The UFC returns to the Prudential Center for a huge bantamweight title main event at UFC 316 as champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his crown for a second time against former champion Sean O'Malley.
The two fought back in September as the Georgian won the title for the first time in his career via unanimous decision, and they will do battle once more on a stacked card that will also see women's bantamweight champion Julianna Pena defend her title against Kayla Harrison in the co-main.
We'll take a look at the main event and break down each fighter to provide you with our best free UFC betting picks, and try to earn you some extra cash while you take in the action in the cage.
Learn more about how to bet on the UFC here.
UFC 316 information
- Saturday, June 7th 2025
- Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
- Bantamweight Championship (135 pounds)
- 5 x 5 minute rounds
- Main card starts at 22:00 ET
Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley 2
Reigning and defending champion Dvalishvili will look to extend his sensational 12-fight winning streak in this bout, and comes into the event with a 19-4 professional record including 15 wins via decision.
With a heavy wrestling style, Merab really caught the eye with a crazy comeback win over Marlon Moraes back in 2021 as he bounced back after nearly being finished in the first-round, only to completely dominate the Brazilian and earn a second-round stoppage via ground and pound.
Up next came a huge fight against former featherweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo, who he dominated with his wrestling for three rounds to claim another unanimous decision victory. He then fought another former champion in Petr Yan in a five-round main event, and once again his wrestling proved unstoppable en route to a unanimous decision win.
Another dominant victory over a former champion in Henry Cejudo followed before the first fight between these two, where 'The Machine' claimed a unanimous decision win to claim the title. Last time out he defended the belt for the first time against rival Umar Nurmagomedov, and after a slow start he once again used his cardio as a weapon and claimed victory to retain the championship and cement himself as the best in the world.
O'Malley on the other hand comes into this fight with an 18-2 (1 NC) professional record, including 12 knockouts, and is looking to become a two-time undisputed UFC bantamweight champion.
O'Malley earned himself a first title shot with a controversial split decision win over Petr Yan back at UFC 280, setting up a huge fight against then-champion Aljamain Sterling, who is a long-time friend and training partner of Merab.
Despite suffering a back injury in training weeks before the fight, O'Malley was able to land a stunning right-hand to knock out 'The FunkMaster', earning a second-round stoppage and winning the belt.
'Suga' defended the belt for the first time against long-time rival Marlon 'Chito' Vera', who was the only man to have ever beaten him at the time, and he dominated with a slick striking display to claim victory, before dropping the belt in his last bout against Dvalishvili.
Repeat or Revenge?! #UFC316
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 19, 2025
🏆 @MerabDvalishvil vs @SugaSeanMMA 2 🍬 pic.twitter.com/LM9I9d3ReW
Route to victory
This is the pure definition of a clash of styles as one of the best strikers in the company takes on one of the most relentless wrestlers we've ever seen.
O'Malley struggled to keep the fight on the feet in the first fight between the two, and ultimately his cardio let him down as he was overwhelmed with pressure. Merab's game plan is exactly the same in every fight, no matter the opponent or their style, as he knows he can suffocate them with his pace and pressure throughout.
That won't change here as it is exactly what got him to the big show, but there is a possibility that the Georgian goes a bit heavier for a finish, and that could open up the chance for a O'Malley to land one of exciting power punches and claim his belt back in the prpcess.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
UFC Picks: Merab to dominate again
While the scorecards for the first fight were relatively close on paper, with two judges handing Merab the win by just one round, watching it you'll see that he was never in any real danger at any point throughout the 25 minutes.
Stylistically this is a nightmare match-up for the challenger, and there is very little he can do stop being out-wrestled for the entirety of the fight once again.
Dvalishvili knows what to expect when he enters the octagon at UFC 316 and knows he has the answers for that puzzle, so expect limited change from the champion and for yet another clinic in how to overwhelm an opponent with pressure and wrestling.
At odds of -270 there is little value in backing him to simply win the fight, so take the added value by going with a decision win.
Check out our review for BetUS sports betting here.
