Former Bellator star Aaron Pico's UFC debut is official.  Pico is set to face No. 4-ranked feathe...

<p>Former Bellator star Aaron Pico's UFC debut is official.</p><p>Pico is set to face No. 4-ranked featherweight Movsar Evloev in the five-round co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, UFC CEO Dana White announced Wednesday.</p><p>Pico signed with the UFC in April, ending a seven-year stint under the Bellator banner. The 28-year-old last stepped into the cage in February 2024 when he knocked out Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator: Champs event. Pico is riding a three-fight winning streak and has lost just once since 2019.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Evloev is coming off a unanimous decision win over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 in December. The 31-year-old Russian is undefeated as a professional at 19-0.</p><p>White said Evloev will "likely" get a title shot against featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski if he beats Pico.</p><p>Evloev said in May that he hopes to challenge Volkanovski later this year.</p><p>"Thank you, champ, for trying to fight me," Evloev <a href="https://x.com/MovsarUFC/status/1925671352951833052">wrote</a> in a post on X addressed to Volkanovski. "I will fight in July and you fight in September. Hopefully we both win and we can meet in December."</p><p>White also announced that featherweight Bryce Mitchell will move down to the bantamweight division to take on Said Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi.</p><p>The event will be headlined by a middleweight matchup between former champion Robert Whittaker and surging contender Reinier de Ridder.</p>

HONOLULU, HAWAII - APRIL 21: Aaron Pico weighs in at 145.6lb on April 21, 2023, at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Evloev-Pico to co-headline UFC Abu Dhabi in July

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman put on a vintage performance against Joaquin Buckle...

<p>Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman put on a vintage performance against Joaquin Buckley.</p><p>Usman dominated Buckley en route to a unanimous decision win in the UFC Atlanta main event Saturday night at State Farm Arena. The judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47.</p><p>Usman secured his first victory since 2021 and snapped a three-fight losing streak.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It feels good," Usman said in his postfight interview. "It's been a while. I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I'm still able to do this at the highest level."</p><p>The 38-year-old relied on his wrestling and tremendous fight IQ to deliver a one-sided showing against Buckley. He completed four takedowns and suffocated his opponent on the ground for long stretches, compiling 12:57 of control time.</p><p>"Sometimes when you're going up against a young, hungry guy like that - very talented, very aggressive - you gotta pull out the skills and use your experience. And that's what I did tonight," Usman said. "I wanted to open up a little bit more, but that comes with time."</p><p>Usman started strong, scoring a takedown one minute into the fight. He applied a lot of pressure and didn't give Buckley any space to move. Usman landed some ground-and-pound late in the frame, opening up a cut underneath Buckley's eye with an elbow.</p><p>Usman controlled the center of the Octagon to start Round 2 and then effortlessly took Buckley down again two minutes in. He stayed busy on top, landing punches and trying to advance position.</p><p>In the third round, Buckley landed a few solid punches on the feet before Usman got him back on the ground midway through. Usman advanced to full mount in the final seconds of the round.</p><p>Usman and Buckley had some competitive exchanges in the stand-up department early in the fourth round. But then, three minutes in, Usman landed another takedown and bullied Buckley against the fence.</p><p>Buckley rallied hard in the fifth round in search of a come-from-behind knockout. He outstruck Usman 20-10 in significant strikes and stopped all six takedown attempts. Buckley caught Usman with a glancing head kick and continued to press forward, landing punches. Buckley clipped the former champion with a big left hook late in the round. But Usman got on his bicycle and made it to the end of the fight, comfortably winning on the judges' scorecards.</p><p>Usman stepped into the Octagon for the first time since October 2023 when he lost to Khamzat Chimaev in a short-notice middleweight bout at UFC 294. "The Nigerian Nightmare" hadn't been victorious since a welterweight title defense against Colby Covington at UFC 268 in November 2021.</p><p>Usman is widely considered one of the top 170-pound fighters in MMA history. He defended the title five times between 2019-2021 before dropping the belt to Leon Edwards in 2022. Usman is currently ranked No. 5 in the division.</p><p>Back in title contention, Usman promised to deliver more knockouts in the future.</p><p>"Like I said, I needed to get that monkey off my back," Usman reiterated. "Early on in my career as I was rolling, once I had that monkey off my back and I knew I was rolling, I was able to open up, and you guys saw those spectacular knockouts. I still got them in there. ... Those knockouts will come. The next one, whoever it is for that title, I'mma see about you."</p><p>Buckley's six-fight winning streak came to an end. This marked the 31-year-old's first loss since December 2022, as well as his first since dropping down to the welterweight division. Buckley was ranked No. 7 coming into Saturday's main event.</p><p>Usman finished his postfight interview with a message aimed at his fellow welterweights.</p><p>"The rest of the welterweight division, listen: I have been, and always will be, the f-----g boogeyman," Usman said.</p>

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 14: Kamaru Usman of Nigeria reacts after defeating Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at State Farm Arena on June 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Usman dominates Buckley at UFC Atlanta for 1st win since 2021

Thad Jean is headed to the finals of the 2025 PFL World Tournament.  The undefeated 26-year-old b...

