UFC 316 Picks: Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley Best Bets
- sean O'Malley will face current titleholder Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 316 this Saturday, seeking to regain the men's bantamweight championship.
- 2 in ESPN's divisional rankings, lost the title to Dvalishvili by unanimous decision.
- In the co-main event, Julianna Peña defends her women's bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison.
Get the inside scoop on UFC 316 with expert predictions and betting analysis for the highly anticipated dvalishvili vs. O’Malley main event. News Directory 3 offers a deep dive into the key matchups, including Julianna Peña’s title defense against Kayla Harrison.Our report features insights from Din Thomas, Anthony Smith, and Ian Parker that dissect each fight, focusing on strategic advantages in both the men’s and women’s bantamweight divisions. Discover the latest odds and betting trends, and find out what the experts are saying about the rest of the card. Discover what’s next …
O’Malley Seeks Bantamweight Title reclaim Against Dvalishvili at UFC 316
Updated June 05, 2025
sean O’Malley will face current titleholder Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 316 this Saturday, seeking to regain the men’s bantamweight championship. The event will be available on ESPN PPV, with prelims on ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+.
O’malley, ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s divisional rankings, lost the title to Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. This marks O’Malley’s first fight since that defeat. Dvalishvili,ESPN’s no. 4-ranked pound-for-pound fighter,is coming off a victory against Umar Numagomedov.
In the co-main event, Julianna Peña defends her women’s bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison. Peña secured the title by defeating Raquel Pennington by split decision. Harrison, a former two-time PFL champion and ESPN’s No. 4-ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter, recently defeated Ketlen Vieira.
Former UFC fighters Din thomas and Anthony Smith shared their predictions for the main event, while ESPN betting expert Ian Parker offered betting insights for the card.
Men’s Bantamweight Championship Predictions
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Retired fighter |
 Dvalishvili |
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Retired fighter |
dvalishvili |
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This [pick] has nothing to do with O’Malley. I just think in order to beat Merab, you have to be the bantamweight version of the late Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. There has to be that one-punch, shut-off power. O’Malley fights so well at range, but I don’t think Merab is going to give him space to do what he does best.
Anthony Smith
It will be slightly closer and more competitive than their first [fight], but I think Merab’s intensity will be a little too much for O’malley. And ultimately, O’Malley won’t be able to stay off his back.
Din Thomas
Betting Analysis
Odds accurate as of June. For the most up-to-date odds, visit ESPN BET.
Parker: Dvalishvili to win by decision (-170). It is indeed hard to imagine this rematch going any differently than the first fight. Since then, Dvalishvili has defended successfully against an elite fighter in Nurmagomedov, while O’malley has sat idly, hoping for this opportunity.Unless O’Malley catches the champ off guard and puts him away, I expect this to be a typical Dvalishvili fight. look for him to shoot continuous takedowns and apply pressure at a menacing pace for all five rounds. To make the price more manageable, you can take Dvalishvili to win by decision.
Women’s Bantamweight Championship Predictions
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Retired fighter |
 Harrison |
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Retired fighter |
Harrison |
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Julianna is going to spend too much time trying to wrestle, and it’s not going to work. She’ll end up on her back, where I see her eating a few too many elbows.
Din Thomas
I think Julianna fights a lot in the gray areas, punching into clinches and takedowns.I don’t think she can win those situations and win enough of those moments to beat Kayla. I think it’ll be competitive at times and Julianna will attack kayla’s gas tank,but Kayla will win more moments over the course of five rounds.
Anthony Smith
Betting Analysis
Parker: Under 4.5 rounds (+125). Harrison is the biggest betting favorite on the card, which is rare for the challenger in a title fight.Although Peña is tough, unless Harrison gasses out to the point that she can’t land a takedown, it’s hard to imagine her not finishing Peña. Once Harrison gets the fight to the mat, Peña will be in a world of trouble, fighting just to survive. At some point, Harrison’s takedowns and top pressure will be too much.
Parker’s Best Bets on the Rest of the Card
Men’s Bantamweight: Mario Bautista vs.Patchy Mix
Mix to win (-185). Mix is making his debut against Bautista, who is on a seven-fight winning streak. This matchup should feature plenty of fun grappling exchanges. If this fight stays on the feet, it’s a coin toss. However, if Mix can put Bautista on his back, he will take over. Mix might potentially be the best grappler in the world at 135 pounds, and I believe his skills will be on full display.
Heavyweight: Serghei spivac vs. Waldo cortes-Acosta
Spivac to win (-150). Spivac is a near -150 favorite, which is surprising, as I believe he should be a -200 or even heavier. On the feet, Spivac is the more skilled striker, and he has an excellent ground game that Cortes-Acosta won’t be able to defend. As long as Spivac stays away from Cortes-Acosta’s power, he should be able to close the distance and utilize his grappling advantage to get the win.
What’s next
UFC 316 promises high-stakes action as O’Malley seeks to reclaim his title and Peña defends against the formidable Harrison. The outcomes of these fights could considerably reshape the bantamweight divisions.