UFC 316 predictions: We like one ‘and still,' one ‘and new' in Newark —\u00a0but whom?
UFC 316 predictions: We like one 'and still,' one 'and new' in Newark — but whom?
The UFC makes its return to New Jersey this week both bantamweight titles on the line at the top of the bill.
UFC 316 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark.
Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Kevin Holland vs. Vicente Luque
Records: Holland (27-13 MMA, 14-10 UFC), Luque (23-10-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC)
Holland (27-13 MMA, 14-10 UFC), Luque (23-10-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC) Past five: Holland 2-3, Luque 2-3
Holland 2-3, Luque 2-3 Division: Welterweight
Welterweight Rankings: Luque honorable mention
Luque honorable mention Odds (as of 06.07.25): Holland -280, Luque +225
Holland -280, Luque +225 Junkie pick results: Luque 7, Holland 4
Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix
Records: Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), Mix (20-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), Mix (20-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Past five: Bautista 5-0, Mix 5-0
Bautista 5-0, Mix 5-0 Division: Bantamweight
Bantamweight Rankings: Mix No. 6, Bautista No. 7
Mix No. 6, Bautista No. 7 Odds (as of 06.07.25): Bautista +150, Mix -180
Bautista +150, Mix -180 Junkie pick results: Mix 11, Bautista 0
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
Records: Gastelum (20-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC), Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Gastelum (20-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC), Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) Past five: Gastelum 2-3, Pyfer 4-1
Gastelum 2-3, Pyfer 4-1 Division: Middleweight
Middleweight Rankings: None
None Odds (as of 06.07.25): Gastelum +295, Pyfer -375
Gastelum +295, Pyfer -375 Junkie pick results: Pyer 8, Gastelum 3
Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison
Records: Peña (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Peña (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) Past five: Peña 3-2, Harrison 4-1
Peña 3-2, Harrison 4-1 Division: Women's bantamweight
Women's bantamweight Rankings: Peña No. 1, No. 5 pound-for-pound; Harrison No. 3, No. 7 pound-for-pound
Peña No. 1, No. 5 pound-for-pound; Harrison No. 3, No. 7 pound-for-pound Odds (as of 06.07.25): Peña +525, Harrison -750
Peña +525, Harrison -750 Junkie pick results: Harrison 11, Peña 0
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley
Records: Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC), O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC)
Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC), O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) Past five: Dvalishvili 5-0, O'Malley 4-1
Dvalishvili 5-0, O'Malley 4-1 Division: Bantamweight
Bantamweight Rankings: Dvalishvili No. 1, No. 6 pound-for-pound; O'Malley No. 2, No. 14 pound-for-pound
Dvalishvili No. 1, No. 6 pound-for-pound; O'Malley No. 2, No. 14 pound-for-pound Odds (as of 06.07.25): Dvalishvili -285, O'Malley +230
Dvalishvili -285, O'Malley +230 Junkie pick results: Dvalishvili 11, O'Malley 0
Individual staff member picks, main card
Readers 65-46: Dvalishvili (68%), Harrison (79%), Pyfer (69%), Mix (77%), Holland (53%)
Farah Hannoun 72-39: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Mike Bohn 71-40: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Nolan King 71-40: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Abbey Subhan 69-42: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Holland
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Holland Kenny Hathaway 68-43: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Holland
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Holland Matt Erickson 68-43: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Simon Samano 65-46: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Holland
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Holland Brian Garcia 64-47: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Danny Segura 63-48: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque George Garcia 61-50: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Luque
Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Luque Matthew Wells 60-51: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Holland
Preliminary card picks
Although they don't count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ngannou responds to Jones' call for a 'super-fight'
Francis Ngannou has an overall MMA record of 18-3 with 13 knockouts [Getty Images] Francis Ngannou has said he wants to fight UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, two years after leaving the MMA promotion for the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Ngannou, 38, has mostly boxed since exiting the UFC, but has competed once in the PFL since signing with them in 2023. Advertisement After Ngannou's coach mooted a return to the UFC, Jones called for a "super-fight", to which the Cameroonian has now responded to. "You take care of the UFC, I'll take care of the PFL, and we'll finally find out who's the king of the heavyweight," Ngannou said on social media. Ngannou is under contract with the PFL while Jones, 37, has recently suggested he is retired and won't fight interim UFC champion Tom Aspinall. Ngannou's departure from the UFC was an ugly one, with Dana White saying in the aftermath he would never welcome Ngannou back. "It's over, that's over. He'll never be in the UFC again," White said in 2023. Advertisement Ngannou's coach Eric Nicksick sparked feverish speculation this month Ngannou wants to return to the UFC when he suggested that the best competition for his fighter was in the promotion. Jones, who has been involved in a social media back and forth with Aspinall for weeks, quickly responded to Nicksick's comments. "I'm hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested, now we're talking," Jones said. "That's a real super-fight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I've defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. "Not just one legend facing a mouth that's hot right now, but two real legacies colliding." Advertisement The UFC have traditionally refused to do co-promotional events with rival MMA outfits. But PFL chief Donn Davis also responded to Ngannou's call-out, suggesting a "winner-takes-all" agreement which would see the triumphant heavyweight and his promotional company take all "event profits". Jones is a two-weight UFC champion. Ngannou was the reigning heavyweight champion when he left the UFC. Ngannou has 18 wins and three losses on his MMA record, while Jones - considered by many as the best MMA fighter of all time - has 28 wins, one loss and one no-contest. More MMA from the BBC
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
UFC 316 live updates: Insider reaction, latest news and results
We're live from Newark, N.J., for UFC 316. Thirteen fights are on the docket in a loaded card from top to bottom on Saturday. Kayla Harrison is challenging Julianna Peña for the bantamweight title, and on Friday, she successfully weighed in at 135 pounds. She previously told The Post's Scott Fontana that there were no worries about the challenging weight cut, but it was a critical development to get the co-main event title fight locked in. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili faces Sean O'Malley in the main event. Get your popcorn ready and follow The Post's live coverage.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 watch-along live stream with MMA Junkie Radio
UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 watch-along live stream with MMA Junkie Radio UFC 316 goes down Saturday night with two championship fights atop the bill, and MMA Junkie Radio's "Gorgeous" George and "Goze" will host a live-streamed watch-along right here at 8 p.m. ET. In the headliner, bantamweight champion champion Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) takes on challenger and ex-champ Sean O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in a rematch. In the co-feature, women's bantamweight titleholder Julianna Peña (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) meets Kayla Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), a two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL $1 million champion who is one of the biggest title challenger betting favorites in UFC history. UFC 316 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Check out the watch-along in the video above.
