The UFC Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is famous for his striking ability, and many consider him to be the best boxer in the UFC. He is defending his title against Merab Dvalishvili, who’s one of the finest wrestlers in the division, and who’s famous for his incredible gas tank.
Knowing all this, our prediction is that O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili is going to be a real spectacle. But who’s going to win the UFC 306 main event? Keep reading to see our top pick!
Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili UFC 306 Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sean O’Malley | -140 |
| Merab Dvalishvili | +120 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
- Time: ~11:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: PPV
Can Sean O’Malley Defend His Title?
Sean O’Malley (18-1-1) won the UFC Bantamweight title in August last year after beating Aljamain Sterling by a TKO in the second round. In his first title defense, he defeated Marlon Vera by unanimous decision. It wasn’t controversial at all – he absolutely destroyed Chito in that fight, landing 230 significant strikes along the way.
That’s not surprising given that O’Malley lands 7.67 significant strikes a minute on average, which is the third highest number among male UFC fighters.
His strongest weapon is striking, but he also has a fine set of grappling skills. In fact, this guy took part in several submission grappling contests over the years.
Merab Dvalishvili Ready to Give War to “Sugar”
Merab Dvalishvili (17-4) is famous for being a real warrior who never seems to give up. He’s without a single loss in more than six years, beating such elite bantamweights as Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and others.
He’s a fantastic wrestler who lands 6.43 takedowns per 15 minutes, which is higher than any of O’Malley’s previous opponents. Since joining the UFC in 2017, this guy landed 10+ takedowns in four fights, most recently in the fight against Yan.
Although he’s a TD expert, Dvalishvili isn’t too lethal a grappler. The evidence of this is that only one of his 17 wins happened by submission. He won three fights by KO/TKO, while the remaining 13 happened by decision. Actually, this guy is famous for his marathon fights, hence the nickname “The Machine”.
Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Prediction
O’Malley is a hell of a boxer, but this doesn’t mean he’s got just one weapon in his arsenal. He’s also a very good grappler, so even if Merab takes him down, it won’t mean it’s game over for “Sugar”. We think he’s got what it takes to keep the title in his possession.
Our prediction is that he’s going to win, but we have no idea how. Whether it’s by KO/TKO, submission, or decision, we won’t be surprised.
Pick: Sean O’Malley