DC REACTS to Merab Dvalishvili SUBMITTING Sean O'Malley, Kayla Harrison FINISHES Peña

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Daniel Cormier TV - DC REACTS to Merab Dvalishvili SUBMITTING Sean O'Malley, Kayla Harrison FINISHES Peña
Release Date: June 8, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Introduction to UFC 316

At the outset of the episode ([02:26]), host Tom Yamas delves into the highlights of UFC 316, which recently concluded in Newark, New Jersey. He sets the stage by praising the event's excitement and the high-caliber performances that captivated fans.

“UFC 316 just wrapped. It was a big night from Newark. It was busy, great fights. We had some great performances.” ([02:30])

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Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley: A Dominant Display

The focal point of the episode centers on Merab Dvalishvili's impressive submission victory over Sean O'Malley. Tom Yamas provides an in-depth analysis of the fight dynamics, highlighting Merab's superior performance despite Sean O'Malley's readiness and technical skills.

“Sean o' Malley was ready for Merab Dvalishvili. Sean o' Malley had better takedown defense. Sean o' Malley did a better job moving his feet, not getting trapped. Sean o' Malley looked better, but unfortunate for him, Merab was better.” ([03:10])

Yamas emphasizes Merab's dual-threat capability, combining striking and wrestling to control the bout effectively.

“Merab has so much improved that his striking now is starting to match what he can do in the wrestling.” ([04:00])

He recounts key moments from the fight, particularly Merab's relentless pressure and his strategic takedowns, which fatigued Sean and led to the decisive submission in the third round.

“There is nothing more exhausting, guys, than getting taken down, getting up to your feet and getting thrown back down to the mat. That is what Merab did to him over and over again.” ([07:45])

Yamas concludes that Merab's victory cements his status as the dominant force in the UFC's bantamweight division.

“For UFC 316, my Total Wireless Fighting Spirit award goes to Merab Dvalishvili.” ([13:00])

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Kayla Harrison vs. Juliana Pena: A Statement Win

Shifting focus to the co-main event, Yamas discusses Kayla Harrison's authoritative finish over Julianna Pena. He underscores Harrison's exceptional performance and strategic prowess throughout the fight.

“Kayla Harrison did that, and she did that in unbelievable fashion, and now she fights Amanda Nunes.” ([09:30])

Yamas breaks down the fight progression, noting Harrison's early dominance with key takedowns and her ability to control Pena, culminating in a decisive submission in the second round.

“Second round, Kayla gets her down again. She locks in a Kimura, and with five seconds left, Julianna Pena taps out.” ([11:00])

He highlights the significance of this victory, positioning it as the most anticipated female fight at 135lbs in recent UFC history.

“This is the greatest fight that we could ever hope for at 135lbs for women.” ([12:10])

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Additional Fight Highlights

Beyond the main events, Tom Yamas provides brief yet insightful commentary on several other fights from UFC 316:

• Joe Piper vs. [Opponent]: Yamas expresses disappointment in Piper's performance, expecting a stronger showing.

  “Joe Piper wasn't a great performance. When he watches this, he'll be very disappointed.” ([10:00])

• Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix: Bautista secures a victory, countering fan expectations by not falling into predictable patterns.

  “Patchy Mix was very flat-footed and didn't move his head much. Mario Bautista deserves some respect.” ([10:45])

• Kevin Holland vs. Vicente Luque: Holland claims another submission win, showcasing his potential as a contender in the 170-pound division.

  “Kevin Holland beat Vicente Luque by submission. He can be a contender.” ([11:30])

• Josh Van vs. Bruno Silva: Van delivers a masterful performance, marking his growth as a mixed martial artist.

  “Josh Van stopped Bruno Silva in what was a masterpiece.” ([12:00])

• Azamat Murzikanov vs. Brenson Ribeiro: Murzikanov remains undefeated, adding to his rising prominence in the UFC.

