UFC 316 – Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O’Malley 2

At UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, the bantamweight division took center stage as Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley met in a highly anticipated rematch inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey—a bout fueled by unfinished business, clashing styles, and title implications. Their first meeting was razor-thin and controversial; this time, both came in with something to prove, and neither man was willing to give an inch.

From the opening horn, Dvalishvili wasted no time launching into his relentless trademark pace. The “Machine” shot for takedowns in the opening seconds, chaining attempts and forcing O’Malley to defend against the cage. O’Malley stayed composed, showing improved takedown defense and sharp footwork, firing off well-timed counters and slicing elbows in tight. But Merab kept pressing, unbothered by the damage, constantly moving, grinding, and forcing a war of attrition.

In the second round, the fight took a dramatic turn. O’Malley began to find his rhythm, landing clean strikes as Dvalishvili shot in—snapping Merab’s head back with jabs and mixing in spinning kicks to the body. The crowd roared when a perfectly timed uppercut from O’Malley stunned Dvalishvili momentarily, but the Georgian grappling machine dug deep and responded by slamming O’Malley to the canvas with a thunderous double-leg takedown. He poured on pressure from the top, smothering O’Malley’s hips, working elbows and short punches, and stealing back momentum.

The third and final round was a high-stakes sprint. O’Malley knew he needed space to work, circling and picking his shots, while Merab never let up, diving for legs, clinching, dragging, and exhausting. O’Malley landed the cleaner strikes throughout, but Dvalishvili controlled the grappling exchanges and refused to let the champion settle. It was a round that symbolized the entire fight: technique vs. tenacity, flair vs. force.

After fifteen grueling minutes, the judges returned a split decision in favor of Merab Dvalishvili, crowning him the new UFC bantamweight champion and ending O’Malley’s reign in a fight defined by pace, heart, and sheer will. For Merab, it was a long-awaited triumph—proof that perseverance and pressure can break even the slickest technician. For Sean O’Malley 2, it was a bitter loss, but one that only adds to his legend as he fought off one of the sport’s most overwhelming engines for every second of the contest.

Their rivalry, now split 1–1, may not be over—but on this night in Newark, it was Merab’s machine that outlasted the Sugar Show.

Watch and download full fight replays tonight between Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O’Malley 2 in UFC 316 the video fight replay available in high-quality

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