley as if their first encounter hadn`t happened, but we cannot ignore that it occurred nine months ago and O’Malley did not compete between the two bouts.
The gap in the Merab vs. Cruz debate has definitely narrowed. However, despite the injuries and long layoffs, Cruz still fundamentally defined the standard of greatness that shaped this division into what it is today. He holds three UFC title defenses, one more than Dvalishvili, and I personally weigh title defenses heavily in these discussions. That being said, if Dvalishvili performs against Cory Sandhagen the way he just did against O’Malley, he will implicitly become the bantamweight GOAT.
Excitement Level for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes?
Heck: Incredibly excited, and the faceoff following Harrison’s title victory elevated it further as one of the most striking moments of 2025 in a year where, frankly, the UFC could use them.
Despite the women’s divisions not having a huge amount of buzz lately, Harrison provided a much-needed jolt. This is a fight years in the making that many thought would never happen when it was first discussed as a fantasy matchup. Now that it’s a reality, it ranks among the five biggest fights the UFC could stage right now.
Considering the build-up, Nunes` potential comeback, Harrison securing a dominant stoppage win to claim the belt, and the significant discussion around the new TV deal, the opportunities to maximize the profile of this fight are boundless. This could easily headline the first women’s MMA event at Madison Square Garden. It could headline a potential Netflix debut if the UFC moves in that direction. And if Harrison wins, the discussions among fight fans about her combat sports achievements become incredibly fascinating. As someone who enjoys seeing the best compete against the best, and appreciates a good storyline, this fight ticks every box and then some.
Meshew: Absolutely thrilled, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting to be this excited.
Leading up to Saturday, I was quite sure Harrison would easily defeat Peña, but I felt pretty indifferent about the resulting Harrison-Nunes matchup. Then they faced off in the cage, and suddenly I`m completely invested.
Bantamweight used to be the premier women’s weight class in the sport, and currently, it feels like it`s on life support. I`m not sure if this single fight will revitalize the entire division, but it provides a welcome boost, and it`s genuinely enjoyable to finally feel excited about a women’s bantamweight title fight again.
Martin: This is precisely the fight women’s MMA has desperately needed, and now the onus is on the UFC to make it a reality. Ever since I saw Harrison dominate 170-pound opponents in the Olympics and then declare her intention to do the same in MMA, I’ve championed her as the future of this sport. Now, Harrison is finally a UFC champion, and the only person potentially standing between her and GOAT status is the current actual GOAT, Amanda Nunes.
Women’s MMA, particularly the bantamweight division, has been relatively stagnant lately, lacking much to generate excitement. However, Harrison vs. Nunes is exactly the kind of matchup that can headline a major pay-per-view event, and many of us would gladly pay to watch it.
Lee: While I didn’t feel a strong *need* to see this fight previously, now that it`s happening, I`m eagerly anticipating its official announcement.
Harrison executed her plan perfectly on Saturday after decisively defeating Peña. She delivered a deeply personal post-fight speech and then made the callout everyone anticipated, with Nunes right there to hear it. The timing couldn`t be better either, with Harrison in her prime and Nunes returning from retirement, leaving the outcome genuinely unpredictable. Has Harrison developed enough to overcome the GOAT? Will Nunes’ break from competition help or hinder her? We finally get to find out – no more hypothetical discussions! This is what makes MMA exciting!
Who Lost the Most at UFC 316?
Lee: I’m grateful to go first here because I don’t see how any other answer is possible besides Patchy Mix.
What was that performance?
Were they Octagon jitters? An undisclosed injury? A terrible style matchup? Or perhaps Mario Bautista is simply *that* skilled (this is the explanation I prefer to believe)? Who knows?
Leading up to his UFC debut, it seemed impossible for Mix to stumble as badly as fellow Bellator star Patricio Pitbull had, or so we thought. It was even worse. There was no sign of his dynamic grappling expertise, he was completely exposed in striking exchanges, and later, when he did land a few punches, he started gesturing with his arms as if challenging Bautista. My friend, you are losing the fight!
The second biggest losers are individuals like myself who have supported Mix for years. It was just a frustrating night all around.
Heck: To begin, it is absolutely Patchy Mix, just as AK detailed, and any other answer is simply incorrect. I stated before this fight that we would discover Mix’s UFC potential in 15 minutes or less, and we did. As I’ve mentioned on our shows over the years, I’ve never been fully convinced that Mix is the best bantamweight globally. Saturday confirmed he is one of the top 10-15 bantamweights in the sport, but he won’t be winning a UFC title. There are significant levels between good, very good, and great, and Mix is firmly in the `very good` category.
I understand Mix accepted the fight on short notice. However, given the energy he displayed and the confident statements he made throughout the week leading up to the fight, essentially dismissing Mario Bautista as merely a stepping stone, that reasoning becomes less relevant. When the contract is signed, a choice is made, and the resulting consequences must be accepted.
That said, and to offer a different perspective, I’ll choose Julianna Peña, even though Mix is the more obvious answer. Peña, at least in the short term, faces an uncertain future after being thoroughly dominated by Harrison. The trilogy fight with Nunes is off the table, and a rematch with Harrison is highly improbable. Given how shallow this division currently is, Peña is now likely to find herself in a position similar to Katlyn Cerminara, having to fend off rising contenders seeking a title shot rather than competing for one herself.
The positive aspect? Peña is a two-time UFC champion and, because of that, she will eventually be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. She achieved one of the most memorable wins in UFC history, and despite her somewhat unusual overall record, no one can diminish those accomplishments.
