Merab Dvalishvili News
Merab Dvalishvili could run into problems with next UFC title defense, says former champion
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 10, 2025
Could Merab Dvalishvili be in for a letdown in his next title defense? Dvalishvili has looked the part of an elite fighter every time he steps inside the Octagon. He further added to his aura by submitting Sean O’Malley in their UFC 316 rematch on Saturday. “The Machine” has lived up to his nickname, riding a 13-fight winning streak. He now has two successful UFC Bantamweight Championship defenses. He hasn’t lost a pro MMA fight since 2018.
Merab Dvalishvili's coach is confident regarding possible Cory Sandhagen fight
Harry Kettle - June 10, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili’s coach John Wood has given his thoughts on a possible title fight against Cory Sandhagen. Last weekend in the main event of UFC 316, Merab Dvalishvili submitted and defeated Sean O’Malley. It served as the final chapter in their rivalry (at least for the time being), with the champion now set to move on to even bigger things. The expectation is that his next challenger will be Cory Sandhagen, who has been on a pretty solid run of form in recent years.
What's next for the stars of UFC 316?
Cole Shelton - June 9, 2025
The UFC was in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday for a solid UFC 316 card. The main event saw Merab Dvalishvili rematching Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight belt. The co-main event saw Julianna Pena defending her bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison. Ultimately, it was Dvalishvili who beat O’Malley again, but this time he submitted ‘Suga’ to defend his bantamweight title. The co-main event saw Harrison submit Pena to win the women’s bantamweight title. Following UFC 316, here is what I think should be next for the stars of the event.
Merab Dvalishvili open to fighting flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja: "People will be interested in this fight"
Cole Shelton - June 9, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili believes that a fight against Alexandre Pantoja would be one that the people would be interested in. Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title on Saturday in the main event of UFC 316 with a submission win over Sean O’Malley. It was a dominating performance, and after the win, his next title defense wasn’t clear. Cory Sandhagen appears to be next in line, but Petr Yan and Umar Nurmagomedov are both potential candidates.
Sean O’Malley issues statement following submission loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316: “Sorry we didn’t get the job done”
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2025
UFC star Sean O’Malley has issued a statement following his submission loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. As we know, Sean O’Malley fell short in his attempt to reclaim the UFC bantamweight championship last weekend. In the main event of UFC 316 on Saturday night, he was submitted in the third round by dominant champion Merab Dvalishvili. While Sean was able to showcase some improvements in the first couple of rounds, he ultimately wasn’t able to keep up with ‘The Machine’.
Merab Dvalishvili reveals key name who helped him defeat Sean O'Malley again at UFC 316
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 8, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili says one key name played a huge role in his successful training camp for UFC 316. Dvalishvili put his bantamweight title at stake against Sean O’Malley in a rematch on Saturday. Dvalishvili captured the 135-pound gold from “Suga” in their first encounter. In the rematch, Dvalishvili secured a north-south choke in the third round to maintain his hold on the gold. It marks O’Malley’s first submission defeat in pro MMA competition.
Pros react after Merab Dvalishvili submits Sean O'Malley at UFC 316
Chris Taylor - June 7, 2025
Tonight’s UFC 316 event was headlined by a highly anticipated bantamweight title fight rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since scoring his first successful title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov at January’s UFC 311 event in California. ‘The Machine’ had entered this evening’s headliner sporting a 12-fight winning streak, which included victories over former UFC champions Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and Jose Aldo.
UFC 316 Results: Merab Dvalishvili stops Sean O'Malley (Video)
Chris Taylor - June 7, 2025
We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC 316 results, including the bantamweight title fight rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA) will be competing for the first time since scoring his first successful title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov at January’s UFC 311 event in California. ‘The Machine’ will enter this evening’s headliner sporting a 12-fight winning streak, which includes victories over former UFC champions Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and Jose Aldo.
UFC 316 weigh-in results: Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley hit targets, one fighter misses weight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 6, 2025
The UFC 316 weigh-ins have concluded, and fans are happy to know that the marquee matches remain intact. On Friday, all competitors scheduled for the UFC 316 card in Newark tipped the scales. That includes the UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili, who was actually one pound under the championship limit at 134 pounds. His rematch with Sean O’Malley is official, as the “Suga” show also made weight, clocking in at 135 pounds.