<p>Thad Jean is headed to the finals of the 2025 PFL World Tournament.</p><p>The undefeated 26-year-old beat former Bellator champion Jason Jackson via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) in the PFL Nashville main event Thursday night.</p><p>With the victory, Jean advances to the 170-pound final against Logan Storley in August. Storley beat Masayuki Kikuiri in the other semifinal matchup earlier on the card.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Jean, one of the promotion's top rising stars, eked past Jackson for the biggest win of his career. Jean had a strong start, dropping Jackson with a jab in the first minute of the fight. But Jackson survived the early adversity and secured a takedown shortly thereafter. He ended the round on Jean's back.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Both fighters came out HOT. The Main Event is UNDERWAY.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PFLWorldTournament?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PFLWorldTournament</a> LIVE NOW<br>🇺🇸 ESPN &amp; ESPN+<br>🌍 <a href="https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI">https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI</a> <a href="https://t.co/FignIAEbBU">pic.twitter.com/FignIAEbBU</a></p>— PFL (@PFLMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFLMMA/status/1933387351780188492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Rounds 2 and 3 were very competitive, with Jean outworking Jackson on the feet by a small margin.</p><p>Jean, who debuted in the PFL in 2023, improved to 6-0 in the promotion and 10-0 as a professional. The Florida-based fighter knocked out Mukhamed Berkhamov in the opening round of the tournament in April. Jean has won three of his PFL bouts inside the distance.</p><p>Jackson is now 1-2 in his last three appearances. The 34-year-old submitted Andrey Koreshkov in the PFL's April 3 main event to book his spot in the semifinals. Jackson held the Bellator welterweight title from November 2023 to June 2024.</p><p>In Thursday's co-main event, Jesus Pinedo put a stamp on his rivalry with Gabriel Braga, earning a 76-second knockout win to advance to the featherweight final.</p><p>This was the third time Pinedo and Braga squared off in the cage, with Pinedo winning their trilogy 2-1. Pinedo finished Braga by third-round TKO to claim the PFL featherweight championship in 2023. Earlier that year, Braga earned a split-decision win over Pinedo during the regular season.</p><p>Their third meeting wasn't remotely close. Pinedo clipped Braga with a thunderous right hand and then sent him to the canvas with a few follow-up punches. Pinedo jumped on Braga and landed ground-and-pound to force the referee to step in.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">JESUS “EL MUDO” PINEDO TAKES DOWN GABRIEL BRAGA IN THE FIRST ROUND. THE RIVALRY HAS BEEN DECIDED!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PFLWorldTournament?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PFLWorldTournament</a> LIVE NOW<br>🇺🇸 ESPN &amp; ESPN+<br>🌍 <a href="https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI">https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI</a> <a href="https://t.co/qbypiFAp3f">pic.twitter.com/qbypiFAp3f</a></p>— PFL (@PFLMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFLMMA/status/1933379950838476836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Pinedo will face Movlid Khaybulaev, who beat Tae Kyun Kim in the other semifinal matchup, for the PFL featherweight title in August.</p>

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 03: Thad Jean celebrates after defeating Mukhamed Berkhamov during the first round of the PFL 2025 World Tournament at Universal Studios on April 3, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.

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2025 PFL tournament results: Jean upsets Jackson to advance to finals

Sean O'Malley said he was more nervous than usual ahead of his rematch with bantamweight champion...

<p>Sean O'Malley said he was more nervous than usual ahead of his rematch with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316.</p><p>"I definitely was more - I definitely felt this kind of nervous feeling that I'm not used to," O'Malley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSFrUsZkQiY">said</a> in a video published Tuesday on his YouTube channel.</p><p>O'Malley came up short in his attempt to regain the 135-pound title last weekend in Newark, suffering a third-round submission loss. He dropped the belt in a lopsided decision defeat to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 last September and said he was anxious about the rematch going the same way.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Just because of how the first fight played out, knowing his cardio is so crazy, knowing if it hits the ground. I knew I had worked on the takedown defense so much, and I knew I was able to get up, but I'm like, 'I also know there's a chance that this fight plays out the same way it did,'" O'Malley said. "I was more nervous this fight probably than I've ever been."</p><p>He added: "(I was) in the cage, like, 'All right, if this motherf----r grabs hold of me, there's a chance that I can't get away from this little f----r."</p><p>O'Malley, who won the bantamweight title in 2023 and successfully defended it once, suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in his professional career.</p><p>Even though the fight with Dvalishvili again ended in decisive fashion, O'Malley is confident he upped his game over the last nine months.</p><p>"I feel like I got so much better this fight," O'Malley said. "I feel like I was able to show that that camp. But just being on bottom. ... He just felt so f-----g compact and strong in there. I feel like I couldn't do much. ... (He's the) greatest of all time. Greatest bantamweight of all time."</p><p>Emotionally, the 30-year-old former champion said he's at peace with the outcome.</p><p>"I don't feel sad at all," O'Malley said. "I still feel very happy. I feel a little disappointed in the outcome. I feel a little frustrated. But there's no sadness inside of me. ... I'll close my eyes and I'll picture things. When (Dvalishvili) started locking up the guillotine, I could've done this, I could've done that. But I'm like, 'Ah, man, there's nothing I can do about it now.' Kind of onto the next thought. I'm not sitting in that thought, just letting it kind of unravel and go down a negative hole. I still feel very good."</p><p>And if O'Malley ever gets the chance to fight Dvalishvili again?</p><p>"I still know I can beat Merab," O'Malley said. "Call it delusional, call it whatever, it's how I got to where I'm at right now. I still know I can beat Merab."</p>

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Sean O'Malley of the United States enters the octagon before the bantamweight title bout against Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia during UFC 316 at the Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

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O'Malley had 'nervous feeling' going into UFC 316

The Sept. 13 fight between undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez and Terence Craw...

<p>The Sept. 13 fight between undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford will take place in Las Vegas and stream live on Netflix, it was announced Tuesday.</p><p>No specific venue was revealed.</p><p>Álvarez-Crawford will be the third boxing event to land on Netflix after last November's Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight and next month's Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano trilogy bout. The card will be available to Netflix's 300-plus million subscribers at no additional cost.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, will promote Álvarez-Crawford alongside UFC CEO Dana White and Sela, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's public investment fund.</p><p>"Turki wants to make the biggest fights that the fans want to see in boxing, and this is right up my alley," White said in a statement. "Are you kidding me that the first boxing fight I'm going to get to promote is Canelo versus Crawford? It's literally a once-in-a-lifetime fight."</p><p>There will be a multi-city press tour ahead of Álvarez-Crawford. Stops include Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 20, New York on June 22, and Las Vegas on June 27.</p><p>Álvarez, the biggest star in boxing, will defend the undisputed 168-pound title for the first time since re-adding the IBF belt in a unanimous decision win over William Scull in May. The 34-year-old Mexico native is riding a six-fight winning streak and is 63-2-2 as a professional.</p><p>Crawford, the WBA junior middleweight champion and former undisputed welterweight titleholder, is moving up two divisions to face Álvarez. The 37-year-old Omaha, Nebraska, native hasn't stepped into the ring since beating Israil Madrimov last August. Crawford is undefeated as a pro, holding a 41-0 record.</p>

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 03: Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford face off after Alvarez beat William Scull on the Fatal Fury City of Wolves card at ANB Arena on May 03, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Canelo-Crawford set for Las Vegas, lands on Netflix

Merab Dvalishvili finished Sean O'Malley in their rematch, earning a third-round submission in th...

