Sean O’Malley came up short in his highly anticipated rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey, suffering a third-round submission loss via north-south choke. Despite entering the bout as the #1 ranked bantamweight, O’Malley struggled to cope with Dvalishvili’s relentless pace and wrestling. While he displayed flashes of striking brilliance and better takedown defense in Round 2, he couldn’t stay off his back for long. The defeat marked O’Malley’s second straight loss to the reigning champion and dropped his overall record to 18–3 (1 NC).

Though the loss was a setback, O’Malley remains one of the division’s most marketable stars and a former champion with elite striking. At 30 years old, he’s still in his physical prime and motivated to reclaim his place at the top. The UFC will likely look to rebuild him with a high-profile but stylistically intriguing fight.

Next up for Sean O'Malley should be a bantamweight clash with Henry Cejudo. Cejudo, currently ranked #10, is a two-division former champion and Olympic gold medalist, coming off a technical decision loss to Song Yadong at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song in February 2025. Though he's on a three-fight skid, Cejudo's resume, wrestling pedigree, and name value make him a compelling test for O’Malley. The stylistic contrast between O’Malley’s dynamic striking and Cejudo’s Olympic-caliber wrestling offers a high-stakes, legacy-defining matchup. For O’Malley, it’s a chance to prove he can deal with elite wrestlers. For Cejudo, it’s likely a final push to remain relevant in the title picture.

A bout between these two former champions could co-headline a major pay-per-view or feature as a marquee Fight Night main event, drawing both hardcore and casual fans. A win for O’Malley could quickly put him back into title contention, while a loss might raise serious questions about his ability to handle elite grapplers.

Last Five Fights (Sean O'Malley):

1. Loss to Merab Dvalishvili – Submission (north-south choke), UFC 316 (June 7, 2025)
2. Loss to Merab Dvalishvili – Decision (unanimous), UFC 306 (September 14, 2024)
3. Win over Marlon Vera – Decision (unanimous), UFC 299 (March 9, 2024)
4. Win over Aljamain Sterling – TKO (punches), UFC 292 (August 19, 2023)
5. Win over Petr Yan – Decision (split), UFC 280 (October 22, 2022)

Last Five Fights (Henry Cejudo):

1. Loss to Song Yadong – Technical Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song (February 22, 2025)
2. Loss to Merab Dvalishvili – Decision (unanimous), UFC 298 (February 17, 2024)
3. Loss to Aljamain Sterling – Decision (split), UFC 288 (May 6, 2023)
4. Win over Dominick Cruz – TKO (knee and punches), UFC 249 (May 9, 2020)
5. Win over Marlon Moraes – TKO (punches), UFC 238 (June 8, 2019)