By ESPN | Created at 2025-04-01 23:33:22 | Updated at 2025-04-03 01:40:53
1 day ago
Brett OkamotoApr 1, 2025, 07:22 PM ET
- Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
A bantamweight title rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley will headline UFC 316 on June 7, UFC CEO Dana White announced on Tuesday.
Dvalishvili (19-4) claimed the UFC championship by defeating O'Malley (18-2) via unanimous decision at UFC 306 in September. O'Malley immediately underwent hip surgery in October, and this will be his first appearance since the loss. UFC 316 will take place at Prudential Center in Newark.
Additionally, the UFC 316 pay-per-view event will feature a women's bantamweight title fight between Julianna Peña (11-5) and Kayla Harrison (18-1).
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia and now fighting out of Las Vegas, Dvalishvili is riding a 12-fight win streak. He has defended his 135-pound title once, in a five-round decision against Umar Nurmagomedov in January. His recent wins include victories over former champions in O'Malley, Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and José Aldo.
O'Malley's loss to Dvalishvili was his first since 2020. The 30-year-old bantamweight defended his title once before surrendering it to Dvalishvili, in a decision win against Marlon Vera.
Peña recaptured the belt in a split-decision victory over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 in October. Harrison fought on the same card, scoring a unanimous decision over Ketlen Viera.
