Sean O’Malley, former UFC bantamweight champion, shared his strategy for his title rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. Speaking to Daniel Cormier in an interview, O’Malley reflected on his loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 306, attributing it to a hip injury that limited his training. He expressed confidence in his improved wrestling preparation and ability to knock out Dvalishvili, whom he called sloppy despite his mastery, aiming to break “The Machine” in their upcoming fight.
O’Malley’s Plan to Reclaim the Title
O’Malley discussed his mindset, stating:
“I was confident that I could go out there and knock Merab out. I did it against Aljo (Aljamain Sterling). The Aljo fight was worse, like the rib. I would say the rib was worse than the actual hip.” He clarified the injury’s impact, saying, “The hip didn’t play as much a role in the fight as it did as the camp. To fight someone like Merab you’ve got to prepare right. You’re got to wrestle. You’ve got to be grappling and we didn’t do that at all, hardly at all the first fight. This camp we’ve been able to wrestle more than we’ve ever been able to.”
He acknowledged Dvalishvili’s win, noting:
“That fight played out how it was supposed to play out. This fight will play out the way it’s supposed to play out. It’ll just make this win that much better, that much sweeter. He won. It wasn’t because of The Sphere. It was because of the lights. It wasn’t the pressure. It wasn’t the moment. It was my preparation.”
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. 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.
Dvalishvili defeated O’Malley at UFC 306, using six takedowns and over 10 minutes of control time to secure the title. O’Malley, hampered by a hip injury requiring surgery in October 2024, landed fewer strikes (6.2 per minute career average) than usual. He claimed the injury limited his wrestling training, crucial against Dvalishvili’s 4.6 takedowns per 15 minutes, per UFC Stats.
The rematch at UFC 316, announced by Dana White in April 2025, is O’Malley’s chance to reclaim the title. His improved preparation, including more grappling, aims to counter Dvalishvili’s relentless style, which O’Malley called sloppy yet effective.
O’Malley outlined his approach, stating:
“To beat Merab you’ve got to be focused. You’ve got to be dialed, have the correct preparation. They call him ‘The Machine’ for a reason. He’s a machine, so I’ve got to go out there and break the machine. That’s been the goal this whole camp is go out there and break ‘The Machine.’”
He predicted multiple outcomes, saying:
“I’m prepared for a 25 minute war. I wouldn’t be surprised I get my hand raised, and new, first-round KO, second-round KO. I know I can put his lights out. I know I can. He’s sloppy. He’s mastered his style. He’s really good at it, but it takes one mistake. Aljo made that one mistake in the second round. It takes one mistake for me to put someone’s lights out, for the fight to change. I wouldn’t be surprised to get him out of there early, but I’m prepared and planned to go 25 minutes.”
The UFC 316 rematch will test whether O’Malley’s enhanced preparation and striking can exploit Dvalishvili’s perceived sloppiness. O’Malley’s 61% takedown defense faces Dvalishvili’s grappling, while his striking could target Dvalishvili’s 46% striking defense, per UFC Stats.
A win for O’Malley would restore his championship, while Dvalishvili aims to cement his reign. The fight’s outcome will shape the bantamweight division, pitting O’Malley’s precision against Dvalishvili’s relentless pressure in a defining contest.