<p>Merab Dvalishvili finished Sean O'Malley in their rematch, earning a third-round submission in the UFC 316 main event Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark.</p><p>In the co-headliner, Kayla Harrison was crowned the new women's bantamweight champion after tapping out Julianna Pena.</p><p>Here are five takeaways from the pay-per-view event.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Dvalishvili's here for a good time and a long time</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789443/cropped_GettyImages-2219120876.jpg?ts=1749409640" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789443/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219120876.jpg?ts=1749409640 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789443/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219120876.jpg?ts=1749409640 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789443/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219120876.jpg?ts=1749409640 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789443/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219120876.jpg?ts=1749409640 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789443/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219120876.jpg?ts=1749409640 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>There's no stopping "The Machine."</p><p>We already knew Dvalishvili was the world's best bantamweight - and arguably in a completely different stratosphere than everybody else - going into Saturday's rematch with O'Malley. But after Dvalishvili secured just the second finish of his UFC career and beat O'Malley with even more ease than last time, it's clear that he's getting better - which is a scary thought.</p><p>The rest of the division can't feel very good about their chances of dethroning Dvalishvili anytime soon.</p><p>Dvalishvili has already beaten the top three contenders, O'Malley, Petr Yan, and Umar Nurmagomedov. After that, you have Cory Sandhagen and Song Yadong, who, while terrific fighters in their own right, shouldn't pose much of a threat.</p><p>At this rate, there's a good chance the Georgian champion will be the king of the 135-pound division long enough to be considered the bantamweight GOAT.</p><h3>O'Malley should try his luck at 145 pounds</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789444/cropped_GettyImages-2219120491.jpg?ts=1749409666" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789444/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219120491.jpg?ts=1749409666 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789444/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219120491.jpg?ts=1749409666 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789444/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219120491.jpg?ts=1749409666 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789444/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219120491.jpg?ts=1749409666 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789444/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219120491.jpg?ts=1749409666 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>This was the worst-case scenario for O'Malley.</p><p>A year ago, he was the UFC bantamweight champion and one of the biggest stars in the sport. Now, he's reeling from back-to-back losses to the current champ - with the second one coming in more lopsided fashion than the first.</p><p>Unless someone beats Dvalishvili, O'Malley won't get another crack at the title for a while. So it's in his best interest to move up to featherweight and try to get his career back on track there.</p><p>If he takes some time to adjust to the weight, O'Malley could be a contender at 145 pounds. He's certainly tall and long enough for the division. Plus, there are a bunch of fresh matchups that fans would be eager to see. Who's saying no to O'Malley versus Yair Rodriguez, Diego Lopes, or Brian Ortega? Certainly not us.</p><h3>Harrison-Nunes is a true megafight</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789411/cropped_GettyImages-2219117276.jpg?ts=1749362742" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789411/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219117276.jpg?ts=1749362742 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789411/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219117276.jpg?ts=1749362742 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789411/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219117276.jpg?ts=1749362742 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789411/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219117276.jpg?ts=1749362742 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789411/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219117276.jpg?ts=1749362742 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ed Mulholland / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The women's bantamweight division is officially back in a big way.</p><p>Harrison taking the title from Pena - and setting up a defense against former champion Amanda Nunes - is exactly what the division needed. It's been incredibly stagnant since Nunes retired from the sport in 2023.</p><p>Harrison-Nunes will be one of the biggest fights in women's UFC history, assuming it comes to fruition. It could easily headline a marquee pay-per-view event in Las Vegas or elsewhere. Harrison has been chasing Nunes, her former teammate at American Top Team, for years. Nunes was the UFC women's bantamweight champion when Harrison was dominating in the PFL, and a potential superfight was talked about constantly in MMA circles. Now it can finally happen.</p><p>And honestly, this might be the perfect time for Harrison-Nunes. Harrison has established herself as the top active women's bantamweight in the world but of course has yet to prove she can beat the women's GOAT in Nunes. It's a pretty epic storyline. Can Nunes come back from two years out of the sport to defeat her successor and become a three-time bantamweight champion?</p><p>Business is ramping up at 135 pounds.</p><h3>Put some respect on Bautista's name</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789445/cropped_GettyImages-2219113145.jpg?ts=1749409696" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789445/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219113145.jpg?ts=1749409696 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789445/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219113145.jpg?ts=1749409696 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789445/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219113145.jpg?ts=1749409696 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789445/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219113145.jpg?ts=1749409696 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789445/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219113145.jpg?ts=1749409696 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>After Mario Bautista spoiled Patchy Mix's UFC debut, all the talk was about how disappointing, underwhelming, and downright awful Mix's performance was. And sure, it's hard not to focus on Mix considering the high expectations people had for the former Bellator bantamweight champion when he signed with the UFC last month.</p><p>But it's also time to give Bautista his flowers.</p><p>Bautista has won eight fights in a row and is unbeaten since March 2021. He's beaten the likes of UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo, Ricky Simon, and now a top-five bantamweight in Mix. Fans turned on Bautista after his lackluster win over Aldo last October, but he put on a heck of a performance against Mix and deserves a lot more praise than he's gotten. Bautista is pretty clearly one of the top bantamweights in the UFC now, and he only seems to be getting better.</p><h3>Holland should fight at welterweight all the time</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789446/cropped_GettyImages-2219110380.jpg?ts=1749409726" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789446/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219110380.jpg?ts=1749409726 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789446/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219110380.jpg?ts=1749409726 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789446/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219110380.jpg?ts=1749409726 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789446/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219110380.jpg?ts=1749409726 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789446/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219110380.jpg?ts=1749409726 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ed Mulholland / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Kevin Holland delivered another impressive performance, this time against No. 14-ranked welterweight Vicente Luque. Holland outstruck Luque in the first round and then locked up an anaconda choke in the second, becoming the first to submit Luque in the UFC. The victory likely puts Holland in the top 15 at welterweight - and it leaves no doubt about which division Holland should be competing in.</p><p>Holland has bounced between welterweight and middleweight over the last few years, but it's become clear that he's more consistent at 170 pounds and is better suited for that weight. The results speak for themselves: He's won two in a row at welterweight (against Gunnar Nelson and now Luque), and before that, he dropped two straight at middleweight (to Reinier de Ridder and Roman Dolidze).</p><p>The good news is that Holland seems receptive to the idea of a full-time career at welterweight.</p><p>"I'd like to keep building myself at 170 pounds," Holland said after the fight. "I love '85, but me, I'm professional these days, and I think I can stay here at 170 and make some noise."</p><p>If Holland does indeed stick around at the lighter weight, he might finally be ready to make a legitimate run.</p>

