Merab Dvalishvilli vs. Sean O'Malley: Who Wins the Championship Rematch
UFC 316 brings a pivotal championship rematch as Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his Bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley. Their first encounter ended with Dvalishvili dominating the former champion, cementing his place as the top fighter in the division. O’Malley has not returned to action since that loss, making this rematch his chance at redemption and a shot to reclaim the belt. Despite the setback, his prior resume and star power have kept him firmly in the title picture. Both fighters remain far ahead of the rest of the division, and this bout will determine whether Dvalishvili’s reign continues or O’Malley can rewrite the story.
In their first encounter at UFC 306, Merab Dvalishvili claimed the Bantamweight title by defeating Sean O’Malley via unanimous decision, with judges scoring the bout 49–46 and 48–47 twice. Dvalishvili executed a relentless game plan, securing eight takedowns and accumulating over 11 minutes of control time, which neutralized O’Malley’s striking advantage. The Bantamweight clash was heavily one-sided in terms of grappling, as Dvalishvili outworked O’Malley in scrambles and dictated the pace from start to finish. O’Malley later revealed he had suffered a torn labrum in his left hip prior to the fight, an injury that required surgery and kept him out of action for months. Despite his claims of having won Rounds One, Three, and Five, the judges and the stats told a different story, firmly establishing Dvalishvili as the top Bantamweight in the world.
Sean O’Malley must improve his takedown defense significantly to stay on his feet and unleash a high volume of strikes against Merab Dvalishvili. Maintaining distance and using movement will be critical to avoid Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling pressure. Meanwhile, Dvalishvili needs to continue his aggressive takedown attempts to disrupt O’Malley’s rhythm and control the pace of the fight. The first bout showcased a less-than-ideal version of O’Malley facing a dominant and well-prepared champion in Dvalishvili. If O’Malley arrives at UFC 316 healthy and fully focused, he has the skill set to inflict meaningful damage over five rounds. This rematch is expected to be a close, competitive battle, with a determined O’Malley having the potential to narrowly outpoint Dvalishvili by decision.
