Going Up against Wrestlers and Holding His Own: Titleholder Dvalishvili Outshines Striker O'Malley
MMA Fighter Dvalishvili Delivers as Expected
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A matchup of grappler versus striker, the main event at UFC 316 for the bantamweight crown is a clash of polar opposites. Champ Dvalishvili seems to make it all look too easy - and proceeds to pay homage to the American president afterward.
Merab Dvalishvili triumphs in defending his bantamweight title against Sean O'Malley at UFC 316 held in New Jersey. The Georgian put an end to the American in the third round via submission. A new titlist also emerges in the women's division.
Expecting a rematch, Dvalishvili initially claimed the title from O'Malley. The Georgian has wrestling as his apex, whereas O'Malley excels at striking - standing tall for his weight class. Both contestants demonstrated their prime skills in the initial round. Local favorite O'Malley, buoyed by the crowd, scored from a distance, with Dvalishvili making an impact on the ground.
Come round two, and both combatants show their speed with numerous feints, quick steps, and position changes unfolding into exhilarating sequences. O'Malley, in particular, showed substantial improvement since their first scrap and devised a good strategy to ward off Dvalishvili's takedowns in the second round. However, that strategy unraveled in the third round. Dvalishvili, unyielding in his pursuit, powerfully deposited his adversary on the mat at the start and dominated via ground control throughout.
Every time O'Malley attempted to rise, Dvalishvili repeatedly crashed back down on him. The champion finally put an end to the contest with a submission hold, leaping up like a springboard in the cage, leaping the fence, shaking UFC manager Dana White's hand, and striking a pose alongside U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Wow, what a moment! Proud to inspire the new generation," Dvalishvili declared following his victory. His success, he credits, comes from pure determination and hard work rather than innate talent. The Georgian now stands primed to face Cory Sandhagen next.
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Harrison Pulls No Punches
In the women's bantamweight title bout, Kayla Harrison tussled with Juliana Pena, intent on crowning her UFC career with a belt. The former judo Olympic champion expeditiously seized the opportunity to take the battle to the ground in the early rounds, where she excelled. Pena even got slapped with a point reduction due to two illegal head kicks.
When round two began, the narrative persisted: Harrison tripped up Pena with a foot sweep and managed to secure advantageous positions, ultimately forcing a Kimura armbar. Pena tapped out promptly, ceding victory to Harrison. The American then barked out a challenge to UFC legend Amanda Nunes, who readily agreed and pledged her comeback, expressing her eagerness to square off with Harrison.
UFC 316 Main Card- UFC Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (c) concurs with Sean O'Malley by submission in round three- UFC Bantamweight Championship: Kayla Harrison triumphs over Juliana Pena (c) by submission in round two- Middleweight: Joe Pyfer outmaneuvers Kelvin Gastelum by decision- Bantamweight: Mario Bautista gets the better of Patchy Mix by decision- Welterweight: Kevin Holland subdues Vicente Luque in round two
Merab Dvalishvili's victory in defending his bantamweight title against Sean O'Malley at UFC 316 not only showcases his dominance in mixed martial arts but also positions him as a prominent figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, further solidifying mixed-martial-arts as a popular sports genre.
Kayla Harrison's triumph over Juliana Pena in the women's bantamweight title bout at UFC 316 demonstrates her mastery in the mixed martial arts sport, accentuating the growing prominence of women's mixed martial arts in the UFC.