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UFC 316 takeaways: Dvalishvili is somehow getting even better

Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O'Malley even more emphatically in their rematch than he did nine...

<p>Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O'Malley even more emphatically in their rematch than he did nine months ago.</p><p>Dvalishvili submitted O'Malley with a north-south choke to retain the UFC bantamweight championship in the UFC 316 main event Saturday night at Prudential Center in Newark.</p><p>The finish came at the 4:42 mark of the third round. It marked Dvalishvili's second career win by submission.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I'm getting better and better," Dvalishvili said in his postfight interview. "I have more tools in my pocket I'm still working on. Little by little, I will show."</p><p>Dvalishvili is now 2-0 against O'Malley after he earned a unanimous decision victory over him at UFC 306 last September to capture the title.</p><p>O'Malley maintained distance in the opening minutes of the rematch, landing punches to Dvalishvili's body. But Dvalishvili's wrestling, pressure, and pace quickly became too much for the challenger to handle. Dvalishvili took O'Malley down three minutes into the first round and then again a minute later. Dvalishvili landed a few shots on the ground while on top.</p><p>The second round played out entirely on the feet, with Dvalishvili and O'Malley exchanging punches. Dvalishvili landed a nice combination early in the frame and clipped O'Malley with a left hand. O'Malley stuffed all four of Dvalishvili's takedown attempts.</p><p>Dvalishvili opened the third round with a high-amplitude takedown and finally established full control on the ground. Dvalishvili smothered O'Malley for several minutes, landing punches to the head and knees to the body. With less than a minute left in the round, Dvalishvili jumped on O'Malley's neck and eventually locked in the submission, forcing the tap.</p><p>"(O'Malley) was well prepared, and I knew that - I knew he was gonna make changes," Dvalishvili said.</p><p>Dvalishvili retained the title for the second time. He pulled off an upset against Umar Nurmagomedov in his first defense at UFC 311 in January, earning a unanimous decision win.</p><p>Dvalishvili has won 13 straight fights, tied for the fourth-longest winning streak in UFC history. The 34-year-old Georgian hasn't lost since his second UFC bout in 2018.</p><p>Dvalishvili said he "would love to" defend the title against No. 4-ranked bantamweight Cory Sandhagen next.</p><p>"You are the man," Dvalishvili said of Sandhagen, who was in attendance at UFC 316. "Let's go. I like it. ... He's the most deserving guy."</p><p>O'Malley returned to the Octagon for the first time since he dropped the belt to Dvalishvili. The 30-year-old has lost two in a row for the first time in his professional career.</p>

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia holds down Sean O'Malley of the United States in the bantamweight title bout during UFC 316 at the Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

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Dvalishvili taps O'Malley, retains UFC bantamweight title in rematch

Kayla Harrison is a UFC champion.  Harrison submitted Julianna Pena to capture the women's bantam...

<p>Kayla Harrison is a UFC champion.</p><p>Harrison submitted Julianna Pena to capture the women's bantamweight title in the UFC 316 co-main event Saturday night at Prudential Center in Newark. The finish came at the 4:55 mark of the second round.</p><p>Harrison got on top of Pena midway through the round and transitioned to a kimura in the waning seconds to force the tap.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AmstOGcOCzY?si=tji59ANDMuj8t_Uz" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure><p>After the victory, Harrison faced off with former two-division champion Amanda Nunes in the Octagon. Nunes, who will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame later in June, said earlier this week she planned to come out of retirement to fight the winner of Saturday's co-main event. The UFC has yet to confirm Harrison-Nunes as the next 135-pound title bout, though all indications point to it happening next.</p><p>"This is the greatest fighter of all time," Harrison said of Nunes. "For a long time, I've said I want what she has. I have a belt. She has a legacy. Let's put it on the table."</p><p>Nunes told Harrison that "definitely, we're gonna see each other in the future."</p><p>Harrison and Nunes were teammates at American Top Team in Florida until Nunes left the gym in 2022.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The :goat: vs The Champ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC316?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC316</a> <a href="https://t.co/FCBxKGPM17">pic.twitter.com/FCBxKGPM17</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1931569088687399044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Harrison captured the women's bantamweight title in just her third UFC appearance. The 34-year-old signed with the promotion in 2024 after parting ways with the PFL and defeated Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira in her first two fights to earn a title shot. Harrison is a former two-time PFL champion and Olympic gold medalist in judo.</p><p>Harrison dominated Pena from start to finish, outstriking her 30-9 and completing two of three takedowns. Harrison secured her first takedown two minutes into the first round. Pena was deducted a point in that stanza for multiple illegal upkicks.</p><p>Harrison extended her pro MMA record to 19-1 with the victory. She's riding a four-fight winning streak.</p><p>Pena's second reign as the UFC women's bantamweight champion came to an end. The 35-year-old defeated Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 in October to reclaim the title. Pena failed to record a successful title defense across two reigns.</p>

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Kayla Harrison celebrates after defeating Julianna Pena in the UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 316 event at Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

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Harrison submits Pena to win UFC women's bantamweight title

Former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix came up short in his UFC debut, suffering a unan...

