UFC 316 is shaping up to be a major event, with one of the company’s biggest stars, Sean O’Malley, returning to reclaim the title he lost to Merab Dvalishvili. With high stakes and heavy pressure, O’Malley has gone into a focused, distraction-free zen mode, stepping away from social media to fully dedicate himself to training. He admits that a lack of wrestling preparation hurt him in the last fight, but this time, he’s ready to put in the hard work where it counts most.
O’Malley told Kevin Iole he’s taking a much more focused approach to his UFC 316 rematch with Dvalishvili, especially in terms of wrestling and grappling. He admitted that in their previous fight, he lacked the right preparation and didn’t train those aspects enough. This time, he’s training for wrestling and grappling every day for twelve weeks, something he feels was missing before. O’Malley believes this consistent training will give him the edge he lacked in their last matchup.
“I wasn’t able to do what needs to be done to fight someone like Merab Dvalishvili, and that’s wrestling and grappling every day for twelve weeks. That’s what I should’ve done last fight camp, but I just wasn’t able to. I didn’t have the preparation that was needed, and this camp I was able to do that,” he said.
Sean O'Malley is putting serious focus on wrestling and grappling for his rematch with Merab Dvalishvili 🤼♂️🔥
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 29, 2025
"I wasn't able to do what needs to be done to fight someone like Merab Dvalishvili, and that's wrestling and grappling every day for twelve weeks. That's what I… pic.twitter.com/IDtCBBbFJb
While ‘Suga’ is putting heavy focus on wrestling for the rematch, the champion, Merab Dvalishvili, has already made it clear that he’s prepared for any scenario. If the wrestling doesn’t work this time, he’s ready to turn it into an all-out striking battle.
Merab Dvalishvili Ready to Stand and Strike if Takedowns Fail Against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316
Dvalishvili, in his chat with Kevin Iole, made it clear that he’s entering the rematch with Sean O’Malley ready for whatever direction the fight takes. While his wrestling remains a key weapon, he admitted that if O’Malley manages to stuff the takedowns, he won’t hesitate to keep the fight standing.
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The champ respects O’Malley’s striking but welcomes the challenge, confident in his own striking improvements. His goal is not just to win, but to dominate whether that happens on the mat or in a striking war. Indeed, his confidence in both areas shows he’s not just relying on one strength, and he’s ready to meet O’Malley wherever the fight goes.
Also Read: Team Merab Dvalishvili Shrugs Off Injury Concerns As UFC 316 Rematch Approaches
