UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark was expected to be a night of high-octane action inside the Octagon, but the drama began even before the first punch was thrown in the main event. Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili found himself at the center of a frightening moment during his walkout when a barrier separating fans from the entrance ramp gave way, nearly causing a serious accident.
As Dvalishvili made his way to the cage, fans leaned over the railing to cheer him on and possibly make contact with the fighter. The barrier, unable to withstand the weight and pressure from the overenthusiastic crowd, suddenly collapsed. Several fans spilled forward onto the walkway, narrowly missing Dvalishvili and a UFC cameraman. Security quickly intervened to prevent further chaos, and remarkably, no serious injuries were reported from the incident.
In the post-fight press conference, Dvalishvili addressed the incident with characteristic humor and composure. “What happened was I was walking, people tried to touch me, and then they almost knocked me out before I walked in,” he joked. “Then security put me against the wall, and I’m like 'I’m a fighter! Let me go!' Thank God nobody got hurt.” His light-hearted response masked what could have been a much more dangerous situation had the timing or positioning been slightly different.
Merab Dvalishvili retains UFC Bantamweight title by submitting Sean O’Malley
Despite the unsettling moment, Dvalishvili remained focused and delivered an impressive performance once the fight began. He secured a third-round submission victory over Sean O’Malley, using a rare north-south choke that hadn’t been seen in his UFC career in years. The win marked his 13th consecutive victory in the promotion, a streak matched only by UFC greats such as Jon Jones and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The incident sparked concern among fans and officials about event safety, particularly during fighter walkouts, where crowd enthusiasm can easily tip into dangerous territory.
In the end, Merab Dvalishvili not only walked away from a potentially disastrous moment but also left the Octagon with another dominant win under his belt. The episode highlighted not just the unpredictability of live sports events, but also Dvalishvili’s professionalism and mental toughness. As the bantamweight division continues to heat up, one thing is clear: it will take more than a collapsing barricade to stop "The Machine."