<p>Former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix came up short in his UFC debut, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Mario Bautista at UFC 316 on Saturday.</p><p>The judges at Prudential Center in Newark scored the fight 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27 in Bautista's favor.</p><p>Bautista stayed busier than Mix and overwhelmed him on the feet. Bautista tagged Mix with several right hands and went to the body often. Mix, who excels on the ground, attempted one takedown - in the third round - but was unsuccessful.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Mix signed with the UFC in May after being granted his release from the PFL. He stepped in against Bautista on short notice, replacing Marlon "Chito" Vera, who withdrew from the card due to an injury.</p><p>With the victory, Bautista is now riding an eight-fight winning streak and remains unbeaten since 2021. Bautista, 31, is ranked No. 10 in the 135-pound division.</p><p>Mix suffered just the second loss of his professional career, falling to 20-2. The 31-year-old had won seven in a row coming in.</p>

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: (L-R) Mario Bautista punches Patchy Mix in a bantamweight bout during the UFC 316 event at Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

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Mix falls to Bautista by decision in UFC debut

Welcome to the UFC, JooSang Yoo.  The featherweight prospect earned a devastating knockout victor...

<p>Welcome to the UFC, JooSang Yoo.</p><p>The featherweight prospect earned a devastating knockout victory in his Octagon debut, face planting Jeka Saragih with a left hook 28 seconds into their fight Saturday at UFC 316 in Newark.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="in" dir="ltr">Joo Sang Yoo face plants Jeka Saragih!!!<br> <a href="https://t.co/a8ae7LWMhS">pic.twitter.com/a8ae7LWMhS</a></p>— MMA Mania (@mmamania) <a href="https://twitter.com/mmamania/status/1931490399463628846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Yoo - known as "Zombie Jr." - is now 9-0 as a professional. The 31-year-old South Korean owns four victories by knockout.</p>

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: JooSang Yoo of South Korea reacts after a knockout victory against Jeka Saragih of Indonesia in a featherweight bout during the UFC 316 event at Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

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Watch: Yoo snipes Saragih with left hook, wins UFC debut in 28 seconds

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the UFC 316 main-card bouts ahead of Saturday's event...

<p><em>theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the UFC 316 main-card bouts ahead of Saturday's event in Newark.</em></p><h3>Bantamweight championship</h3><p><strong>Merab Dvalishvili (19-4)</strong><br><strong>vs.</strong><br><strong>Sean O'Malley (18-2, 1 NC)</strong></p><p>UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is putting his belt on the line for the second time against the man from whom he took it, former champ Sean O'Malley, last September at Sphere in Las Vegas. Dvalishvili made easy work of O'Malley in their first fight, outstriking him by a 214-49 margin, completing six takedowns, and amassing over 10 minutes of control.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>It goes without saying that O'Malley needs to come into the rematch with a completely different approach if he wants to have a shot at regaining the title. But even if O'Malley is better than he was in the first fight, there's a good chance Dvalishvili will be better, too.</p><p>Dvalishvili has leveled up since his coronation at UFC 306, pulling off an upset against the previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov in his first title defense in January. O'Malley, on the other hand, has been sitting on the sidelines, recovering from a hip surgery he underwent after the loss to Dvalishvili.</p><p>O'Malley needs to be more aggressive in the stand-up department in the rematch. He needs to land as many punches as possible early in rounds, before Dvalishvili can get his wrestling going. And, ideally, he needs to shut out the lights.</p><p>Unfortunately for O'Malley, that's way easier said than done. Dvalishvili is a relentless cardio machine and will keep pressuring O'Malley until he's on top of him. O'Malley was no match for Dvalishvili nine months ago, and I don't see that changing now.</p><p><strong>The pick: </strong>Dvalishvili, unanimous decision</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766168/cropped_GettyImages-2194650488.jpg?ts=1737271885" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766168/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194650488.jpg?ts=1737271885 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766168/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194650488.jpg?ts=1737271885 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766168/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194650488.jpg?ts=1737271885 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766168/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194650488.jpg?ts=1737271885 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766168/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194650488.jpg?ts=1737271885 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><h3>Women's bantamweight championship</h3><p><strong>Julianna Pena (11-5)</strong><br><strong>vs.</strong><br><strong>Kayla Harrison (18-1)</strong></p><p>Is this Kayla Harrison's crowning moment?</p><p>Ever since she left the PFL and signed with the UFC in early 2024, it's felt like only a matter of time before Harrison was the queen of the women's bantamweight division. And she has finally a chance to make that a reality as a heavy betting favorite against Julianna Pena.</p><p>It's understandable that Harrison, an Olympic gold medalist in judo, is -800 against Pena, but we can't count out Pena entirely. She might have the edge on the feet, and if anyone needs to be reminded, this is the woman who beat Amanda Nunes in an all-time stunner. Pena is no stranger to upsets.</p><p>That said, Harrison will have a massive physical advantage and should be able to bully Pena on the ground. The pick is Harrison, though I don't think it'll be as easy as the odds suggest.</p><p><strong>The pick: </strong>Harrison, unanimous decision</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749032/cropped_GettyImages-2177010762.jpg?ts=1728401487" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749032/w220xh124_GettyImages-2177010762.jpg?ts=1728401487 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749032/w320xh180_GettyImages-2177010762.jpg?ts=1728401487 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749032/w640xh360_GettyImages-2177010762.jpg?ts=1728401487 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749032/w768xh432_GettyImages-2177010762.jpg?ts=1728401487 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749032/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2177010762.jpg?ts=1728401487 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Cooper Neill / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><h3>Middleweight bout</h3><p><strong>Kelvin Gastelum (19-9, 1 NC)</strong><br><strong>vs.</strong><br><strong>Joe Pyfer (13-3)</strong></p><p>Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer are finally set to lock horns. This matchup was supposed to happen at UFC Mexico City in March, but Pyfer withdrew on fight day due to an illness.</p><p>This one will come down to Pyfer's size advantage. He's 6-foot-2 - and looks every bit of it - while Gastelum is awfully small for the division at 5-foot-9. Pyfer should be able to outmuscle Gastelum in the clinch and on the ground, and he has enough power to hang with the more technically sound Gastelum on the feet.</p><p><strong>The pick: </strong>Pyfer, second-round submission</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789246/cropped_GettyImages-2207408564.jpg?ts=1749242323" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789246/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207408564.jpg?ts=1749242323 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789246/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207408564.jpg?ts=1749242323 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789246/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207408564.jpg?ts=1749242323 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789246/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207408564.jpg?ts=1749242323 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789246/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207408564.jpg?ts=1749242323 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Other main-card predictions: </strong>Patchy Mix def. Mario Bautista by unanimous decision; Kevin Holland def. Vicente Luque by second-round TKO</p>

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UFC 316 predictions: Will Dvalishvili make it 2-0 vs. O'Malley?

