Merab Dvalishvili Submits Sean O’Malley in Dominant Title Defense at UFC 316

Merab Dvalishvili Submits Sean O’Malley in Dominant Title Defense at UFC 316

NEWARK, N.J. – There was no controversy this time, no razor-thin scorecards or what-ifs. Merab Dvalishvili erased all doubt Saturday night at UFC 316, dominating Sean O’Malley from start to finish before securing a third-round submission victory to defend his bantamweight crown in emphatic fashion.

In front of a roaring crowd at the Prudential Center, Dvalishvili (20-4) showcased everything that has made him one of the UFC’s most relentless and respected champions. From suffocating pressure to an unbreakable gas tank, “The Machine” lived up to his nickname by drowning O’Malley (18-3) in volume, pace, and grit before locking in a D’Arce choke at the 4:42 mark of the final round.

The win not only completed a 2-0 sweep of O’Malley—who Dvalishvili defeated by decision last September to win the title—it also marked his 13th consecutive victory, tying him for the fourth-longest win streak in UFC history. It was also his first-ever submission win inside the UFC Octagon.

“I just work every day and repeat,” Dvalishvili said post-fight. “It doesn’t matter what you have as long as you know where you’re going and have a goal. Guys, please believe in your dreams and work for them. Everything is possible.”

From the outset, Dvalishvili imposed his will, backing O’Malley up with pressure and overwhelming him with strikes and takedowns. According to UFC Stats, Dvalishvili outlanded O’Malley by a staggering 135-34 margin in total strikes and completed five of his 12 takedown attempts—three of them coming in the final round as O’Malley visibly faded.

The former champ, who had hip surgery and made several lifestyle changes heading into the rematch, was gracious in defeat.

“I didn’t feel like it was going to go like that, unfortunately,” O’Malley said. “Merab is a motherf—er. I’m just super grateful I get to do this. I have a two-week old and a 4-year-old and a perfect wife. I’m excited to go home and spend time with them.”

O’Malley, 30, now finds himself on the first losing streak of his professional career.

For Dvalishvili, the performance was another statement in a year that has cemented him as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite. Already ranked No. 4 in the UFC’s global rankings, he is now a perfect 2-0 in title defenses in 2025, following his January win over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.

Next in line is likely No. 1 contender Cory Sandhagen, who impressed with a recent second-round stoppage over Deiveson Figueiredo. Dvalishvili welcomed the challenge.

“He’s the most deserving guy,” Dvalishvili said. “He’s been here so many times. He’s a really good guy, respectful, and I like his jokes too.”

In the co-main event, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison (19-1) captured her first UFC championship with a dominant second-round submission win over former champ Julianna Peña (12-6) to claim the women’s bantamweight title. The post-fight scene featured an electric face-off with retired legend Amanda Nunes, who announced she is coming out of retirement to challenge Harrison in what promises to be a blockbuster showdown.

With UFC 316 in the books, one thing is clear: Merab Dvalishvili is not just the best bantamweight in the world—he may very well be on his way to becoming one of the greatest to ever do it.