UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili makes his second defense of the 135-pound title when he faces the man he dethroned, Sean O'Malley, in a rematch at UFC 316. Georgia-born Dvalishvili successfully defended the title he won last September from O’Malley when he beat Umar Nurmagomedov last January. The win over Nurmagomedov was Dvalishvili's 12th straight win in the UFC. The champ is the bookies' favorite, clearly tipped to defeat O'Malley again. Sean O'Malley has not fought since losing the title and underwent surgery to fix a torn labrum.
Bet on Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley with Bet365
- MMA: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley, UFC Bantamweight Championship
- Where to watch: ESPN PPV, Supersport, ESPN+, Disney+, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN PPV
- Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Date: 07.06.2025 22:30 ET
Merab Dvalishvili
The "Machine" won the UFC bantamweight title late last year when he put in a masterful performance over five rounds to claim the 135-pound gold. Merab Dvalishvili's stats in the UFC are extraordinary, with the 34-year-old scoring the second-highest decision-wins-per-win percentage in UFC bantamweight history with 11 decision wins from 12 victories. "The Machine," reputed for his exceptional cardiovascular fitness and endurance, holds the record for most takedowns in UFC history and the longest win streak in UFC bantamweight history. Trained in combat sambo and Judo, Dvalishvili lost his first two UFC fights before going on the remarkable run that has vaulted him to the bantamweight crown and number 4 spot in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.
Tale of the Tape
- Age - 34
- Height - 5'6"
- Reach - 68"
- Weight - 135 lbs (61 kg)
- Record - 19-4
Sean O'Malley
American Sean O'Malley stopped Aljamain Sterling in 2023 to clinch the bantamweight title. He made one successful title defense over Marlon Vera early last year before being defeated by the current champ, Merab Dvalishvili. A few days after dropping the title to Dvalishvili, O'Malley revealed that he suffered a torn labrum before the fight. He has undergone surgery and is hopeful of a better outcome this time. In that first fight, Sean O'Malley went behind in the early rounds and was unable to do enough to retain the title. The 30-year-old Dana White Contender Series alum is a flamboyant fighter who has clocked the most fight bonuses in the bantamweight class. O'Malley is an enthusiastic striker with 12 knockouts from his 18 victories.
Tale of the Tape
- Age - 30
- Height - 5'11"
- Reach - 72"
- Weight - 135 lbs (61 kg)
- Record - 18-2-1 (NC)
Betting Odds
Merab Dvalishvili is a 1.61 favorite to win by decision on Bet365. The bookie has Sean O'Malley to win at 3.23 odds. 1xBet prices O'Malley by KO at 4 odds and by decision at 7. No to the fight going the distance is 2.90 on Betway, which lists under 4.5 at 2.05 odds. Read more here.
Bet on Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley with Bet365