Saturday's scheduled fight between Keyshawn Davis and Edwin De Los Santos is reportedly off.  The...

<p>Saturday's scheduled fight between Keyshawn Davis and Edwin De Los Santos is reportedly off.</p><p>The two sides couldn't reach an agreement following Davis' failure to make weight, sources told <a href="https://x.com/AndreasHale/status/1931133874459086876">ESPN's Andreas Hale</a>.</p><p>Davis was stripped of the WBO lightweight championship Friday after he missed weight ahead of a planned title defense against De Los Santos.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 26-year-old weighed in at 139.3 pounds, which is 4.3 pounds over the divisional limit.</p><p>"I outgrew the weight," Davis <a href="https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/45465302/keyshawn-davis-43-pounds-loses-belt-ahead-title-defense">said</a>. "I've been making this weight for four years now. I was up late last night and early this morning trying to make the weight, but I outgrew it."</p><p>Even before missing weight, Davis said he planned to move up to junior welterweight after the De Los Santos fight.</p><p>The undefeated Davis was slated to make his first defense since knocking out Denys Berinchyk in February to capture the WBO lightweight title.</p><p>Davis holds a 13-0 (1 NC) professional record with nine knockouts.</p>

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 08: Keyshawn Davis of the United States reacts during his bout with Anthony Yigit of Sweden during their WBC and WBO Lightweight match at Prudential Center on April 08, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.

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Report: Davis-De Los Santos off after weight miss

Jon Jones apparently doesn't expect the UFC to strip him of the heavyweight championship.  Jones ...

<p>Jon Jones apparently doesn't expect the UFC to strip him of the heavyweight championship.</p><p>Jones made a flurry of posts early Friday morning on X, addressing his fighting future and continuing to taunt interim champion Tom Aspinall. Of particular note, Jones - one of the greatest fighters of all time and biggest stars in the sport - said he believes the promotion "can't" remove him from the throne.</p><p>"Remember, you can't strip a guy like me at this point, I give the belt up freely," Jones <a href="https://x.com/JonnyBones/status/1930886062072865239">wrote</a>. "Veni, vidi, vici."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 37-year-old's future has been up in the air since he knocked out Stipe Miocic in his first heavyweight title defense last November at UFC 309. Jones has been noncommittal about a unification bout against Aspinall, despite UFC CEO Dana White expressing confidence that the matchup will happen this year.</p><p>In May, Jones hinted that he planned to take a prolonged break from competing, but he left the door open for a return on his own timeline. Earlier this week, Aspinall, who's held the interim title since 2023, said Jones was "retired" and referred to himself as the undisputed champion.</p><p>Jones said Friday it isn't his fault that the heavyweight division is at a standstill.</p><p>"I spoke to the UFC a long time ago about what my future plans were," Jones <a href="https://x.com/JonnyBones/status/1930882998880317574">wrote</a>. "I haven't really worked out since my last fight in New York City. Honestly, I believe it's been in the UFC's best interest to keep presenting me as the company's champion - not Tom.</p><p>"I've just been playing the role of the company man by doing nothing at all. And holding the position. And truthfully, it's been incredibly lucrative. I've made more money off of Tom being the interim champ than Tom has himself. It sucks to see the rest of the division get slowed down like this, but that has nothing to do with me. I don't pull the strings."</p><p>Later Friday afternoon, Jones teased interest in a long-awaited fight against former UFC heavyweight champion and current PFL star Francis Ngannou.</p><p>"I'm hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested. Now we're talking," Jones <a href="https://x.com/JonnyBones/status/1931082654365159794">wrote</a>. "That's a real superfight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I've defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. Not just one legend facing a mouth that's hot right now, but two real legacies colliding.</p><p>"That's the kind of fight that actually adds something special to my story. At least from my point of view."</p>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 14: Jon Jones looks on during the UFC 309 press conference at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 14, 2024 in New York City.

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Jones: UFC 'can't strip a guy like me'

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champ Sean O'Malley made weight Friday bef...

<p>UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champ Sean O'Malley made weight Friday before they square off for the second time in the UFC 316 main event Saturday in Newark.</p><p>Dvalishvili and O'Malley weighed in at 134 and 135 pounds, respectively.</p><p>Women's bantamweight titleholder Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison were also on the mark for the co-main event. They both came in at 135 pounds.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here are the full UFC 316 weigh-in results:</p><h3>Main card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Merab Dvalishvili (134) vs. Sean O'Malley (135)</li>
<li>Julianna Pena (135) vs. Kayla Harrison (135)</li>
<li>Kelvin Gastelum (185) vs. Joe Pyfer (185)</li>
<li>Mario Bautista (135) vs. Patchy Mix (135)</li>
<li>Vicente Luque (170) vs. Kevin Holland (170)</li>
</ul><h3>Preliminary card (ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Bruno Silva (125) vs. Joshua Van (125)</li>
<li>Azamat Murzakanov (205) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205)</li>
<li>Serghei Spivac (251) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (265)</li>
<li>Khaos Williams (170) vs. Andreas Gustafsson (170)</li>
</ul><h3>Early preliminary card (ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Ariane da Silva (132)* vs. Wang Cong (125)</li>
<li>Jeka Saragih (145) vs. Joosang Yoo (145)</li>
<li>Quillan Salkilld (156) vs. Yanal Ashmouz (155)</li>
<li>MarQuel Mederos (155) vs. Mark Choinski (155)</li>
</ul><p><em>* Missed flyweight limit by six pounds</em></p>

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia poses on the scale during the UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-in at Intuit Dome on January 17, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

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UFC 316 weigh-in results: Dvalishvili, O'Malley cleared for title rematch

UFC 316 is upon us.  In Saturday's main event, Merab Dvalishvili will defend the bantamweight tit...

