UFC 316 Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs Sean O ‘Malley 2 Fight Card Analysis, Best Bets, & Predictions

UFC 316 is set to kick off tonight in Newark , New Jersey after a successful weigh in day. Fans saw both championship fights become official as all 4 fighters made the 135 lb championship weight.

The UFC did not go perfect on the scales however, as Ariane Da Silva missed weight by 6 pounds. She was fined 25% of her purse and the fight will go on as scheduled.

With all the craziness of the ceremonial press conference and weigh ins fans are beyond excited for a stacked 13 fight card! Fans are in for a treat with 2 high level Title fights on the docket.

Get my analysis & full card breakdown of UFC 316 HERE

There is a very big possibility the UFC walks away with 2 new champions tonight. Will O ‘Malley be able to reclaim his belt and will Kayla Harrison be able to add UFC gold to her list of accomplishments?

MMA fans across the globe find out tonight, now lets get right into the most notable action of UFC 316 live from Newark , New Jersey!

I have created this UFC 316 Best Bets guide to provide deeper analysis on some of the big fights & provide our readers here at Betting News with the best gambling experience possible for UFC 316. Lines are moving, money is coming in and there is less then 24 hours to get our bets in so lets dive into it!

All betting odds are presented by BetOnline.ag as of 12 a.m. on June 7, 2025

UFC 316 Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs Sean O ‘Malley Analysis, Best Bet, & Prediction

Tonight marks the second installment between Dvalishvili & O ‘Malley for the Bantamweight championship. Dvalishvili was victorious in the first bout, stealing the title from O ‘Malley at Noche UFC in September.

Dvalishvili is fighting for the 4th time in 12 months and is riding a 12 fight winning streak. After successfully defending his belt at UFC 311, a rematch with the Sugar show only made sense.

The relentlessness of his grappling is what has made Dvalishvili such a tough test for Bantamweights. Often spamming takedown attempts to control his opponents, successful or not.

Averaging almost 6 takedowns per fight while only having a 35% takedown accuracy, Dvalishvili’s stats speak for themselves but yield a glaring problem. He has trouble keeping his opponents down once getting him there which explains the number of attempts.

Striking is not the strong suit to Merab’s game yet his statistics may tell a different story. Dvalishvili lands over 4 strikes per minute while only absorbing 2.5, a great differential.

The improvements to his striking were made clear in his last title defense against Umar Nurmogomedov. Dvalishvili was able to out strike Nurmogomedov by over 25 significant strikes while landing a few take downs of his own.

All doubts of Merab as a legitimate champion were laid to rest that night. As such an active fighter, he is turning around in 4 months to take on the rematch with Sean O ‘Malley.

In the first match up, the wrestling proved to be to much for the kickboxer O ‘Malley. 6 takedowns by Dvalishvili did not allow O ‘Malley to get his game going.

The first match up was still very close according to the judges , with 2 of 3 scoring 2 rounds for O ‘Malley. It is hard for me to believe the current champion will have the same success a second time around.

Will A Heaalthy O ‘Malley Be Able To Stuff The Takedowns?

The Sugar Show is one of the greatest spectacles the UFC has to offer. In 10 UFC wins he has produced 6 highlight real knockouts under the promotion.

O ‘Malley has carried hype through out his run, becoming a superstar in the process. It all came crashing down when he lost the belt to Dvalishvili in December.

According to himself, a torn labrum suffered before the fight played a major factor in his takedown defense. Most fighters make excuses after losing a big fight, but this feels different as he immediately had surgery after the fight.

Since, he has made many exotic lifestyle changes in hopes to reclaim his title. Coming into this fight with a different level of focus and professionalism then he has in previous bouts.

The striking has always been dominant in O ‘Malley’s skillset. Being a long striker, he has great footwork, a stiff jab, and is great at managing distance.

Takedown defense has always been the question, as he has proven he can strike with the best of the best. If a surgically repaired labrum can help him improve from the first match up, it is hard to believe he wont out strike Dvalishvili.

I must admit it feels a little weird to see ego driven O ‘Malley act very humble. It is very possible he has turned the corner and is ready to be the champion the UFC needs him to be.

The UFC is negotiating a new TV deal with many networks, they would love to lobby a superstar champion like O ‘Malley. He is the clear A side in this fight, with the first being close enough with a torn labrum, I have to side with O ‘Malley to find a way to get this done.

Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs Sean O ‘Malley Prediction: Sean O ‘Malley By Decision (+475) BetOnline.ag

Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs Sean O ‘Malley Best Bet: Sean O ‘Malley Moneyline (+250)  BetOnline.ag

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UFC 316 Co – Main Event: Julianna Pena (C) vs Kayla Harrison Analysis, Best Bet , & Prediction

Julianna Pena is set to make her first title defense tonight after claiming gold in October. With a very tough test in front of her, fans will find out if the 34 year old can add to her resume.

The resume she has already accumulated speaks for itself as it is. Having wins over the G.O.A.T. Amanda Nunes among other champions on her run.

