O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili: prediction & betting odds
Current UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley will defend his title against the number one contender Merab Dvalishvili. Their fight is scheduled to take place on September 14 at UFC 306 at the "Sphere" arena in Las Vegas, USA.
Below, you will find the best betting options, odds, and an exclusive prediction for the Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley fight.
Who will win – O'Malley or Dvalishvili?
O'Malley vs Dvalishvili Odds
Bookmakers favor the contender, who hasn't lost in a long time and is in excellent shape. He will likely learn from the mistakes of his friend Sterling, avoid significant punches, and present a competitive fight to the champion. You can bet on Dvalishvili to win at odds of
3/5
.
O'Malley vs Dvalishvili odds to win
|
Bookmaker |
O'Malley to win odds |
Dvalishvili to win odds |
| Unibet |
13/10
|
3/5
|
| Bluefox Sports |
13/10
|
3/5
|
| Jeffbet |
13/10
|
3/5
|
| 10bet |
5/4
|
3/5
|
| Copybet |
13/10
|
3/5
|
Analysts are confident that the American will face a serious test of his wrestling skills. The odds for O'Malley to win are
13/10
.
Statistics and Physical Data
O'Malley is 4.72 inches taller than Dvalishvili and has a 3.93 inches reach advantage.
| Sean O'Malley |
|
Merab Dvalishvili |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Fights | 21 |
| 18 | Wins | 17 |
| 1 | Defeats | 4 |
| 1 | Draws / NC's | 0 |
| 5' 91“ | Height | 5' 60“ |
| 72 in | Reach | 68in |
| 135 lb | Weight | 135 lb |
| 29 | Age | 33 |
Sean O'Malley
- UFC bantamweight champion. Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 3 "Fight of the Night" and 6 "Performance of the Night" awards in the UFC.
- 20 fights, 18 wins, 1 defeat, 1 no contest.
With an easy victory over Chito, the champion proved that he continues to progress and can maintain the pace over five rounds. Shortly after his triumph, Sean made every effort to organize a fight with Dvalishvili, and his coach is confident that he knows how to defeat Merab.
What to Expect from O'Malley in the Fight against Dvalishvili?
O'Malley will be throwing jabs from different angles and constantly performing his signature feints. He will counter his opponent's attacks with a devastating cross to the body and a hook to the head. Sean will be able to land double left straights and effectively block low kicks. When Merab absorbs enough strikes and starts to take longer to plan his offence, the champ will advance with the aim of knocking him out with a precise hook.
To avoid being caught in a grapple, Sean will need to constantly move and maintain distance. O'Malley will be able to break down his opponent with knees and apply his full weight during clinches. On the ground, the champ will push Merab away and create space to return to a standing position.
O'Malley's Chances of Winning
Sean has a much better chance of winning, as he is capable of handling his opponent's main weapon — wrestling. While some opponents have managed to take O'Malley to the canvas, he has always demonstrated excellent grappling skills and reflexes.
Additionally, the champion is quite large, making him very energy-consuming to control. Considering Sean's mobility, Merab will expend a lot of energy just trying to catch him for a takedown.
O'Malley, in turn, will carry out a methodical approach aimed at finishing the fight in the third or fourth round.
O'Malley's Last 5 Fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 9, 2024 | Marlon Vera | Won | Unanimous decision |
| August 19, 2023 | Aljamain Sterling | Won | T.K.O. |
| October 22, 2022 | Petr Yan | Won | Decision |
| July 2, 2022 | Pedro Munhoz | NC | Accidental eye poke |
| December 11, 2021 | Raulian Paiva | Won | T.K.O. |
Merab Dvalishvili
- Former Ring of Combat bantamweight champion. Competitor in CFFC and CES MMA events.
- 21 fights, 17 wins, 4 defeats.
Merab has built an impressive winning streak of ten consecutive victories. Almost all of these fights were won convincingly, except for a frustrating moment in his bout with Moraes. Dvalishvili has long studied O'Malley, as he assisted Aljamain Sterling in preparing for the fight against Sean.
Now, the Georgian fighter has a chance to claim the title himself and secure a high-profile victory over a star who is just as charismatic and dangerous as he is.
What to Expect from Dvalishvili in the Fight against O'Malley?
Dvalishvili will start with low kicks and front kicks to the body and legs. He will avoid Sean's attacks and return with mid-kicks and heavy overhands.
Merab will frequently disrupt his opponent with forward-backward jumps. He will then attempt a single-leg takedown and work to secure the body. His main goal will be to get behind Sean in the standing position and execute a takedown from there.
Additionally, Dvalishvili will try to press Sean against the cage to either slam him or trip him with a takedown. On the ground, he will aim to quickly establish side control and move to an americana or mount. Merab will gradually increase his pace, becoming most aggressive with takedowns starting from the middle of the third round.
Dvalishvili's Chances of Winning
The Georgian has the ability to win the fight by decision or by finishing in the fourth or fifth round. In his bout with Yan, Dvalishvili demonstrated that he can handle a championship distance without any problems.
He will likely aim to exhaust Sean with repeated takedown attempts and try to finish the fatigued opponent from the top in the later rounds. It is quite possible that Merab will conserve his energy by engaging in short boxing exchanges in the first half of the fight. At the same time, he clearly does not intend to force the pace of the bout.
Dvalishvili's Last 5 Fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2024 | Henry Cejudo | Won | Unanimous decision |
| March 11, 2023 | Petr Yan | Won | Unanimous decision |
| August 20, 2022 | José Aldo | Won | Unanimous decision |
| September 25, 2021 | Marlon Moraes | Won | T.K.O. |
| May 1, 2021 | Cody Stamann | Won | Unanimous decision |
O'Malley vs Dvalishvili Prediction
In the first two rounds, Merab will operate in energy-saving mode and observe his opponent. After that, he will try to showcase all his wrestling skills, but it will be very challenging for him to take Sean down.
Even though O'Malley will be wary of takedowns, he will still be able to outstrike Dvalishvili from a distance. Additionally, Sean will have enough power, reflexes, and skills to handle the challenger in the clinch and at close range overall.
Merab will unlikely significantly outlast the champ in terms of stamina, so I consider O'Malley the favorite in this fight. He will have advantages in size, speed, and timing. Sean will always be able to counter Dvalishvili with a powerful strike or escape a dangerous grapple. He will also not fall short in terms of tactical preparation.
Our bet and prediction for the fight is Sean O'Malley to Win.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fight between Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight title is expected to take place on September 14. Their bout will be the co-main event at UFC 306 in Las Vegas.
Bookmakers favor the challenger, who hasn't lost since 2018. The odds for Dvalishvili to win are 3/5. You can bet on O'Malley to win at 13/10.
The champion has a better chance of winning, as he is adept at defending against wrestling and can counter effectively on the canvas. In striking, O'Malley clearly surpasses his opponent in both technique and punching power. Sean's team has long developed a strategy for this fight, so he knows exactly what to do.
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