Harrison, Dvalishvili celebrate as 135-pound champions at UFC 316 with President Trump looking on
NEWARK, N.J. — Kayla Harrison had just added UFC gold to her championship fight collection — and hugged it out with President Donald Trump — and still clutched the title belt when she bumped into Merab Dvalishvili backstage.
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Dvalishvili was on cloud nine — well, make it 13 to match his winning streak — after he successfully defended his 135-pound championship with a dominant performance in the main event of UFC 316.
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Two bantamweight champions. One big party.
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'Congratulations, champ! Let me raise your hand,' Dvalishvili told Harrison. 'We are the champions!'
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Dvalishvili then issued a quick pointer to Harrison — more used to wearing Olympic gold around her neck — on how to hold the belt for a photo opp.
Article content
She best enjoy her time atop the division while she can — Harrison's presumed next challenger in Amanda Nunes stepping out of retirement and into the cage for a chance to get her belt back.
Article content
Dvalishvili retained his 135-pound championship when he tapped out Sean O'Malley in the third round and Harrison made 135-pound champion Julianna Pena quit with five seconds left in the second round in front of a crowd that included Trump and retired heavyweight great Mike Tyson on Saturday night at the Prudential Center.
Article content
Dvalishvili, a 34-year-old from the country of Georgia, won the belt in a convincing — though not aesthetically pleasing _ unanimous decision last year over O'Malley. O'Malley realized after the loss to truly be at his best — as a fighter, as a family man _ he needed to make difficult lifestyle sacrifices to round himself into peak form.
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The 30-year-old contender quit smoking marijuana among other bad habits and also ditched his trademark dyed hair. No more cornucopia of colours that turned his locks into rainbows or cotton candy tops. O'Malley sported brown, braided hair for the fight — leaving his fans to wear bright afro wigs in his honour.
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New look, same result.
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Dvalishvili — who had to duck a small railing collapse on his walk out that almost had fans spill onto the floor — ran his record to 20-4 and sat on top of the cage and bellowed toward the 17,343 fans in the start of an exuberant celebration of his 13th straight MMA victory, tied for fourth longest in UFC history.
Article content
'I'm on top of the world!,' he said inside the cage.
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4 hours ago
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Harrison, Dvalishvili celebrate as 135-pound champions at UFC 316 with President Trump looking on
NEWARK, N.J. — Kayla Harrison had just added UFC gold to her championship fight collection — and hugged it out with President Donald Trump — and still clutched the title belt when she bumped into Merab Dvalishvili backstage. Article content Dvalishvili was on cloud nine — well, make it 13 to match his winning streak — after he successfully defended his 135-pound championship with a dominant performance in the main event of UFC 316. Article content Article content Article content Two bantamweight champions. One big party. Article content 'Congratulations, champ! Let me raise your hand,' Dvalishvili told Harrison. 'We are the champions!' Article content Article content Dvalishvili then issued a quick pointer to Harrison — more used to wearing Olympic gold around her neck — on how to hold the belt for a photo opp. Article content She best enjoy her time atop the division while she can — Harrison's presumed next challenger in Amanda Nunes stepping out of retirement and into the cage for a chance to get her belt back. Article content Dvalishvili retained his 135-pound championship when he tapped out Sean O'Malley in the third round and Harrison made 135-pound champion Julianna Pena quit with five seconds left in the second round in front of a crowd that included Trump and retired heavyweight great Mike Tyson on Saturday night at the Prudential Center. Article content Dvalishvili, a 34-year-old from the country of Georgia, won the belt in a convincing — though not aesthetically pleasing _ unanimous decision last year over O'Malley. O'Malley realized after the loss to truly be at his best — as a fighter, as a family man _ he needed to make difficult lifestyle sacrifices to round himself into peak form. Article content Article content The 30-year-old contender quit smoking marijuana among other bad habits and also ditched his trademark dyed hair. No more cornucopia of colours that turned his locks into rainbows or cotton candy tops. O'Malley sported brown, braided hair for the fight — leaving his fans to wear bright afro wigs in his honour. Article content New look, same result. Article content Dvalishvili — who had to duck a small railing collapse on his walk out that almost had fans spill onto the floor — ran his record to 20-4 and sat on top of the cage and bellowed toward the 17,343 fans in the start of an exuberant celebration of his 13th straight MMA victory, tied for fourth longest in UFC history. Article content 'I'm on top of the world!,' he said inside the cage.
