UFC 316 concluded with a new champion crowned and another fighter making significant strides toward all-time great status. Held in Newark, N.J., the event saw Merab Dvalishvili successfully defend his men’s bantamweight title by submitting Sean O’Malley in their main event rematch. With now two title defenses, Dvalishvili`s place among the bantamweight elite is rapidly solidifying, prompting discussion about his potential GOAT status.
Earlier on the card, Kayla Harrison secured the women`s bantamweight title with a second-round submission victory over Julianna Peña, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash with Amanda Nunes.
Following this latest pay-per-view event, a panel of experts convened to discuss the key takeaways from UFC 316.
How good was UFC 316?
Martin: The event exceeded expectations. Despite initial concerns about the lineup, the fights delivered considerable drama. While the main and co-main results were largely predictable, the overall action proved compelling.
Lee: The main and co-main events showcased performances by potential all-time greats. The card also featured strong showings from dark horse contenders and impactful wins by promising prospects. Overall, it was a successful night for the UFC and served as a good lead-in to the more star-studded June event.
Heck: Considered one of the year`s better cards overall. Most main card bouts offered intriguing storylines. Kayla Harrison positioned herself for one of the UFC`s biggest potential fights, and Merab Dvalishvili demonstrated incredible dominance.
Meshew: Surprisingly enjoyable! Although the main event title fight was arguably underserved, the outcome was entertaining (a rare occurrence for Dvalishvili). The rest of the card featured many meaningful and memorable performances. It was a solid offering from the UFC.
Is Merab Dvalishvili already the bantamweight GOAT?
Meshew: Absolutely not, and this premature crowning is tiring. Every fighter with a belt and one defense is suddenly hailed as the GOAT. Dvalishvili has two defenses, but one was an unwarranted rematch. While he might reach that level eventually, declaring it now disrespects long-reigning champions. He might not even have surpassed Aljamain Sterling yet.
The conversation can begin if Merab defeats Cory Sandhagen, and another defense after that would likely secure his claim. However, there`s a significant difference between potential and achievement. We saw similar premature claims for Kamaru Usman before he lost. Defending a title repeatedly is incredibly difficult, which is why Dominick Cruz`s five title defenses are highly respectable.
(It`s also worth noting that two wins often cited in his current streak were three-round non-championship bouts against Henry Cejudo and Jose Aldo. Equating these to title defenses is absurd.)
Therefore, please allow fighters to prove their GOAT status through sustained performance before rushing to anoint them out of impatience. If he is as good as believed, he will earn the title over time.
Martin: Yes, he is the GOAT, primarily due to the caliber of his opposition.
While avoiding tearing down others, Dvalishvili has faced significantly tougher competition during his championship run and defenses compared to someone like Dominick Cruz. Cruz is certainly in the conversation, but many of his key WEC wins were against fighters who were essentially flyweights because the division didn`t exist yet.
Notable examples include Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, true 125-pounders fighting at bantamweight. Cruz also beat Ian McCall, another flyweight. Cruz`s most significant wins were against Urijah Faber (legitimate) and a debatable decision over T.J. Dillashaw.
In contrast, Dvalishvili has consistently faced and defeated elite bantamweights like Jose Aldo, Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, and now Sean O’Malley twice. Cruz competed when the bantamweight division was still developing, while Dvalishvili benefits from fighting in what is arguably the sport`s deepest division today. This level of competition makes him the GOAT, and each win strengthens his case.
Lee: I don`t believe he`s the GOAT yet, but I struggle to make a strong argument against it either.
For years, Dominick Cruz was the consensus answer, and deservedly so. In his prime, `The Dominator` dominated at 135 pounds with an impressive win list. Many forget he was the only fighter to beat `Mighty Mouse` during a five-year span (2012-2017). Combined with multiple wins over Faber and Benavidez, and a controversial win over Dillashaw, he defeated nearly all top contenders of his era (excluding the loss to Cody Garbrandt, which remains strange). This is largely what defines a great fighter.
The emphasis is on `for now` because Dvalishvili`s current winning streak is exceptional, and he hasn`t suffered the career-stalling injuries that affected Cruz. I will declare now that regardless of who Dvalishvili beats next (provided it`s not O`Malley again), I will finally rank him at the top.
Heck: I`m not ready to call him the GOAT yet, but he is definitely next in line.
Dvalishvili`s winning streak is undeniably impressive. He has defeated several former champions, won the title against Sean O’Malley, submitted him in the rematch, and handed Umar Nurmagomedov his first loss. Dismissing his place in the GOAT conversation is illogical. While I tried to view the O`Malley rematch independently, we can`t ignore that the first fight happened recently and O`Malley didn`t compete between bouts.
