The dramatic conclusion of UFC 316’s main event took an unexpected turn when newly crowned bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili made a beeline for the President of the United States, Donald Trump, immediately after submitting Sean O’Malley.
Ryan Garcia Reacts to Merab Dvalishvili’s Risky Celebration
The Georgian fighter’s spontaneous cage exit created a moment of visible tension among Trump’s security personnel. Footage shows one agent appearing to reach toward their weapon before recognizing the celebratory nature of Dvalishvili’s approach.
Garcia took to social media to share a blunt reaction. Garcia posted, “Said this on IG No way they are just letting lose on merab there if he socks trump?”
Said this on IG
No way they are just letting lose on merab there if he socks trump? https://t.co/GmZPa0qlLo
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) June 12, 2025
Trump’s connection to the UFC dates back over two decades, beginning when his Atlantic City casino hosted UFC events in the early 2000s. His presence at major UFC cards has become increasingly common, particularly since his historic attendance at UFC 244 in 2019, making him the first sitting POTUS to attend a UFC event.
Meanwhile, inside the octagon, the bantamweight champion delivered a masterful performance against O’Malley. The Georgian utilized a modified north-south choke to secure the victory in the third round. This marked Dvalishvili’s second successful title defense, solidifying his position as one of the sport’s most dominant champions.
Javier Mendez Questions Merab’s Pound-for-Pound Jump
As Dvalishvili continues to rise in prominence, his latest victory at UFC 316 also pushed him two spots up the UFC’s official pound-for-pound rankings. Now sitting at No. 2, just below Islam Makhachev, the leap has drawn mixed reactions.
Javier Mendez, the acclaimed coach behind Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s success, expressed reservations about the ranking adjustment during a recent episode of the “Javier & Mo Show” on YouTube. Mendez questioned whether such a significant leap was justified, particularly given the consistent performances of featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
“That’s a little too much of a jump because, you know, [Ilia] Topuria didn’t discredit himself by his last performance. But Merab [was] impressive. But Topuria, his performances were great too,” Mendez explained, highlighting the competitive nature of the current pound-for-pound landscape.
The veteran coach continued his analysis by praising Topuria’s recent performances, particularly his devastating knockout victory over Max Holloway. “He [Topuria] destroyed everybody, you know. And then how he destroyed Max [Holloway]. [But Dvalishvili] looked good. He looked good.” Mendez acknowledged, while maintaining his position, that the ranking jump might have been premature.
What are your thoughts on Dvalishvili’s new rank? Let us know.