Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2 to headline UFC 316 in New Jersey
Merab Dvalishvili and “Suga” Sean O’Malley are set to run it back in a bantamweight championship rematch.
Merab Dvalishvili and “Suga” Sean O’Malley are set to run it back in a bantamweight championship rematch.
The pair are set to meet in the main event of UFC 316 in June, the organization’s president, Dana White, announced Tuesday evening during a social media livestream.
Dvalishvili became the 135-pound champion at UFC 306 less than seven months ago when he won a unanimous decision over O’Malley at the UFC’s special Sphere event in Las Vegas.
The 34-year-old from Georgia successfully defended his title and extended his winning streak to 12 in a row at January’s UFC 311 with a thrilling unanimous decision victory over Umar Nurmagomedov, which shot Dvalishvili up to No. 4 on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
O’Malley has not fought since losing to Dvalishvili.
The 30-year-old former champion revealed following his loss to Dvalishvili that he had sustained a torn labrum in his hip before the fight and has since undergone surgery.
O’Malley initially won the title when he stopped Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023. O’Malley earned a title defence at UFC 299 roughly 13 months ago when he avenged a previous loss to Marlon Vera.
All three judges scored the UFC 306 main event in favour of Dvalishvili. One judge had it four rounds to one (49–46), while the other two saw it three rounds to two (48–47).
UFC 316 is scheduled for June 7 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
The co-main event will see Kayla Harrison challenge Julianna Pena for the women’s bantamweight title.