  “Azamat Murzikanov is the real deal. Big win by Cortez Acosta.” ([12:50])

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Total Wireless Fighting Spirit Award

Concluding the fight analysis, Tom Yamas announces the Total Wireless Fighting Spirit Award for UFC 316, bestowing it upon Merab Dvalishvili for his outstanding performance and dominance in the bantamweight division.

“So for UFC 316, my Total Wireless Fighting Spirit award goes to Merab Dvalishvili.” ([13:00])

Yamas expresses gratitude to the fans and reflects on the event's success, highlighting the community's support and anticipation for future matchups.

“I'm so lucky that I get to do this job and you guys support me to do this job.” ([13:10])

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Tom Yamas reiterating his appreciation for the fans and the vibrant atmosphere surrounding UFC 316. He remains optimistic about upcoming fights, particularly the anticipated showdown between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes.

“It's the biggest female fight we've had in a long time, and I'm here for it.” ([12:20])

Yamas signs off with enthusiasm, inviting listeners to stay engaged with The Volume's content and future UFC coverage.

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Key Takeaways

• Merab Dvalishvili's Dominance: Merab showcased a comprehensive skill set, excelling in both striking and wrestling to secure his submission victory over Sean O'Malley.
• Kayla Harrison's Championship Assertion: Harrison's strategic prowess and physical dominance confirmed her status as a top contender, setting the stage for a highly anticipated title fight.
• Overall Event Success: UFC 316 was marked by high-energy performances, significant upsets, and the affirmation of rising stars within the UFC roster.
• Community Engagement: The episode emphasized the importance of fan support and the vibrant UFC community, fostering anticipation for future events and matchups.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Tom Yamas on Merab's Performance: “Merab is the story” ([02:30])
• On Dvalishvili's Improvement: “Merab has so much improved that his striking now is starting to match what he can do in the wrestling.” ([04:00])
• Fighting Spirit Award Announcement: “For UFC 316, my Total Wireless Fighting Spirit award goes to Merab Dvalishvili.” ([13:00])
• Anticipation for Future Fights: “It's the biggest female fight we've had in a long time, and I'm here for it.” ([12:20])

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the primary discussions and insights shared during the episode, providing a detailed overview for listeners seeking to understand the key moments and analyses presented during UFC 316.

Transcript

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Tom Yamas]

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It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but Total Wireless really does have your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. Visit totalwireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G service area. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

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Tom Yamaz is there for us.

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Firefighters are still working around the clock. As the world changes, we look for what endures. We are coming on the air with breaking news. Right now we look for a constant and from one era to the next, Trust is the anchor for NBC Nightly News. I'm Tom Yamas. A new chapter begins NBC Nightly News with Tom yamas evenings on NBC.

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[Tom Yamas]

