UFC 316 Highlights: Kayla Harrison and Merab Dvalishvili Celebrate Championship Wins
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Kayla Harrison celebrated adding UFC gold to her collection with a hug from President Donald Trump. She was still holding her title belt when she crossed paths with Merab Dvalishvili backstage, who was elated after successfully defending his 135-pound championship during the main event.
“Congratulations, champ! Let me raise your hand,” Dvalishvili said to Harrison. “We are the champions!” He then offered her a tip on how to properly showcase the belt for photographs.
Harrison needs to savor her title reign while it lasts; Amanda Nunes, her likely next challenger, is coming out of retirement to vie for her belt.
Dvalishvili retained his title with a third-round submission of Sean O’Malley, while Harrison forced Julianna Peña to concede just five seconds before the end of the second round, in front of a star-studded audience that included Trump and boxing legend Mike Tyson at the Prudential Center.
The 34-year-old Dvalishvili, originally from Georgia, won his belt by unanimous decision against O’Malley last year. Following the defeat, O’Malley recognized the need for significant lifestyle changes to reach his full potential both as a fighter and family man.
O’Malley gave up marijuana and transformed his appearance, ditching his colorful hair for a more subdued brown braid. As he fought, fans donned vibrant afro wigs in tribute to him.
With this victory, Dvalishvili improved his record to 20-4 and basked in the glory of his 13th consecutive MMA win, tying him for the fourth-longest streak in UFC history. “I’m on top of the world!” he exclaimed in the cage. Meanwhile, Harrison, who faced challenges making weight, is rapidly cementing her status as one of the greatest female fighters in MMA.
