Sean O’Malley’s Coach predicts rematch with Merab Dvalishvili. Ahead of Sean O’Malley’s rematch for the bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 — set for Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey — O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, has made a daring prediction.
The fight will take place in the main event and serves as the second meeting between the pair, after Dvalishvili first defeated “Suga” for the belt last year at Noche UFC.
In their first fight, at UFC 306 in September 2024, Dvalishvili defeated O’Malley by unanimous decision, using constant pressure and grappling. Following that battle, O’Malley revealed that he had been struggling with a torn labrum that required surgery. His lifestyle has changed significantly since then — including giving up drugs and using social media less.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Welch called the pending bout a “war” but said he is confident O’Malley would defeat Dvalishvili. According to his prediction, O’Malley will take advantage of Dvalishvili’s ill-timed takedown attempt by landing a knee strike that initiates a ground-and-pound sequence, ending in a TKO victory.
“It’s gonna be a war,” Welch said of Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 on his YouTube channel.
“We’re planning for a 25-minute battle, but I see Sean cutting his face,” Welch added.
“I see him cutting his face open. Merab shooting at the wrong time. Merab maybe getting wobbled by a shot, taking a shot at the wrong time, getting kneed up the middle to the lips, maybe to the beak.”
“[O’Malley] knees his beak, hurts Merab. Boom, boom, boom… boom. And he starts just to ground and pound. TKO. Sugar Show gets it done. He’s a champion again,” Welch said
“We got our hands full. We’re prepared…”
Although Welch acknowledges Dvalishvili’s impressive skills and calls him “the best bantamweight ever,” he feels that O’Malley is well-positioned to regain the title due to his improved physical condition and strategic preparation.