The volume guys UFC 316 just wrapped from Newark, New Jersey. And what a night it was. This post fight video is brought to you by Total Wireless, the official wireless provider of UFC they're in your corner with unlimited 5G data that will not slow you down. UFC 316 just wrapped. I got my results page right in front of me. Got that for you guys. You know, it was a big night from Newark. It was busy, great fights. We had some great performances. But ultimately, once again, when there is a bantamweight title fight, Marab Dwallace Willie is involved in it. There's a real opportunity or a real option or chance that he will be the story. And once again, Merab is the story. It was pace, it was pressure, and it was his dominance of Sean o' Malley that once again establishes him as the dominant force in the UFC's bandweight division. The most telling thing about this fight and the most important thing about this fight is that Sean o' Malley was better performing paired. Sean o' Malley was ready for Murab dualish Willie. Sean o' Malley had better takedown defense. Sean o' Malley did a better job moving his feet, not getting trapped. Sean o' Malley looked better, but unfortunate for him, Merab was better. Merab was better in the striking. As Miles walks behind me and just gets in my shot every single video. Look at this guy. He's a reoccurring character in these post fight videos. But Merab was just better the second round. Merab had to stand with him the entirety of that round and two of the three judges scored around for him. He's gotten that much better. He's so much improved that his striking now is starting to match what he can do in the wrestling. And we know how good Sean o' Malley is. There was a point in the second round where Sean o' Malley hit on a big right hand and Merab didn't go down. And if he can't drop him with those shots, you knew Sean o' Malley was in for a really long night. First round, me Rob does what he does. Second round, o' Malley defends almost every single takedown that was thrown in his direction. Third round, me Rob changes it up a little bit, pushes him against the Afghan side, picks him up on his shoulders just like he did with Henry Cejudo. Slams o' Malley down and then continues to just work him up and down. There is nothing more exhausting, guys, then getting taken down, getting up to your feet and getting thrown back down to the mat. That is what Marab did to him over and over again. You know, UFC 316 was a monster of a fight card. It was an amazing fight card. And Marab showed again. He's the man, you know, he beat the best version of Sha o' Malley. He beat the guy that was locked in. He beat the guy that was not playing the superstar. He beat the guy that was not here to put on a show. This is a guy that came ready to win. And Merab Dualas really, really did smash him. He dominated him. He controlled him. And you can see o' Malley starting to wilt. But then for him to finish him like he did in the third round is what's most impressive, because we know that Merab is really good. What we don't know is that Merab can truly dominate in the way that he did. John Wood texted me before the fights, and he said, I hope you're not buying into all this o' Malley hype. He's going to get smashed. He. I swear to God, he said that to me, and I go, bro, Sean seems ready. Said he's going to get smashed. Those guys don't lie. That's exactly what Marab did tonight as he retains his UFC bantamweight championship. And now he's set to fight Corey Sandhagen, who deserves this title fight more than anyone. He is so ready. He's done everything he could possibly do in order to get a title fight. But Merab's actually doing his post fight interview. And he always does it like he's just having a conversation. He talks about weed, talks about wanting a wife, talks about why his cardio wasn't so good before because he was smoking cigarettes. I mean, Marab is a character, and this place was rocking, and rightfully so for a fight that really did matter. The co main event, Kayla Harrison put it on Julianna Pena. I mean, not much of that fight was competitive. You know, so many expected Kayla to be the UFC champ at some point. So many believed that she would hold the championship. And tonight she showed why. There was so much pressure and so much expectation tied to her. She went out there in round one, got an early takedown in confusion, controlled the first round. Juliana throws two bottom kicks from the bottom that are illegal. She gets a point deducted because Shaolin is a former fighter and he is a really good referee. There was no hard warning. Shaolin right away said, nope, point taken. Now Juliana is already down two points. She's 10, 8, first round without taking any damage. Second round, Kayla gets her down again. This time she starts to put damage on her. She gets along the octagon side, locks in a Kimura dude. Juliana Pena heard the clapper. She knew that There was only 10 seconds left. 10 seconds she could not stay in that Kimura. Generally you put your left leg over the head to try to get them on their side. Kayla ripped her onto her side from side control and got so much pressure on the arm that she made Julian Opinion tap with five seconds left in the second round to become the UFC champion. So many times, Guys, we have these fighters, they're coming to the UFC and the expectation is they're going to be special. Not many of them can live up to that. Kayla Harrison did that, and she did that in unbelievable fashion, and now she fights Amanda Nunes. It's. It's crazy how fast we move on from one champion to the new champion to the next