The discussion between Merab and Cruz is much closer now. However, despite injuries and layoffs, Cruz shaped the greatness of this division. He holds three UFC title defenses to Dvalishvili`s two, and title defenses hold significant weight for me. That said, if Dvalishvili performs against Cory Sandhagen like he did against O`Malley, he will effectively become the bantamweight GOAT.
Excitement for Harrison vs. Nunes?
Heck: Extremely excited. The faceoff between Harrison and Nunes after Kayla`s title win was one of the standout moments of 2025, in a year where the UFC could certainly use more such moments.
Although women`s divisions currently lack significant buzz, Harrison`s arrival provided a much-needed boost. This potential fight has been discussed for years and was once thought improbable. Now that it`s possible, it`s one of the top five biggest fights the UFC could book today.
Considering the build-up, Nunes` potential return, Harrison`s dominant title win, and upcoming broadcasting deals, the possibilities for making this a massive event are vast. It could headline Madison Square Garden, feature prominently in a potential Netflix debut, and elevate discussions about Harrison`s overall combat sports legacy if she wins. As someone who enjoys top fighters clashing and compelling storylines, this fight checks every box.
Meshew: Surprisingly enthusiastic, as I didn`t anticipate feeling this way.
Before Saturday, I was certain Harrison would easily defeat Peña but felt indifferent about the subsequent Harrison-Nunes matchup. However, their in-cage faceoff completely changed my perspective; I`m now fully invested.
Bantamweight was once the premier women`s division, but it`s currently struggling. While this fight may not revitalize the entire division, it provides a significant boost, and it`s exciting to finally anticipate a women`s bantamweight title fight with this level of hype.
Martin: This is precisely the fight women`s MMA needed, and now the UFC must deliver it. Since watching Harrison`s dominance in Olympic judo and her intent to transition to MMA, I`ve believed she represented the sport`s future. Now a UFC champion, the only obstacle between Harrison and potential GOAT status is the current actual GOAT, Amanda Nunes.
Women`s MMA, particularly bantamweight, has been somewhat stagnant recently without major headline-grabbing fights. However, Harrison vs. Nunes is exactly the kind of fight that deserves to headline a major pay-per-view, and one we`d readily pay to see.
Lee: While I didn`t feel a strong need for this fight initially, now that it appears imminent, I`m eager for the official announcement.
Harrison executed perfectly on Saturday, dominating Peña before delivering a heartfelt post-fight speech and making the expected callout to Nunes. The timing is ideal, with Harrison in her prime and Nunes potentially returning from retirement, making the outcome genuinely unpredictable. Has Harrison evolved enough to beat the GOAT? How will Nunes` layoff affect her? We finally get answers instead of hypotheticals. This is what makes MMA exciting!
Who lost the most at UFC 316?
Lee: I`m glad to go first because the answer is unequivocally Patchy Mix.
What happened?
Was it octagon jitters, an undisclosed injury, a bad stylistic matchup, or simply Mario Bautista being excellent (the most hopeful possibility)? It`s hard to say.
Leading up to his UFC debut, it seemed impossible that Mix would falter like Patricio Pitbull, another Bellator star, but his performance was arguably worse. His signature grappling game was absent, he was vulnerable striking, and bizarrely, after landing a few shots, he taunted Bautista despite clearly losing.
The other significant losers are those of us who have supported Mix for years. A disappointing night all around.
Heck: Starting with Patchy Mix, as AK noted, is 100 percent correct. Any other answer is wrong. His fight with Mario Bautista confirmed his UFC ceiling in 15 minutes. As I`ve often said, I was never fully convinced Mix was the world`s best bantamweight, and Saturday showed he is one of the top 10-15 bantamweights but unlikely to win a UFC title. There`s a clear difference between good, very good, and great, and Mix falls into `very good`.
While acknowledging Mix took the fight on short notice, his confident pre-fight talk and treating Bautista as a stepping stone invalidate that excuse. When a fighter signs the contract, they accept the potential consequences.
That said, to offer a different perspective (even if incorrect), I`ll name Julianna Peña as a big loser.
Peña faces an uncertain short-term future after being dominated by Harrison. The trilogy fight with Nunes is off, a Harrison rematch is highly improbable, and given the division`s thinness, Peña is now likely to face rising contenders instead of competing for the title herself.