Developing a brawlers attitude, she applies relentless pressure to her opponents. Pena has a never quit attitude and is kill or be killed every time she steps into the cage.

Pena has developed power in her hands and throws in flurries often overwhelming her opponents. The striking defense on the other hand could use some work, with just a 57% significant strike defense.

Solid wrestling has always been a major hole in her game. She has an abysmal 23% takedown defense percentage, giving one up or losing position in almost every fight.

The trash talk and skills on the mic has boosted Pena’s career. I believe this is a fight where her style , and her trash talk wont be able to hold up.

Will Harrison Claim UFC Gold?

Kayla Harrison is looking to cash in on her title shot tonight at UFC 316. MMA fans across the globe have been anticipating her touching UFC gold since her arrival was announced, it was inevitable.

Accomplishing so much in such a short time in her career, the hype behind her has been proven every step. Harrison is a 2 time Olympic Gold medalist as well as becoming the PFL world champion.

The grappling credentials are some of the highest a women can achieve in MMA. It certainly seems like a UFC title is the only thing she has not collected in her career.

Harrison puts on a heavy wrestling pace in all of her fights. The cardio has not failed her yet, showing the ability to go deep into fights with the same skillset.

The striking department is not the focus of her game but is good enough for this level. Once getting the opponent to the mat, that is where she is most comfortable striking.

In a ruthless assault of ground and pound, Harrison does a great job adding damage to the control. She has shown to even mix up her strikes, flashing hard elbows with violent intent.

I believe the wide betting line is fitting for someone of Harrison’s caliber. I expect her to dominate Pena on the ground and secure Women’s Bantamweight gold at UFC 316.

Co – Main Event: Julianna Pena (C) vs Kayla Harrison Prediction: Kayla Harrison Wins (-600) BetOnline.ag

Co – Main Event: Julianna Pena (C) vs Kayla Harrison Best Bet: Kayla Harrison By KO/TKO (+275) BetOnline.ag

UFC 316 – Joshua Van vs Bruno Silva Analysis , Best Bet, & Prediction

MMA fans are in for a treat tonight with such a violent match up in the Flyweight Division. UFC new comer Joshua Van will take on veteran Bruno Silva in the featured prelim fight of the night.

Joshua Van has been extremely active since joining the UFC with 7 fights in just 2 years. Gathering 6 wins in that tenure, he has proven himself to be a legit prospect in the Flyweight division.

A very technical boxer who is more then willing to exchange in the pocket, he has brought an exciting style to his fights. Van is a phenomenal counter striker, often making his opponents pay for missing the target.

Showing great foot work and range, he is able to lure his opponent into big punches. Only Securing 1 KO Victory in his tenure, but accumulating multiple knock downs on his run.

His game seems to raise only the question of durability, as he has finished twice in his short career.It remains to be seen if his frequent activity in the cage contributes to his durability concerns.

Will Silva Have Enough Left In The Tank To Stop Van?

Bruno Silva is a proven UFC veteran with over 8 fights in the promotion. Showing just how violent he is, 6 of those bouts have ended within the distance one way or another.

He has a kill or be killed style and will throw everything at his opponent, leaving little room for the judges. With finishes in all 4 of his UFC wins, and being finished of 2 of his 4 losses his style speaks for itself.

A powerful striker , he has shown to have heavy hands when landing in the pocket. Securing 3 knockout victory’s in his run with the UFC.

Adding a black belt level of B.J.J to his powerful striking he is a very dangerous opponent. Silva is always looking to take advantage of an opponents mistake with an opportunistic submission threat.

With such violent intentions and durability concerns on both sides of this fight, I feel more comfortable with the total rounds rather then picking a side. I believe there will be violence in this fight early, and someone wont be able to handle the aggressive pace.

 Featured Prelim Joshua Van vs Bruno Silva Prediction: Joshua Van Wins By KO/TKO (+170) BetOnline.ag

 Featured Prelim Joshua Van vs Bruno Silva Best Bet: Under 2.5 Total Rounds (+105) BetOnline.ag

UFC 316 Schedule & FAQ

When is UFC Vegas 316?

• UFC 316 will take place Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Where is UFC 316?

• UFC 316 will go down live at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

What time does UFC 316 start?

• UFC 316 Preliminary Card start time: 6 p.m. ET
• UFC 316 Main Card start time: 10 p.m. ET

How to Watch UFC 316?

• UFC 316 Preliminary Card Coverage: ESPN+
• UFC 316 Coverage: ESPN+, ESPN PPV

How to Bet on UFC 316?

Most international and domestic sportsbooks will carry odds for a fight card of this caliber. Check out all of our recommended sites like BetOnline.

If one thing is for sure, Saturday’s card is sure to bring the action. I hope this betting guide helps bring more context to your UFC entertainment experience.

If you want my full card of bets, tune into the Violence Report on our network on Twitch every Saturday, or for more gambling content like this, make sure to follow me on X or Betting News on all platforms!

Looking for more ways and strategies to bet the UFC? Check out our UFC BETTING GUIDE! Take betting the Octagon to the next level!