A rematch just under a year in the making set heated rivals UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former title holder Sean O’Malley in the octagon once again at UFC 316 on Saturday night.
Dvalishvili (19-4) beat O’Malley at Noche UFC, UFC 306, last September to claim the belt by decision. Shortly after he kicked off 2025 with a dominant performance over Umar Nurmagomedov in his first title defense.
Now the rivalry with O’Malley enters it’s next chapter in Newark, NJ.
O’Malley (18-2) has not fought since that night in The Sphere. He won the title over Aljamain Sterling in 2023, and defended it against Chito Vera before losing to Dvalishvili.
The former champion has been very vocal about changing his life habits in preparation for this fight. He stopped using social media, quit any vices he had outside of the octagon, and says he’s fully focused on fighting.
With everything on the line for both men, and plenty of contenders watching, the two went to war at UFC 316.
Round 1 Dvalishvili and O’Malley went for the feel out round until O’Malley threw an aggressive knee right up the middle which forced him to fall on his back. Dvalishvili then took over with his wrestling. Multiple takedowns and damage on the ground won Dvalishvili the round.
Round 2 and Dvalishvili went to let his hands go. O’Malley did a good job avoiding the takedowns and landing enough to stay competitive in the round. With under a minute left Dvalishvili tried to go for another takedown but O’Malley was able to stuff it.
Round 3 and the champion flew in for a takedown that was stuffed. He landed a couple shots, backed up, then shot back in and got his takedown. O’Malley went to closed guard and looked for elbows off his back.
Dvalishvili worked short shots up top keeping busy as to not get stood up. O’Malley rocked back and forth looking for sweeps or subs off his back. The champion did a real good job keeping O’Malley in place and landing damage including a really rough knee to the body.
O’Malley found a way back to his feet on the fece, but Dvalishvili kept him in place continuing to land knees to the legs and body. Not long after he got yet another takedown.
Finally near the end of the third round Dvalishvili grabbed a modified D’arce or guillotine and finished O’Malley.
And Still.
Official Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O’Malley via R3 SUB, 4:42
