Main Event: Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O'Malley is set to reclaim the UFC men's bantamweight championship in a highly anticipated rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. O'Malley, ranked No. 2 in ESPN's divisional rankings, lost the title to Dvalishvili by unanimous decision in September 2024. This marks O'Malley's first fight since that loss. Dvalishvili, ESPN's No. 4-ranked men's pound-for-pound fighter, comes off a unanimous decision win over Umar Numagomedov.

Expert Predictions:

• Din Thomas (Retired Fighter): Dvalishvili by decision. "It will be slightly closer and more competitive than their first fight, but I think Merab's intensity will be a little too much for O'Malley. And ultimately, O'Malley won't be able to stay off his back."
• Anthony Smith (Retired Fighter): Dvalishvili by decision. "This pick has nothing to do with O'Malley. I just think in order to beat Merab, you have to be the bantamweight version of the late Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson. There has to be that one-punch, shut-off power. O'Malley fights so well at range, but I don't think Merab is going to give him space to do what he does best."

Betting Analysis:

• Ian Parker (ESPN Betting Expert): Dvalishvili to win by decision (-170). "It is hard to imagine this rematch going any differently than the first fight. Since then, Dvalishvili has defended successfully against an elite fighter in Nurmagomedov, while O'Malley has sat idly, hoping for this opportunity. Unless O'Malley catches the champ off guard and puts him away, I expect this to be a typical Dvalishvili fight. Look for him to shoot continuous takedowns and apply pressure at a menacing pace for all five rounds."

Co-Main Event: Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison

Julianna Peña defends her women's bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison. Peña, ranked No. 7 in ESPN's women's P4P rankings, narrowly beat Raquel Pennington by split decision to claim the title. Harrison, ESPN's No. 4-ranked women's P4P fighter, enters the fight following a unanimous decision win over Ketlen Vieira. Harrison is a former two-time PFL champion.

Expert Predictions:

• Din Thomas (Retired Fighter): Harrison by third-round TKO. "Julianna is going to spend too much time trying to wrestle, and it's not going to work. She'll end up on her back, where I see her eating a few too many elbows."
• Anthony Smith (Retired Fighter): Harrison by decision. "I think Julianna fights a lot in the gray areas, punching into clinches and takedowns. I don't think she can win those situations and win enough of those moments to beat Kayla. I think it'll be competitive at times and Julianna will attack Kayla's gas tank, but Kayla will win more moments over the course of five rounds."

Betting Analysis:

• Ian Parker (ESPN Betting Expert): Under 4.5 rounds (+125). "Harrison is the biggest betting favorite on the card, which is rare for the challenger in a title fight. Although Peña is tough, unless Harrison gasses out to the point that she can't land a takedown, it's hard to imagine her not finishing Peña. Once Harrison gets the fight to the mat, Peña will be in a world of trouble, fighting just to survive. At some point, Harrison's takedowns and top pressure will be too much."

Other Notable Fights

Men's Bantamweight: Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix

• Ian Parker (ESPN Betting Expert): Mix to win (-185). "Mix is making his debut against Bautista, who is on a seven-fight winning streak. This matchup should feature plenty of fun grappling exchanges. If this fight stays on the feet, it's a coin toss. However, if Mix can put Bautista on his back, he will take over. Mix may be the best grappler in the world at 135 pounds, and I believe his skills will be on full display."

Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

• Ian Parker (ESPN Betting Expert): Spivac to win (-150). "Spivac is a near -150 favorite, which is surprising, as I believe he should be a -200 or even heavier. On the feet, Spivac is the more skilled striker, and he has an excellent ground game that Cortes-Acosta won't be able to defend. As long as Spivac stays away from Cortes-Acosta's power, he should be able to close the distance and utilize his grappling advantage to get the win."