Merab Dvalishvili and Patchy Mix reveal they’re open to fighting each other
Harry Kettle - June 6, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili and Patchy Mix, who are training partners, have revealed they’d be open to the possibility of fighting each other. This weekend, Merab Dvalishvili will defend his UFC bantamweight championship against Sean O’Malley. In addition to that, former Bellator star Patchy Mix will finally make his UFC debut when he battles Mario Bautista on the same UFC 316 card. As you can imagine, given the star power of both men, there’s already been talk of them potentially colliding at some point in the future.
Sean O’Malley’s coach makes prediction for Merab Dvalishvili rematch
Harry Kettle - June 6, 2025
UFC star Sean O’Malley’s coach has made an interesting prediction for his student’s rematch against Merab Dvalishvili. Tomorrow night, Sean O’Malley will attempt to reclaim his UFC bantamweight championship when he challenges Merab Dvalishvili for the strap at UFC 316. The fight will take place in the main event, and it serves as the second meeting between the pair after Dvalishvili first defeated ‘Suga’ for the belt last year at Noche UFC.
Merab Dvalishvili vows to enflict more "damage" to Sean O'Malley in rematch at UFC 316
Cole Shelton - June 4, 2025
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili plans to make a statement at UFC 316. Dvalishvili is set to rematch Sean O’Malley on Saturday night in an intriguing fight. Dvalishvili won a clear-cut decision to defeat O’Malley and become the bantamweight champ last September.
UFC legend isn't bothered by bantamweight G.O.A.T. talks for Merab Dvalishvili
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 4, 2025
One all-time bantamweight great isn’t upset about G.O.A.T. talks surrounding Merab Dvalishvili. While Dvalishvili has only had one successful title defense thus far, his work against elite competition prior to fighting for the UFC bantamweight gold has left some convinced that “The Machine” is the greatest bantamweight ever. The list of names Dvalishvili defeated before receiving his first crack at UFC gold included Jose Aldo, Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Marlon Moraes.
Merab Dvalishvili reveals next title challenger if he defeats Sean O'Malley at UFC 316
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 3, 2025
Merab Dvalisvhili has an idea of who his next title challenger will be should he defeat Sean O’Malley a second time. Dvalishvili is looking for his second successful defense of the UFC Bantamweight Championship. He scored a unanimous decision victory over O’Malley to capture the gold, and followed that up with a successful title defense over Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili is expecting a competitive fight against “Suga” in their rematch.
Merab Dvalishvili questions the UFC bantamweight division being "stuck"
Harry Kettle - June 3, 2025
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has given his thoughts on the current state of the division. For the longest time now, Merab Dvalishvili has been the man to beat at 135 pounds. He has ruled over the bantamweight division and even when he was just a top contender, it seemed like nobody wanted to fight him. So, he decided to tear through the rest of the competition, making it crystal clear that he is the one who should rightfully be sat at the top of the mountain.
Sean O'Malley criticizes Merab Dvalishvili's fighting style ahead of UFC 316: "Finisher vs. decisioner"
Cole Shelton - June 2, 2025
Sean O’Malley isn’t a fan of Merab Dvalishvili and the way he fights at UFC 316. O’Malley is set to rematch Dvalishvili in their fight back in September, which Dvalishvili won by decision to become the bantamweight champion. It was a disappointing result for O’Malley, who’s now looking to reclaim his belt.
Merab Dvalishvili reveals what's different entering Sean O'Malley rematch at UFC 316
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 30, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t anticipate his rematch against Sean O’Malley being an exact repeat of their first encounter. While Dvalishvili anticipates another victory over “Suga,” he has a different feeling going into UFC 316. “The Machine” will put the UFC Bantamweight Championship at stake against O’Malley on June 7 in Newark. In their first meeting back in Sept. 2024, Dvalishvili took the 135-pound gold from O’Malley via unanimous decision.
Joe Rogan has one big question ahead of Merab Dvalishvili's UFC 316 rematch with Sean O’Malley
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 27, 2025
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has chimed in on the bantamweight title rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. When “The Machine” and “Suga” first met back in Sept. 2024, it was Dvalishvili’s wrestling and pressure that earned him a unanimous decision win and UFC gold. They will collide again in the UFC 316 headliner on June 7 in Newark.