Sean O’Malley, former UFC bantamweight champion, announced the birth of his son just two weeks before his title rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. In a YouTube video posted on his channel, O’Malley expressed joy about fatherhood, describing the peaceful experience of holding his newborn and crediting his partner, Danya, for managing nighttime feedings.
O’Malley’s Fatherhood Experience
O’Malley confirmed the baby’s gender, stating:
“That is true. Oh, yeah, that’s true. I almost forgot about that guy. Ten day old… Danya convinced me it’s a boy. I thought was a girl, and I was wrong…It’s nice cause Danya’s such a beast. I’ve sleeping upstairs. Just because the baby wakes up. Baby only wakes up every 3 hours to feed… I’ve been sleeping upstairs, so I’ve had to deal with that yet. But it’s been good. It’s been really good.”
He described the joy of returning home, saying:
“It’s so peaceful. Just like every time I’m here and I go home, I get so excited on that drive home that I get to go hold him. He just sleeps all day, so I get home, he’s pretty much sleeping… or burping, I put him on my chest, it is just the most peaceful thing ever.” O’Malley’s enthusiasm highlights the emotional lift fatherhood provides amid his intense training camp.
Sean O’Malley reveals he had a baby boy 10 days ago, just two weeks before his fight with Merab at #UFC316
@SugaSeanMMA ▫️ pic.twitter.com/vqFr9Lw6Ek
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 4, 2025
Sean O’Malley, born October 24, 1994, in Helena, Montana, is a former UFC bantamweight champion with an 18-2 record. He won the title against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 on August 19, 2023, via second-round knockout and defended it against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 on March 9, 2024. O’Malley lost the belt to Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) at UFC 306 on September 14, 2024, hampered by a hip injury requiring surgery in October 2024. Known for precise striking, he debuted in the UFC in 2017. His other loss was to Vera in 2020 due to a leg injury.
Merab Dvalishvili, born January 10, 1991, in Tbilisi, Georgia, is the UFC bantamweight champion with a 19-4 record and a 12-fight win streak. He won the title against O’Malley at UFC 306 and defended it against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025, by unanimous decision. His streak includes wins over Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and Jose Aldo. Nicknamed “The Machine” for his wrestling and stamina, Dvalishvili debuted in the UFC in 2017. His losses include two knockouts and two decisions early in his career.
O’Malley previously discussed his hip injury’s impact on his UFC 306 loss, telling Daniel Cormier in May 2025 that limited wrestling training hurt his performance. His current camp emphasizes grappling to counter Dvalishvili, making his ability to balance fatherhood and training notable.
The birth of his son follows O’Malley’s public journey with Danya, with whom he also shares a daughter, Elena, born in 2020. His excitement about fatherhood contrasts with the high-stakes rematch, where he aims to reclaim the title. O’Malley’s 61% takedown defense faces Dvalishvili’s wrestling, while his 6.2 significant strikes per minute could exploit Dvalishvili’s 46% striking defense, per UFC Stats.
His YouTube channel, with over 600,000 subscribers as of June 2025, provides a platform to connect with fans, sharing personal updates like this alongside fight-related content. The video’s lighthearted tone shows O’Malley’s positive mindset despite the looming challenge.
O’Malley’s newborn brings added motivation for UFC 316, where a win would restore his championship and mark a triumphant return. Dvalishvili, favored by analysts like Robert Whittaker for his cardio, aims to repeat his UFC 306 dominance. The fight’s outcome will shape the bantamweight division’s future.