Meshew: It was almost Merab Dvalishvili, as during his walkout, he narrowly avoided being hit when a section of the stands collapsed right beside him. Thankfully, he was unharmed, but I was momentarily shocked thinking about how crazy that would have been. So instead (and since we can`t *all* pick Patchy), I’ll go with Tom Aspinall, who must have left Saturday feeling disheartened.
For nearly two years, Aspinall has been linked to a fight with Jon Jones that still hasn`t materialized. And on Saturday, even Dana White reluctantly acknowledged that Jones might be considering retirement. If Dana White is admitting that possibility, it strongly suggests the fight is completely dead.
Compounding Aspinall`s disappointment, there were rumors last week about Francis Ngannou possibly being interested in returning to the UFC. Even if Aspinall missed out on Jones, that could have been a massive fight for him. Unfortunately, White definitively shot that down. So now, Tom Aspinall is likely left with a fight against Ciryl Gane. Talk about a letdown.
Martin: While saying Mix suffered the biggest loss with that performance isn`t incorrect, in reality, no one took a bigger hit at UFC 316 than Sean O’Malley.
Once positioned as a potential new face of the company with the possibility of reaching Conor McGregor levels of stardom, O’Malley has now lost two consecutive fights to Merab Dvalishvili. The bantamweight title seems completely out of reach for now, and all the non-fighting aspects that kept people interested—the colorful hair, the confident trash talk, his interest in marijuana, video games, etc.—are also less relevant because he largely abandoned them in an effort to deliver a better performance, only to still be submitted in the third round.
This highlights the risk of booking these kinds of rematches, as O’Malley is now essentially in limbo with two losses against the reigning champion. Unless he embarks on an extraordinary winning streak through the division, he effectively has to wait for Merab to lose before he can realistically challenge for the title again. O’Malley can still be a draw, but he lacks the rivals like McGregor had in Nate Diaz or Dustin Poirier to maintain significant interest in his fights without a championship belt involved. O’Malley still possesses some star power, but he desperately needs to find a compelling opponent for his next fight, or he risks becoming one of the greatest `what ifs` in UFC history.
Who Won the Most or Stole the Show at UFC 316?
Martin: The answer is Mario Bautista, and any other choice is simply wrong.
No fighter became more universally disliked for simply winning a fight than Bautista did following the egregious sin of defeating Jose Aldo. Call it controversial, call it a boring performance, but Bautista won. Yet, overnight, he somehow became public enemy number one.
Fast forward to UFC 316, where all the attention was focused on Patchy Mix making his long-awaited UFC debut. He was already being discussed as a potential title challenger to Dvalishvili due to their friendship and training partnership. However, unlike Aljamain Sterling, Mix seemed willing to set aside friendship to pursue becoming UFC champion. That entire narrative changed after Bautista decisively defeated him for a full 15 minutes.
Apart from a couple of infrequent strikes that landed effectively, Bautista systematically picked Mix apart, causing damage and drawing blood, delivering a harsh welcome to the former Bellator champion in his new promotion. Bautista looked fantastic, and you can remain upset about the Aldo fight, but you must give this man credit for a job well done on Saturday.
Lee: Waldo Cortes-Acosta, step right up, because you are realistically just one good win away from competing for the UFC heavyweight title.
The ongoing Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall situation will be resolved one way or another by the end of this year, and eventually, the title picture will need fresh contenders. Cortes-Acosta currently holds the longest active win streak in the heavyweight division (read that again… yes, it`s true) and is likely to face a top 10 opponent next. If “Salsa Boy” can dance his way to a victory over someone like Sergei Pavlovich or Ciryl Gane, you can be sure he`ll be fighting for the belt!
Consider this your warning.
Heck: I’m choosing Kevin Holland, because not only did he steal the show with his performance, but he arguably stole the entire day’s narrative.
It began with an incredibly cryptic tweet from his account that sent the MMA social media community into a frenzy, revealing its less-than-ideal state.
Whether it was Holland himself or someone else managing his social media, it was brilliant. Nearly 2 million impressions generated by just five words that ultimately meant nothing. So many people interpreted it to mean his fight with Vicente Luque was off, and Holland became the primary topic of conversation for hours leading up to the event.
Then the fight started, and Holland dominated Luque before securing a submission victory in the second round. Following the win, he executed a perfect callout of Colby Covington.
Holland has quietly built one of the most successful prize-fighting careers in the modern era. The man fights frequently, he has stepped in to save UFC events on multiple occasions, and he has earned a considerable amount of money doing so. While many fighters aspire to be massive stars and compete for world titles and the associated glory, Holland seems primarily focused on earning large amounts of money as often as possible, and he is genuinely entertaining doing it. Holland’s nickname, “Trailblazer,” is perfectly fitting, as he is certainly forging his own path, and perhaps more fighters should follow his example.
Meshew: With all the discussions about “Is Merab the GOAT?” and “Can Kayla achieve GOAT status by beating Amanda?”, nobody is highlighting the most significant event that occurred on Saturday: a true GOAT emerged, Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro!
A multiple-time BJJ world champion and a pioneer of MMA in the early 2000s, Shaolin now works as an MMA referee. On Saturday, he did something almost unheard of – he deducted a point from Julianna Peña! Even competent MMA referees often hesitate to take points from fighters unless the fouling is extremely blatant and persistent (which is frustratingly permissive), but not Shaolin. Peña landed two illegal upkicks on Harrison, and Ribeiro immediately intervened and docked her a point. It was fantastic. These are championship-level competitors; they are well aware of what constitutes a foul and should not commit them. Ribeiro simply performed his job perfectly.
All praise Shaolin, the new GOAT referee. May his tenure be long and just.
Marcus Blakely 
Wesley Dunham