fight, but this is the fight. This is the greatest fight that we could ever Hope for at 135lbs for women. We went a roundabout way to get here. We got Raquel Pennington versus Myra Buena Silva, which wasn't a great fight. We got Raquel Pennington vs. Juliana Pena, which was another close fight. We ultimately get Kayla Harrison versus Amanda Nunes, and it always feels like we should have been here. That is why Amanda left American Top Team, because the moment Kayla walked in there, she recognized this could be a problem. I may have to deal with this woman at some point. She even said it in the octagon. She goes, we knew this day would come, Kayla. We knew we would have to fight each other. And she did that. They now are on the verge of that. It's the biggest female fight we've had in a long time. This is the biggest female fight since Chris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes fought the first time that we've had in the ufc. And I'm here for it. Joe Piper one wasn't a great performance. I think when he goes back and he watches this, he's going to be very disappointed in the way that he fought. Mario Bautista beat Patchy Mix. Patchy Mix was very flat footed and he did not move his head much at all. Mario Bautista has not won eight fights in a row, and he deserves some respect. People are booing because they expected Patchy to take him down and submit him. It's not Mario Bautista's job to accommodate what the fans believe or what people bet on. Mario Bautista's job is to win, and that's exactly what he did. Again. Kevin Holland beat Vicente Luque by submission. Another dars choke for Kevin Holland. This dude is nasty at 170 pounds, and I truly believe that he can be a contender. He said today to really set his sights on becoming a contender at 170. And I do believe that Kevin Holland has that ability to do that. Josh Van stopped Bruno Silva in what was a masterpiece. It was tremendous to watch him do what he did tonight at such a young age. 23 years old, he's already fought seven times in the UFC. He's a former Fury FC champion. Came into the UFC so young, didn't know how to wrestle, but now he's a full on mixed martial artist. Azmat Marzakana beat Brenson Ribeiro in the first round. And now this guy has won all of his UFC fights. He's undefeated for his career. Outside of inactivity, he would be one of the most talked about guys in the ufc. It's time now for us to discuss Azamat Murzikanov. This guy is the real deal. Big win by Waldo Cost or Acosta. Cortez Acosta, yo. Andres Gustafson beat the absolute out of Chaos Williams. I mean, that was crazy. This guy said, I'm a Viking, give me an ax and tell me where to fight. I don't watch film. I'm not technical, I just fight. Tonight he showed that he does that very well. Big win by Wong Kong. Yo, Joosung, you. That knockout of Tekken Saragi was absolutely crazy. Crazy. Quillen Salkil with a big victory. And Markel Medeiros, what a massive victory to start the night. It was an unbelievable fight club and I'm so lucky that I get to do this job and you guys support me to do this job. But now it's time for me to pick my Total Wireless fighter of the night. So I want to hand out my fighting Spot Spirit Award. We had so many great performances, right? So when I had to choose, it was very difficult. So as I choose, I'm just putting a tw by everybody's name that I believe will be in the running. But ultimately you fight at the highest level. Those are the hardest fights, championship fights. And the guy that gets my Total Wireless Fighting spirit Award for UFC 316 is Marab Dwallish. Willie doesn't get no better. You fight the same guy that you beat by decision the first time and you submit him, you have to get the award. So for UFC 316, my total wireless Fighting Spirit award goes to Merab Dwallish Willie. And as always, guys, I appreciate your support. I love each and every one of you. Thank you everyone that came out to the Total Wireless appearance yesterday. It was packed. There were so many people I could not imagine after being retired for five years. You guys would show me this level of love. I appreciate it and I will never take it for granted. I appreciate your support. Like, subscribe, tell your friends that DC's got a YouTube channel and I'm doing things like this. Until next time. I love you guys. Peace.

[Total Wireless Announcer]

This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. When you're streaming the fight or sharing those takedown highlights, you need a wireless provider that keeps you close to the action. With Total Wireless, you're covered by the Verizon 5G network, so you don't have to worry about your connection being knocked.

[Tom Yamas]

Out at the biggest moments.

[Total Wireless Announcer]

It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but Total Wireless really does have your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. Visit totalwireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G cable device and a 5G service area. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

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Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and safeway. Now through June 24th. Score hot summer savings and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags on items like Pringles, Ritz crackers and chips, sliced soda, Wonder Buns and bread, and Natural Choice lunch meat. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery subject to availability restrictions apply. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.

[Jenny Garth]

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