Merab Dvalishvili is making one thing clear ahead of his title defense at UFC 316—this rematch with Sean O'Malley won’t be playful. No more kisses. Just fists.
In their first meeting at UFC 306, Dvalishvili dominated with his signature pressure-heavy grappling and scored a unanimous decision victory. But the fight also became famous for an unexpected moment—when Merab leaned in mid-fight and planted a kiss on O’Malley. That moment went viral, but now, ahead of UFC 316, Dvalishvili is turning the page.
“This time, I’m looking for a finish,” Dvalishvili said in a pre-fight interview. “Even if Sean defends takedowns, I’m throwing bombs. First time I kissed him. Now it’s time to smash him.”
While Dvalishvili admits his past showboating was natural in the moment, he says he’s laser-focused on defending the UFC Bantamweight Championship and making a definitive statement. “I’m more focused. I’m stronger. And I already kissed him once. That chapter’s closed,” he added.
O’Malley, ever the flashy striker, will be hungry for redemption after losing his belt in their first clash. But Dvalishvili hasn’t taken a step back since, adding a title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov to his résumé and extending an unbeaten streak that dates back over seven years.
The rematch headlines UFC 316 on June 7 in Las Vegas—where their rivalry reignites under the bright lights of the fight capital. And this time, Merab isn’t smiling. He’s swinging.
