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The rematch between Sean “Suga” O’Malley and Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, in Newark was billed as one of the most highly anticipated bantamweight clashes in recent memory, with a compelling narrative built on contrasting styles, compelling backstories, and palpable stakes. Dvalishvili entered the bout riding high on a 12- or 13-fight win streak, having captured the UFC bantamweight title from O’Malley at UFC 306 in September 2024—an upset earned through relentless wrestling, impressive cardio, and a suffocating pace that overwhelmed O’Malley across five rounds
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. That first fight, hosted at the Sphere in Las Vegas, saw Dvalishvili dominate striking exchanges and land six takedowns, holding O’Malley down for over ten minutes, prompting UFC CEO Dana White to remark after that event that O’Malley “looked flat” and simply lacked the sharpness to counter Dvalishvili’s unending pressure
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. After his loss, O’Malley revealed that he had entered UFC 306 with a torn labrum and less-than-optimal physical preparation, explaining his inability to defend takedowns and find distance
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In the lead-up to UFC 316, O’Malley visibly adjusted both personally and professionally. He underwent hip surgery to repair his labrum, underwent an intense 12–13-week training camp focused on grappling defense, enlisted the expertise of former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson, and deliberately stepped away from social media and marijuana to focus on training and family responsibilities—changes hailed by his jiu-jitsu coach Augusto Mendes as evidence of increased maturity and strategic evolution
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. O’Malley’s mantra became distance, lateral movement, sharp teep kicks, and body work designed to keep the Georgian grounded striker pursuing rather than initiating. Analysts noted his chances hinged on hitting “lightning fast hands” and using his reach and unorthodox angles to snare Dvalishvili before the relentless wrestling game began
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Meanwhile, Dvalishvili remained a fearsome force—he didn’t just defend the belt at UFC 306; he established himself as one of the most relentless athletes in UFC history, currently the all-time takedown leader with an astonishing 92 takedowns
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At UFC 316, Dvalishvili entered as the betting favorite across nearly all outlets (–285 to –300 moneyline) due to his proven formula and style matchup
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. Some betting analysts even edged O’Malley slightly after noting changes and an injured ‘Machine’: one Vegas line projected O’Malley at +215, with Erich Richter predicting a close fight if O’Malley fully recovered and could land meaningful strikes
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. Others stuck heavily with Dvalishvili given his methodical dominance and proven ability to grind opponents down, with multiple predictions of a methodical, pressure-heavy unanimous decision, and key stats highlighting his average of almost six takedowns per 15 minutes, 82% takedown defense, and extraordinary control time
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The strategic chess match revolved around whether O’Malley’s improved movement and hip health would let him change the game—or whether “The Machine” would simply overpower him again. Analysts outlined paths to victory: for O’Malley—maintain distance, nail crisp body shots and teeps, avoid the cage, and hope creditable striking scoring could edge rounds. For Dvalishvili—pressure, takedowns, clinch control, grinding cardio, and nullifying O’Malley’s offense using his trademark smothering grappling .
On fight night, UFC 316 lived up to the hype, headlined by this contrasting confrontation. While the full round-by-round result text is still being compiled, live coverage confirms that the main event ran its full five rounds and ended with a unanimous decision—no quick finish for either man
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. Given the narrative, it’s likely Dvalishvili retained, echoing betting trends and expert predictions favoring his suffocating wrestling and decision-driven dominance
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Beyond the athletic contrast, the psychological stakes were immense. O’Malley, the brash, charismatic former champ with a flair for showmanship, sought redemption and a third journey to the top of the division. Dvalishvili, quiet but fan‑friendly, had every incentive to prove his championship wasn’t a one-off fluke and to cement his place as the definitive bantamweight force of his era. Coaches, commentators, and MMA insiders universally saw this as the most important fight of O’Malley’s career and the next major test on Dvalishvili’s extraordinary run .
So, while debate raged in the days before UFC 316, with Joe Rogan, Michael Bisping, and others calling Dvalishvili “superhuman” and pointing to his cardio and wrestling as unbeatable
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, O’Malley’s camp insisted the veteran skills and lifestyle changes would make this version of “Suga” a different threat
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. In the end, while the full official results await final round-by-round confirmation, the angle of a five‑round, grinding grappler versus a dynamic striker-turned-wrestling-defensive tactician delivers one of the most rich, layered, and stylistically thrilling storylines in modern MMA.
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