Three Fights That Can Steal the Show at UFC 316
This Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, UFC 316 takes place, headlined by a Bantamweight Championship rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. There are two title fights on the card and a ton of matchups that can shake up their respective divisions. However, there are three matchups that I think have the highest potential for stealing the show. I will break down each matchup and why you won’t want to miss them.
Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van
This is a matchup that was previously scheduled for UFC 313 before Bruno Silva had to withdraw from the fight. Joshua Van has a pure boxing style that is aesthetically pleasing. His defense and counter-striking make him a matchup nightmare for anyone in the Flyweight Division. He holds a 6-1 record since joining the UFC in 2023. Bruno Silva has not gone to the scorecards since 2020, and before his loss in his last fight against Mabel Kape, he was on a four-fight winning streak all by finish. This fight is going to take place mostly on the feet, and both fighters like to load up and put everything they have into most of their strikes. It’s going to be a real test for Van because Silva is going to be in his face and pressuring in from start to finish. Van is going to look to fight behind his jab and roll out of the way of the power shots that Silva is going to throw, while Silva is going to want to keep Van on the back foot and slow him down with his power. Each fighter with a win could see a top ten or top five fight in the next matchup.
Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland
Both of these fighters have had their share of success in their UFC careers, but neither has been able to reach their full potential. Kevin Holland has the all-around game to be a problem in whichever division he wants to call his home, but he always takes one foot forward and two steps back. If he is going to win this fight, he is going to need to be on point because he is going to be pressured throughout the fight. Vicente Luque is a dangerous Brazilian who uses his iron chin to pressure his opponents and land his power shots, where he has the decision to go for broke or use his high-level grappling to shoot for submissions. If Luque can get around the reach of Holland and his one-two combination, he will be able to find real success in the pocket. Holland will need to move laterally and use his powerful right hand to pick Luque apart. Both fighters have real power in their hands and can finish the fight wherever it ends up. This fight has the makings of a dramatic finish or a three-round war.
Patchy Mix vs. Mario Bautista
Patchy Mix is making his long-awaited UFC debut in this fight against the unpopular Mario Bautista. Mix enters the UFC with a 20-1 record, and he is extremely aggressive, looking for a finish. He is oozing confidence heading into this matchup as the former Bellator champion is on a mission to prove he is UFC championship material. He said that Bautista isn’t going to hold him against the fence, and he won’t have a moment to rest in this fight. Mix will be in his face and make him uncomfortable from the jump. He promises that he will be able to submit Bautista easily and showcase his full potential. This is a fight you don’t want to miss because we have seen some newcomers who have made an immediate impact, and this has all the feelings of another great one. Bautista’s style isn’t favorable for a guy like Mix, he is going to need to take chances and fight out of his comfort zone, which could make for an exciting finish both ways. We will see if the so-called number-one Bantamweight can live up to all the hype.
A good majority of fans will want to only tune in to the title fights or the main event, more particularly. However, if you want to see high-level fights that could leave you speechless, these three fights have all the makings for that. You don’t want to miss all the action on this fight card this Saturday, June 7th, with the early prelims starting at 6:00 p.m. EST. The highly anticipated main card starts at 10:00 p.m. EST.