<p>UFC 316 is upon us.</p><p>In Saturday's main event, Merab Dvalishvili will defend the bantamweight title in a rematch with former champion Sean O'Malley. And in the co-headliner, women's bantamweight champ Julianna Pena will put her belt on the line against the heavily favored Kayla Harrison.</p><p>Here are three key storylines ahead of the UFC's return to Prudential Center in Newark.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Can O'Malley make it a different fight than last time?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745601/cropped_GettyImages-2172058635.jpg?ts=1726594025" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745601/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172058635.jpg?ts=1726594025 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745601/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172058635.jpg?ts=1726594025 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745601/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172058635.jpg?ts=1726594025 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745601/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172058635.jpg?ts=1726594025 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745601/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172058635.jpg?ts=1726594025 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>We haven't seen O'Malley since he dropped the bantamweight title to Dvalishvili in lopsided fashion last September at UFC 306. He's had nine months to train, get better, and figure out a new game plan - because whatever he did in the first fight didn't work. But here's the big question: Is that enough time for O'Malley to make the necessary improvements to beat someone of Dvalishvili's caliber?</p><p>Maybe, maybe not.</p><p>Dvalishvili proved to be a stylistic nightmare for O'Malley in their first fight. He completed six takedowns and compiled over 10 minutes of control time, almost completely neutralizing O'Malley's weapons on the feet. It'd be fair to guess that O'Malley has worked tirelessly on his takedown defense and get-up game ahead of the rematch, which is great. But it's impossible to become a grappling wizard overnight. Chances are what worked for Dvalishvili in the first fight will work for him in the rematch, too.</p><p>If O'Malley wants to win this fight - and he <em>can</em> win - he can't bank on stopping every takedown. Instead, the former champion will need to do a better job of capitalizing on the feet early in the rounds,<em> </em>before<em> </em>Dvalishvili finds a takedown. Because once Dvalishvili ends up on top, O'Malley might be stuck there for a while.</p><h3>Would a Harrison title reign revive women's bantamweight?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748651/cropped_GettyImages-2177010267.jpg?ts=1728182300" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748651/w220xh124_GettyImages-2177010267.jpg?ts=1728182300 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748651/w320xh180_GettyImages-2177010267.jpg?ts=1728182300 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748651/w640xh360_GettyImages-2177010267.jpg?ts=1728182300 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748651/w768xh432_GettyImages-2177010267.jpg?ts=1728182300 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748651/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2177010267.jpg?ts=1728182300 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The women's bantamweight division has been stagnant ever since Amanda Nunes retired from MMA two years ago (and, quite frankly, long before that). However, Harrison inserted some life into the division when she signed with the UFC in 2024. Now she has a chance to become the new champion and give it an even bigger boost.</p><p>Harrison, a former PFL champ and Olympic gold medalist in judo, is one of the biggest stars in women's MMA. It makes sense that the UFC would want her as one of its champions. Of course, the division still has a serious lack of depth and talent, so it'll never be one of the promotion's top weight classes. But Harrison winning the title would at least get fans talking about it more than they are now.</p><p>A Harrison victory this weekend could also lure Nunes out of retirement - and a long-awaited showdown between the two former teammates would be one of the biggest fights in the sport.</p><h3>Is Patchy Mix an elite bantamweight?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629255/cropped_patchy_mix_2.jpg?ts=1715986475" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629255/w220xh124_patchy_mix_2.jpg?ts=1715986475 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629255/w320xh180_patchy_mix_2.jpg?ts=1715986475 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629255/w640xh360_patchy_mix_2.jpg?ts=1715986475 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629255/w768xh432_patchy_mix_2.jpg?ts=1715986475 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629255/w1080xh607_patchy_mix_2.jpg?ts=1715986475 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">PFL MMA</span></figcaption></figure><p>We're about to find out how good Patchy Mix really is.</p><p>The former Bellator bantamweight champion is scheduled to make his highly anticipated UFC debut against No. 10-ranked contender Mario Bautista on Saturday's main card. He signed with the promotion last month after parting ways with the PFL.</p><p>For the last few years, Mix has been considered one of the top 135-pound fighters outside the UFC. He has beaten the likes of Kyoji Horiguchi, Sergio Pettis, and Raufeon Stots. But now we get to find out how Mix stacks up against the best in the UFC. He isn't getting an easy first matchup, either, as Bautista has won seven in a row - including a recent decision over UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo - and is unbeaten since March 2021.</p><p>If Mix can get past Bautista, then he'll officially be a contender in the UFC's stacked 135-pound division.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 14: Sean O'Malley prepares to face Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC event at Sphere on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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3 biggest storylines ahead of UFC 316

Patricio "Pitbull" Freire will make his second Octagon appearance against Dan Ige at UFC 318 on J...

<p>Patricio "Pitbull" Freire will make his second Octagon appearance against Dan Ige at UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans, sources told <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/06/03/ufc-318-dan-ige-vs-patricio-freire-pitbull-matchup-new-orleans/84019776007/">MMA Junkie's Danny Segura and Nolan King</a>.</p><p>Freire, a former Bellator two-division champion, signed with the UFC earlier this year and suffered a unanimous decision loss to No. 4-ranked featherweight Yair Rodriguez in his debut at UFC 314 in April.</p><p>The 37-year-old Brazilian remains unranked in the UFC's 145-pound division, though he was widely considered one of the best fighters outside the promotion before departing the PFL. Freire holds a 36-8 professional record and has beaten numerous top names throughout his career, including Michael Chandler, AJ McKee, and Juan Archuleta.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Ige, ranked No. 14, snapped a two-fight skid with a third-round TKO of Sean Woodson at UFC 314. The 33-year-old Hawaiian called out Freire after the event.</p><p>In the UFC 318 main event, Max Holloway is scheduled to defend the BMF title in a lightweight trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. It will be the final fight of Poirier's illustrious career.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire of Brazil battles Yair Rodriguez of Mexico in a featherweight bout during the UFC 314 event at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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Report: Pitbull to face Ige at UFC 318

Saturday's UFC Fight Night main event between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber was canceled at ...

