UFC 316: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Preview, Odds, Prediction
- Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili is the main event of UFC 316.
- Sean lost the UFC Bantamweight title last year after getting rag-dolled by Merab.
- Merab’s UFC 316 betting odds of -300 suggest he’s going to win on June 7 in Newark.
Our Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili prediction is that a betting upset will happen on June 7. Sugar O’Malley is the underdog with UFC 316 odds of +250, the reason being that he got controlled by Merab for the entire five rounds in their first fight.
But we suspect he’s learned his lesson and is ready to get his revenge at Newark’s Prudential Center.
How to Watch
- Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
- When: Saturday, June 7, 10 pm ET
- How to Watch: PPV
Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sean O’Malley | +250 |
| Merab Dvalishvili | -300 |
Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Preview
O’Malley enters as the underdog, largely because of how their first fight played out. Nine months ago, Merab’s relentless pressure caused Sean major problems. The Georgian fighter shot six takedowns (without suffering any) and landed almost 2x significant strikes as the American.
But what most people forget is that Sean fought injured and went straight into surgery after the bout. The stakes were huge – headlining the Sphere’s first UFC event – so pulling out simply wasn’t an option.
The problem wasn’t just Merab’s pace; it was Sean’s tactic as well. Merab kept going for takedowns by attacking Sean’s front leg, and if Sean doesn’t change something, it could happen again.
That’s why we expect him to fight from a southpaw stance this time, which would open the door for jabs and teep kicks that could wear Merab down early.
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One thing that stood out in their first fight was how Merab kept ducking his head when rushing in. If Sean fakes a jab and then throws a knee or uppercut, he could end the fight right there.
On top of that, Sean’s 5’11 height (5 inches more than Merab), 72-inch reach (four more than Merab), and counterpunching prowess are perfect for stopping pressure fighters. In fact, in Round 5 of their first fight, Merab had no answer for Sean’s teeps, but it was too late for “Sugar” at that point.
Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Prediction
Odds favor Merab, but our UFC 316 betting pick is Sean. We think he’s going to win by KO/TKO. Causals will be shocked, but those who’ve been following this guy for ages know he’s a hell of a boxer with a 66.66% win-to-knockout ratio.
Free Pick:
- Sean O’Malley by KO/TKO
