Masterpieces from Dvalishvili & Harrison at UFC 316
The Machine processed Suga even faster the second time.
Merab Dvalishvili is the UFC Bantamweight champion after dispatching of Sean O’Malley for a second time and in even more him impressive fashion.
Thing were going to be different this time. Sean O’Malley had mad wholesale changes to his life. No dye in his hair. Off social media. And not smoking weed. All those changes that many would agree are positives did not workout to be.
Dvalishvili took hold separated him from O’Malley in the final two minutes of what had been a competitive round with a takedown and top control. The fight stayed on the feet, thanks to O’Malley stuffing four takedown attempts and was close enough for one judge to score for O’Malley. Dvalishvili must have felt something cause even tho he was unsuccessful in getting the fight to the mat in the second he doubled down on the approach in the third frame securing three takedowns on four attempts. While trying to get vertical from his knees O’Malley exposed his neck and Dvalishvili jumped on it adjusting a modified guillotine into a north-south choke.
The fight was different this time Dvalishvili left no doubt in anyone’s mind who the winner was. In 9-months Dvalishvili has won the UFC Bantamweight title and defended it twice along with becoming the fifth UFC champion to have a 13-fight win streak.
Inevitable is what Kayla Harrison as UFC women’s Bantamweight champion felt like. She just needed the opportunity. Harrison put two-time champion Julianna Pena on her back in the first and only got back to her feet after having a point taken away for two illegal kicks. Inevitably Harrison put Pena on her back in the second round yanking a Kimura for the submission win. Harrison joins Henry Cejudo as the only Olympic Gold Medalists to win UFC titles.
The moment was made that much bigger by the announcement that former two division champion Amanda Nunes will be ending a short-lived retirement to face Harrison.
While it was not the second-round finish he had predicted Joe Pyfer was victorious in his first fight in a year. Pyfer earned a unanimous decision over TUF winner Kelvin Gastelum on the strength of two knockdowns in the first round from right hooks.
Mario Bautista kept rolling as he soured the debut of former Bellator Bantamweight champion Patchy Mix. One of the most talked about grapplers to have signed to the UFC in recent memory never got his signature game going. Bautista is known for having a well throughout game plan forced Mix into a kickboxing match for three rounds. Bautista was on point with his right hand beating up Mix’s body before changing targets to the head. An impressive 8th win in a row for the number ten ranked contender.
Many people have wanted Kevin Holland to commit to Welterweight where those voice think he could be a factor in the title picture. Holland himself has finally come around to that line of thinking and announced to the world after a second straight win at 170 lbs. Holland stuffed every Vicente Luque takedown and landed damaging blows in a short space. Catching a Luque kick Holland quickly just on his neck locking up a D’Arce choke for the finish.
Josh Van is a name to keep an eye on in the Flyweight division. The number fourteen ranked contender has now won four in a row after dropping Bruno Silva with a right hook and finishing the ground.
Azamat Murzakanov got his remains unbeaten after dropping Brendson Ribeiro with a left hook and finished with ground and pound. The highlight of the under card came from Joo Sang Yoo who sent Jeka to the land of wind and ghost with a counter left hooks 28 seconds into the fight.
About The Author