On the positive side, Peña is a two-time UFC champion and will be a UFC Hall of Famer. She holds one of the most memorable wins in UFC history, and despite a somewhat inconsistent résumé, her achievements are undeniable.
Meshew: It was almost Merab Dvalishvili, who narrowly avoided serious injury during his walkout when a section of the stands collapsed nearby. Fortunately, he was unharmed, but it was a shocking near-miss. Instead (and because we can`t all pick Patchy), I`ll say Tom Aspinall is a big loser.
For almost two years, Aspinall has been linked to a fight with Jon Jones that hasn`t materialized. At UFC 316, even Dana White reluctantly admitted Jones might retire, suggesting this potential fight is officially off the table.
Adding to Aspinall`s disappointment, recent rumors suggested Francis Ngannou might return to the UFC, which could have offered another massive fight. However, White shut down that possibility. Consequently, Tom Aspinall is likely left with a fight against Ciryl Gane, which feels like a significant step down from the potential Jones or Ngannou bouts.
Martin: While saying Patchy Mix had the worst performance isn`t wrong, arguably no one suffered a bigger setback at UFC 316 than Sean O’Malley. Once projected as a potential face of the company with McGregor-level stardom potential, O`Malley has now lost consecutive fights to Merab Dvalishvili. The bantamweight title is currently out of reach, and the various persona elements (colorful hair, trash talk, etc.) he sidelined to focus on his performance didn`t prevent him from being submitted in the third round.
Booking these immediate rematches poses a risk, as O`Malley is now in limbo with two losses to the champion. He`ll likely need an exceptional win streak through the division or wait for Merab to lose before getting another title shot. O`Malley still has star power, but he needs a compelling opponent for his next fight, or he risks becoming one of the UFC`s biggest `what ifs`.
Who won the most at UFC 316?
Martin: The clear winner is Mario Bautista; any other answer is incorrect.
Bautista uniquely became universally disliked simply for winning, specifically his contentious victory over Jose Aldo. Regardless of whether it was controversial or perceived as boring, Bautista won, yet became a public enemy overnight.
At UFC 316, significant attention was on Patchy Mix`s debut. He was even considered a potential title challenger despite being friends and training partners with Dvalishvili, unlike Aljamain Sterling. However, that narrative dissolved after Bautista completely dominated him for the full 15 minutes.
Except for a few scattered strikes that landed for Mix, Bautista largely picked him apart, injuring and bloodying him while delivering a harsh welcome to the UFC for the former Bellator champion. Bautista looked outstanding, and while people may still be upset about the Aldo fight, his performance on Saturday deserves recognition.
Lee: Waldo Cortes-Acosta deserves recognition, as he is realistically just one significant win away from competing for the UFC heavyweight title.
The Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall situation will likely resolve this year, and eventually, the heavyweight division will need new title contenders. Cortes-Acosta currently holds the longest active win streak in the division and is expected to face a top 10 opponent next.
If `Salsa Boy` can secure a victory over someone like Sergei Pavlovich or Ciryl Gane, he will undoubtedly be fighting for the championship!
Consider this a warning.
Heck: My choice is Kevin Holland, because he not only stole the show but also captivated attention throughout the day.
It began with a cryptic tweet that caused a major stir within the MMA social media community.
Whether posted by Holland himself or someone managing his social media, the tweet was brilliant marketing. Five simple words generated nearly 2 million impressions and led many to believe his fight with Vicente Luque was off, making Holland a major talking point for hours before the event.
When the fight started, Holland delivered a dominant performance against Luque, securing a second-round submission, and then followed it with a perfect callout of Colby Covington.
Holland has quietly built one of the most effective prize-fighting careers in recent history. He fights frequently, has bailed out the UFC multiple times, and has earned significant money. While many fighters pursue stardom and titles, Holland openly prioritizes earning large sums of cash as often as possible, all while being highly entertaining. His nickname, `Trailblazer,` suits him perfectly, as he`s setting a unique path that perhaps more fighters should consider.
Meshew: Amidst all the discussion about whether Merab or Kayla could become GOATs, let`s acknowledge the true GOAT who emerged on Saturday: Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro!
A legendary BJJ world champion and early MMA pioneer, Shaolin is now an MMA referee. On Saturday, he did something unprecedented: he deducted a point from Julianna Peña. Unlike many referees who hesitate to take points unless cheating is extreme, Shaolin immediately penalized Peña for two illegal upkicks against Harrison.
It was excellent officiating. Both fighters are at a championship level and know the rules. Ribeiro performed his duty flawlessly by enforcing them.
Hail Shaolin, the new GOAT referee. May he continue officiating for a long time.
