The Prudential Center returns to host another UFC PPV event as New Jersey fans await a stacked fight card. The Main Event sees a Bantamweight title rematch between the champion, Merab Dvalishvili, and the #1 contender, Sean O'Malley. The Co-Main Event showcases a heated rivalry as Julianna Pena defends her Women's Bantamweight belt against the #2 contender, Kayla Harrison.
early prelims
Marquel Mederos vs Mark Choinski (Lightweight Bout) - Mederos currently stands on an eight-fight winning streak after defeating Austin Hubbard by split decision in his last performance at UFC Mexico City. The Texas-born fighter prefers to stop his opponents on the feet, securing six KO/TKO wins out of 10 victories. Mederos is still searching for his first stoppage win in the UFC, and he could claim it in Newark if he wants to be recognised.
Choinski makes his debut at UFC 316 and is undefeated with eight wins as his last fight ended with a first-round submission triumph over John Ramirez at APFC 16. The Shark is submission-focused with five of his eight conquered opponents being tapped or choked out. The Wisconsin fighter is looking to make a good first impression and get a taste of fighting for the biggest MMA organisation.
Quillan Salkilld vs Yanal Ashmouz (Lightweight Bout) - Salkilld shined on his debut in his last bout when he knocked out Anshul Jubli in just 19 seconds at UFC 312. The Australian has stopped six of his eight conquered opponents, earning three KO/TKO victories and submissions. After an eye-catching performance in his last bout, Salkilld will aim to continue to push as a promising prospect in the Lightweight division.
Ashmouz claimed redemption at UFC Vegas 97 when he went the distance with Trevor Peek to win by unanimous decision. Just like his opponent, the Red Fox has six stoppage wins, consisting of four knockouts and two submissions. The Israelian will want to begin his second win streak of his MMA career and have the same stunning performance he did when he last fought in a UFC PPV.
Jeka Saragih vs Joo-Sang Yoo (Featherweight Bout) - Saragih went back to losing ways when he suffered a first-round submission defeated to Westin Wilson at UFC Vegas 93. The Indonesian Featherweight has only gone the distance once, winning nine of his battles by KO/TKO and four by submission. Saragih will be aiming to get back in the win column for a second time in the UFC as his current record with the company sits at 1-2.
Yoo is undefeated with eight victories and makes his UFC debut in New Jersey, especially after winning his last fight by first-round TKO against Masuto Kawana at ZFN 2. Half of the South Korean's triumphs have ended with a finish, securing three KO/TKO wins and one submission. Yoo has an incredible opportunity to launch his UFC career with an impressive start as he'll want to be known in the 145-pound division.
Ariane Da Silva vs Wang Cong (Women's Flyweight Bout) - Da Silva is not having much luck in her recent fights, standing on a two-fight losing streak with her last loss coming against Jasmine Jasudavicius by third-round submission at UFC Edmonton. The Queen has 10 finishes in her MMA career, six by KO/TKO and four by submission. The #12 Flyweight contender's position is on the line in the rankings as she's going to do everything it takes to keep that spot.
Cong found redemption in her last battle after defeating Bruna Brasil by unanimous decision at UFC 312. The Joker can control the fight in any way as she holds two KO/TKO wins and two submissions, showing that she's good on the feet and ground. The Chinese fighter has the chance to enter the top 15 of the Flyweight division and become an even bigger prospect in the UFC.
preliminary card
Kalinn Williams vs Andreas Gustafsson (Welterweight Bout) - Williams lost his two-fight win streak in his last fight after a second-round submission loss to Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Vegas 102. The Oxfighter has won eight of his 15 triumphant bouts by KO/TKO as he is deadly when it comes to striking. The Indiana-born mixed martial artist is hunting for redemption as he aims to give a newcomer a very unwarm welcome.
Gustafsson makes his debut at UFC 316 after earning a contract through Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) when he knocked out Pat Pytlik in the second round. Bane has stopped 10 of his 11 conquered opponents with eight of those ending by KO/TKO and two by submission. The Swede has been waiting a while to make his first UFC appearance, after numerous cancelled bouts, but he finally gets to step into the Octagon.
Serghei Spivac vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta (Heavyweight Bout) - Spivac fought earlier this year at UFC 311 and was unsuccessful, losing by first-round TKO to Jailton Almeida. The Polar Bear holds seven KO/TKO wins and eight submissions as he's a big threat on the ground. The #7 Heavyweight contender is once again looking to get back in the win column and keep his vital spot in the rankings.
Cortes-Acosta is currently on a four-fight winning streak after knocking out Ryan Spann in his last fight at UFC Vegas 104. Salsa Boy has seven stoppage wins in his MMA career with six KO/TKO victories and one submission. The #11 Heavyweight contender has a fantastic opportunity to boost up the rankings as he takes on his biggest challenge yet.
Azamat Murzakanov vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight Bout) - Murzakanov remains undefeated in MMA after he was victorious in his last bout at UFC Abu Dhabi, knocking out Alonzo Menifield in round two. The Professional is deadly on the feet as 10 of his 14 wins have ended by KO/TKO with seven of those happening in the first round. The #12 Light Heavyweight contender looks to continue his reign of dominance, while protecting his spot in the 205-pound division.
