The bantamweight title was retained by MMA fighter Merab Dvalishvili, who easily defeated Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 316 on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, by clinching a third-round modified choke in their rematch.
Dvalishvili (20-4) demonstrated his wrestling basis emphatically to exhaust the former champion and establish himself as one of the sport’s greatest bantamweights, possibly of all time, while President Donald Trump watched from the cageside.
Dvalishvili, who won the third round at 4:42 for the 13th time in a row, stated that he would be happy to defend the championship against Cory Sandhagen (18-5), who has won four of his last five bouts.
Saying, “You’re the man, let’s go,” Dvalishvili hinted that he would like to take on Sandhagen next.