<p>Saturday's UFC Fight Night main event between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber was canceled at the last minute after Barber wasn't medically cleared to compete.</p><p>UFC play-by-play commentator Brendan Fitzgerald announced the news on the broadcast as walkouts were scheduled to begin.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCVegas107?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFCVegas107</a> main event has been cancelled due to Maycee Barber not being medically cleared to compete. <a href="https://t.co/ymjAxjF6Yn">pic.twitter.com/ymjAxjF6Yn</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1929019814237946265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Blanchfield said she was in "disbelief" after hearing from UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell that Barber had a seizure in the locker room and the fight was off.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I'm fully ready to go, she's supposed to be ready to go, (and) supposedly now she has all these health issues right when we're supposed to fight," Blanchfield <a href="https://x.com/MMAJunkie/status/1929028544077639806">said</a> at the postfight press conference. "I think it's pretty crazy, pretty unprofessional."</p><p>Barber, the No. 5-ranked women's flyweight contender, was set to step into the Octagon for the first time since a unanimous decision win over Katlyn Cerminara last March. The 27-year-old was seeking her seventh straight victory.</p><p>Barber missed weight for the fight against Blanchfield, coming in 0.5 pounds over the 126-pound limit.</p><p>"She needs to look at another division, she needs to fix her life, she just needs to fix herself," Blanchfield said of Barber. "I think she's a complete mess in every aspect of her entire life."</p><p>Blanchfield, ranked No. 4 in the division, said she's not interested in rescheduling the fight. Blanchfield has been idle since a win over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas last November.</p><p>"No," Blanchfield told UFC reporter Megan Olivi on the broadcast, adding she'd like to headline an event against someone else in the top five. "My coaches right away were like, 'No, don't entertain her. She's not on your level.' Super unprofessional."</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 31: Maycee Barber has her hands wrapped prior to her fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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UFC cancels Blanchfield-Barber main event at last minute

This year's Noche UFC event - scheduled for Sept. 13 - is moving from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Fro...

<p>This year's Noche UFC event - scheduled for Sept. 13 - is moving from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, the promotion announced Saturday.</p><p>Construction delays at the brand-new Arena Guadalajara are the reason for the location change.</p><p>The event has also been downgraded from a pay-per-view - originally promoted as UFC 320 - to a Fight Night card, according to the promotion's Instagram account.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKV2V8upQey/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKV2V8upQey/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
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<script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></figure><p>No matchups have been announced for the event.</p><p>Last year's Noche UFC event took place at Sphere in Las Vegas and was headlined by a bantamweight title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley.</p><p>The inaugural Noche UFC event - held in celebration of Mexican Independence Day - took place in September 2023 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 14: Mariel Valladares announces a round during the UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC event at Sphere on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31443599/related

Noche UFC relocated from Mexico due to arena issues

Sean O'Malley's head coach wouldn't be surprised if the former UFC bantamweight champion moves to...

<p>Sean O'Malley's head coach wouldn't be surprised if the former UFC bantamweight champion moves to the featherweight division at some point in his career.</p><p>"It's definitely possible," Tim Welch said on "<a href="https://x.com/arielhelwani/status/1927796249736138837">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>" on Wednesday. "There's still really big fights at bantamweight. Sean's 5-foot-11, he walks around at around 160 pounds. If we took six, seven months to put three, four, five pounds of muscle on him, he definitely could hang with a lot of the 145ers."</p><p>O'Malley is scheduled to challenge Merab Dvalishvili for the 135-pound title in an immediate rematch at UFC 316 on June 7 in Newark. O'Malley dropped the belt to Dvalishvili in lopsided fashion at UFC 306 last September and hasn't fought since.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>While a second defeat to Dvalishvili could expedite O'Malley's jump to 145 pounds, Welch said there's a good chance he'll eventually move up in weight regardless.</p><p>"I think there's a bunch of really big fights for him at 145," Welch said. "These weight cuts, they really are brutal. ... They're tough every single time. But he's the most professional when it comes to cutting weight. ... He's going to make weight every single time."</p><p>O'Malley, who became one of MMA's biggest names when he claimed the title in 2023, carries an 18-2 (1 NC) record into his rematch against Dvalishvili.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Sean O'Malley is seen on stage during the UFC 316 press conference at Kaseya Center on April 11, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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Coach: O'Malley moving to featherweight 'definitely possible'

Boxing star Ryan Garcia underwent surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles to repair his injured right hand...

<p>Boxing star Ryan Garcia underwent surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles to repair his injured right hand.</p><p>Garcia suffered the injury during training camp ahead of his May 2 loss to Rolly Romero in New York's Times Square.</p><p>"I went and got the surgery for my hand and what I needed to get done," Garcia <a href="https://x.com/RyanGarcia/status/1927537577160003648">wrote</a> Tuesday night on X. "I never used that as an excuse for my fight. The media is going to report the surgery. I'm just blessed it was done and successful."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Garcia is expected to be sidelined from training for six weeks, according to <a href="https://www.si.com/boxing/ryan-garcia-to-undergo-hand-surgery">Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix</a>.</p><p>The 26-year-old received multiple cortisone shots ahead of his lackluster fight with Romero, a source told Mannix. Garcia outstruck Romero 66-57 in the main-event bout but suffered a knockdown in the second round. Their combined 490 punches thrown is the fourth fewest in a 12-round fight in CompuBox history.</p><p>Garcia, one of the biggest names in the sport, holds a career 24-2 (1 NC) record. He was expected to face Devin Haney in a rematch later this year with a win over Romero, but the loss threw a wrench in those plans and left Garcia's next steps uncertain.</p>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 01: Ryan Garcia weighs in for his welterweight bout against Rolando "Rolly" Romero at the Manhattan Center in Times Square on May 01, 2025 in New York City.