Ribeiro began his winning streak at UFC Vegas 104 when he stopped Diyar Nurgozhay by second-round submission. The Gorilla has only gone to the judges scorecards once in his career, holding nine KO/TKO victories and seven submissions. The Brazilian came in on short notice to take this fight with the chance to earn a place in the Light Heavyweight rankings, something which one of his former opponents, Zhang Mingyang, has been able to do.
Bruno Silva vs Joshua Van (Flyweight Bout) - Silva had his four-fight win streak snapped when he came face-to-face with Manel Kape at UFC Tampa, losing by third-round TKO. The Bulldog has stopped 10 of his 14 opponents he has triumphed over, winning six by KO/TKO and four by submission. The #12 Flyweight contender is hoping to maintain his spot in the division so he can grab another chance to contend for a position in the top 10.
Van increased his winning streak to three in his last fight when defeated Rei Tsuruya by unanimous decision at UFC 313. The Fearless has eight finishes out of 13 victories as he's managed to secure six KO/TKO wins and two submissions. The #14 Flyweight contender has been a hopeful prospect, bringing a lot of hype with him as he tries to increase his win streak and climb further up the rankings.
main card
Vicente Luque vs Kevin Holland (Welterweight Bout) - Luque redeemed his TKO loss with a first-round submission win over Themba Gorimbo at UFC 310, stopping him in just 52 seconds. The Silent Assassin holds 20 stoppage wins out of 23 victories with 11 ending by KO/TKO and nine by submission. The #14 Welterweight contender is hoping to keep his spot in the rankings as he tries to commence a winning streak for the fourth time in the UFC.
Holland snapped his two-fight losing streak in his last battle with an unanimous decision win against Gunnar Nelsom at UFC London. The Trailblazer has earned 22 finishes in MMA, 10 of those happening in the UFC, with 13 ending by KO/TKO and nine by submission. The former Welterweight and Middleweight contender is aiming to make his return to the 170-pound rankings as he once again looks to put on a thrilling show.
Mario Bautista vs Patchy Mix (Bantamweight Bout) - Bautista is currently on a seven-fight winning streak after he defeated Jose Aldo by split decision at UFC 307. The Winnemucca-born fighter has stopped nine of his 15 conquered opponents as he holds three KO/TKO wins and six submissions. The #10 Bantamweight contender is looking to show the UFC debutant how tough it is working for the organisation, while trying to increase his triumphant run.
Mix last fought at Bellator Champions Series Paris where he successfully defended his Bantamweight title after defeating Magomed Magomedov by unanimous decision. No Love is a tricky submission artist, claiming 13 wins by tapping or choking his opponents out. The former Bellator 135-pound champion makes his introduction to the UFC as a win could put him just two fights away from a possible title shot.
Kelvin Gastelum vs Joe Pyfer (Middleweight Bout) - Gastelum found redemption in his last fight when he went the distance with Daniel Rodriguez to win by unanimous decision at UFC Saudi Arabia. Out of 20 victories in his MMA career, the California-born fighter has earned 12 finishes, splitting his knockouts and submission in half on his record. The former Interim Middleweight title challenger has only won three of his last nine battles as he tries to gain back some of his previous losses.
Pyfer also redeemed himself in his last bout when he knocked out Marc-Andre Barriault in the first round at UFC 303. The New Jersey mixed martial artist has only gone the distance once throughout all his triumphs, with nine of his victories ending by KO/TKO and three by submission. Bodybagz failed to defeat a contender previously, so defeating a former contender could regain that opportunity as he tries to become the first fighter to knockout Gastelum.
Julianna Pena vs Kayla Harrison (Women's Bantamweight Title Bout) - Pena regained the Women's Bantamweight Championship when she did enough to defeat Raquel Pennington by split decision at UFC 307. The Venezuelan Vixen doesn't often go the distance with three of her wins ending by KO/TKO and six by submission, The Queen of the 135-pound division is a heavy underdog heading into this battle, however, she has been in this position before and come out successful as she aims to repeat that in the Prudential Center.
Harrison only needed two fights to earn a title opportunity after a second-round submission win against Holly Holm at UFC 300, and a convincing unanimous decision against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307. The former PFL Women's Lightweight Champion has stopped 13 of her 18 defeated opponents, securing six KO/TKO wins and seven submissions. The #2 Women's Bantamweight contender is aiming to blaze through the champion and become the new face of women's MMA.
Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley (Bantamweight Title Bout) - Dvalishvili defied the odd at UFC 311 where he defended his Bantamweight title and became the first man to defeat Umar Nurmagomedov. The Machine doesn't often stop a battle, but he has won 15 of his 19 triumphs by unanimous decision. The 135-pound champion will be wanting to repeat the same result when he first faced O'Malley at UFC 306, using his cardio to make the fight go the distance and win on the judges scorecards.
O'Malley lost his Bantamweight title to the current champion at the Sphere, losing by unanimous decision in just his second loss of his career. The #1 contender is known for his dangerous knockout power winning 12 of his 18 triumphant fights by KO/TKO. The former King of the Bantamweights will be looking for vengeance as he tries to regain the throne and plot some deadly revenge on Dvalishvili.
Who will end the night as champions at UFC 316? Which fight are you looking forward to the most?
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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