MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: (L-R) Opponents Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley face off during the ... More UFC 316 press conference at Kaseya Center on April 11, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLCA rematch between UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley serves as the main event of Saturday’s UFC 316 pay-per-view fight card. On June 7, the two run back their UFC 306 scrap, which Dvalishvili won via unanimous decision, ending O’Malley’s UFC bantamweight title reign after a single successful defense.
Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 is not the only bantamweight title fight on Saturday’s fight card. In the UFC 316 co-main event, Julianna Pena looks to defend her women’s 135-pound crown against former PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison.
With the UFC 316 fight card fast approaching, we look at betting odds, line movement, preview, picks, and predictions for the Pena vs. Harrison title fight, which takes place at Prudential Center. The UFC 316 PPV card streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
ForbesUFC 316 Fight Card Odds And Predictions: Pena Vs. HarrisonBy Trent Reinsmith
UFC 316 Fight Card Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Sean O’Malley 2
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 29: Merab Dvalishvili holds an open workout session for media at Syndicate ... More MMA on May 29, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLCMerab Dvalishvili (19-4), a long-time training partner of former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling stepped into the spotlight of the promotion’s 135-pound division in September 2014 when he scored a unanimous decision win over then-champion Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306.
The 33-year-old Dvalishvili joined the UFC in 2017 as much-hyped prospect. At the time, Dvalishvili was 7-2 and had won and defended the Ring of Combat bantamweight crown.
Dvalishvili did not have a smooth start to his UFC run, losing his first two fights. Falling to Frankie Saenz by decision, and the second, to Ricky Simon, via submission. In September 2018, things clicked in place for the Serra-Longo Fight Team product, and he has not lost since.
Heading into UFC 306, Dvalishvili was on a 10-fight winning streak. Prior to his matchup against O’Malley, Dvalishvili had defeated Marlon Moraes, Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. The win over O’Malley stretched his winning streak to 11 straight. Dvalishvili extended that streak to 12 when he defended his title with a unanimous decision win over the previously unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Sean O'Malley is seen on stage during the UFC 316 press conference at ... More Kaseya Center on April 11, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLCSean O’Malley (18-2-0-1) was 7-0 with six finishes when he got the chance to fight for a UFC contract on the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2017. O’Malley, scored a first-round knockout, and a UFC contract that night.
He went 4-0 in his first bouts with the promotion, picking up three fight-night bonus awards for his efforts, including a brutal one-punch KO win over UFC veteran Eddie Wineland at UFC 250.
The win over Wineland put O’Malley at No. 14 in the UFC bantamweight rankings and got him a fight against Marlon “Chito” Vera. Vera won that fight by TKO, handing O’Malley the only defeat on his record.
The loss to Vera knocked O’Malley out of the rankings, but he bounced back in his next fight, knocking out Thomas Almeida and earning another fight-night bonus in the process. He followed that win with a TKO win over Kris Moutinho.
Despite those back-to-back wins, O’Malley remained unranked when he next stepped into the Octagon for a December 2021 matchup against Raulian Paiva. O’Malley wrapped that fight up with a knockout at the 4:42 mark of the first round. That victory put O’Malley back in the rankings.
O’Malley’s next bout ended in a no contest, when an eye poke in the second round left Pedro Munhoz unable to continue.
Then, in October 2022, O’Malley was matched up with former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan. He entered that contest as the +230 underdog to the -275 ex-champ. The pair went the three-round distance, with O’Malley getting the split decision nod. That victory set up O’Malley to face Sterling in August 2023.
O’Malley has not fought since his loss to Dvalishvili. He is the No. 1 fighter in the official UFC bantamweight rankings.
ForbesUFC 316 Fight Card Odds And Predictions: Gastelum Vs. PyferBy Trent Reinsmith
UFC 316 Fight Card Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Sean O’Malley 2 Betting Odds And Line Movement
When BetOnline first announced the opening betting odds for the Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 matchup, the defending champ was listed as the -300 betting favorite over O’Malley, who came in at +240. Today, Dvalishvili has -270 odds, while the former UFC bantamweight champ is the +230 betting underdog.
ForbesUFC 316 Fight Card Odds And Predictions: Mario Bautista Vs. Patchy MixBy Trent Reinsmith
UFC 316 Fight Card Main Event Tale Of The Tape: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Sean O’Malley 2
Merab Dvalishvili
Age: 34
Height: 5’6”
Reach: 68”
Stance: Orthodox
Sean O’Malley
Age: 30
Height: 5’11”
Reach: 72”
Stance: Switch
ForbesUFC 316 Fight Card Odds And Predictions: Luque Vs. HollandBy Trent Reinsmith
UFC 316 Fight Card Main Event Picks And Predictions: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Sean O’Malley 2
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 29: Merab Dvalishvili speaks to media during an open workout session at ... More Syndicate MMA on May 29, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLCSean O’Malley has been saying and doing all the right things heading into UFC 316. He has removed distractions from his life. He has built a camp around removing distractions that a fight against someone like Merab Dvalishvili can bring. And while there have been some excuses about why he lost to Dvalishvili at the Sphere at UFC 306, O’Malley and his team have not harped on that. From all accounts, we should expect to see the best version of O’Malley on Saturday.
The question that is hanging in the air is, is that enough?
Unfortunately for O’Malley and company, I don’t think it is.
ForbesUFC 316 Fight Card: Prelims Odds, Picks And PredictionsBy Trent Reinsmith
Yes, O’Malley has the striking to catch Dvalishvili and turn out his lights, but let’s remember, in their first meeting, O’Malley only managed to throw 89 significant strikes. In his win over Vera, O’Malley attempted a whopping 356 significant strikes. The difference between Dvalishvili and Vera was pressure. Vera was happy to stand with O’Malley, while Dvalishvili used his chain wrestling and forward pressure to put his opponent on the back foot and keep him there for almost the entire 25 minutes of that meeting, landing six takedowns on 15 attempts and racking up 10:03 of control time.
Simply put, I don’t think O’Malley and his team can put together a game plan that will allow the former champ to avoid the pressure of the current champ while also accumulating enough damage to sway the judges in O’Malley’s favor.
The betting pick is for Dvalishvili to grind out a decision win. For those looking for value on an upset, the pick is O’Malley via knockout, but be sure to place that wager in an amount you’re willing to lose.
ForbesUFC 316 Fight Card: Early Prelims Odds, Picks And PredictionsBy Trent Reinsmith
We will have more on UFC 316 as fight night approaches, including odds, picks and predictions for the prelims and main card. Also, look for UFC 316: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Sean O’Malley 2 results and reactions on fight night.