O'malley vs Dvalishvili Prediction, Fight Odds & Betting Tips - UFC 306

💯O'Malley vs Dvalishvili Betting Odds

Champion O’Malley is unbeaten in seven(7) successive bouts in the UFC, including his maiden bantamweight title defence against Marlon Vera in March. The Phoenix fighter also places fourth in ESPN’s current pound-for-pound men's rankings, and he’s the narrow betting favourite to defeat Dvalishvili this weekend.

O’Malley can be backed at around 1.79 to defend his crown here, implying a 55.86% probability of him achieving this objective. As for Dvalishvili, his impressive 10-fight winning streak dates back to April 21st, 2018, when he was submitted by Ricky Simón. He has earned an impressive nine unanimous decisions during this sequence, highlighting his ability to control bouts and dominate opponents. You can get on ‘The Machine’ to win at odds of 1.90, suggesting that he has a 52.63% chance of prevailing. So, the bookies are relatively split on the most likely winner here, although this means that both fighters offer potential value in the win market. Here are the pre-fight odds in full:

Player
Sean O' Malley	1.75	1.79	1.80	1.85
Merab Dvalishvili	2.08	1.88	1.90	1.96

It is important to read the terms and conditions attached to the odds. For more information, check out our sportsbook reviews!

🏆 O' Malley vs Dvalishvili Prediction

The clash between O’Malley and Dvalishvili is a fascinating one, as it pits an aggressive striker and accurate puncher against a world class grappler. The bout is made even more intriguing by Dvalishvili’s pedigree and 10-fight winning streak, with his record and recent form arguably superior to the champion O’Malley. Both fighters will be keen to close the distance at the Sphere in Vegas, creating a bout that could see a great deal of action and end at any time. The clash of styles also appears to suit Dvalishvili at first glance, especially given his incredible conditioning and ability to control bouts on the ground.

Remember, he boasts a takedown average of 6.43 per 15 minutes in the UFC, compared to just 0.35 for O’Malley. However, it should be noted that Dvalishvili isn’t a particularly good finisher, with just four of his 17 wins (23.52%) of his wins coming inside the distance. This makes him vulnerable to O’Malley’s quick and powerful hands, which only need to land once to secure a finish.

Overall, O’Malley has recorded 13 of his 18 victories inside the distance (72.22%), while he famously stopped the exceptional Aljamain Sterling via TKO at UFC 292 in August 2023. In addition to being a concussive striker and finisher, O’Malley also boasts masterful speed and footwork, while his four-inch reach advantage may enable him to move in and out of range throughout the bout.

With these points in mind, I’m tipping O’Malley remain on his feet and stop the durable Dvalishvili, either via TKO or a knockout. This could come at any point in the bout too, but I expect the finish to be achieved sooner rather than later!

⚡ Sean O' Malley Overview

Not only is O’Malley unbeaten in seven straight fights since August 2020 (when he suffered a technical knockout at the hands the aforementioned Marlon Vera), but he has won 18 of his 20 MMA career bouts (90%). What’s more, he has earned 12 victories by way of knockout (66.66%), highlighting his immense power and high volume of significant strikes landed.

Interestingly, he avenged his sole defeat against Vera with a unanimous points win at UFC 299 in March, with a no-contest against Pedro Munhoz in 2022 the only other slight blemish on his record. His dominant display in the rematch against Vera saw him outland his opponent by 230 significant strikes to just 89, while his success rate of 64% was almost double that of his rival (36%).

Now 29 years old, ‘Suga’ is at the peak of his powers, while his tremendous work rate and striking accuracy is arguably unmatched in any division. Incredibly, the quick and powerful O’Malley has landed an average of 7.63 significant strikes per minute during his UFC career, compared to just 4.5 for Dvalishvili.

He also lands with 61% of his significant strikes on average, enabling him to inflict considerable damage on his opponents in relatively short periods of time. However, O’Malley is an inferior grappler to Dvalishvili, with a takedown average of just 0.35 during his UFC career. Interestingly, his recent bout with Vera saw no takedown attempts on either side during five rounds of action, with O’Malley keen to remain on his feet throughout.

Make no mistake: his ability to stay upright against Dvalishvili will have a direct impact on his success or failure at UFC 306!

⭐ Merab Dvalishvili Overview

Dvalishvili’s 10-fight winning streak has been incredibly impressive, including victories over Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and veteran José Aldo. Overall, The Machine has won 17 of his 21 MMA career bouts (80.95%) too, and 10 out of 12 (83.33%) under the banner of the UFC. Incredibly, he hasn’t lost a single fight in more than six years.

While O’Malley is a skilled boxer and striker, Dvalishvili is revered as a grappler who does his best work on the ground. He also boasts exceptional cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance, equipping him to attempt a large number of takedowns for the duration of a five-round bout. This work rate sees him ranked third for the most takedowns in UFC history, with an impressive 79 landed in total.

He's also incredibly dangerous in the clinch, during which he regularly lands knees and short punches in transitions. This will pose a significant threat to O’Malley, especially as he looks to close the ground on his opponent and remain within striking range. Of course, this will also make Dvalishvili vulnerable against his opponent, creating a fascinating bout that’s incredibly tough to call.

Ultimately, Dvalishvili’s incredible endurance and ability to dominate on the ground enables him to control bouts and wear down his opponents. This is reflected by his career record, with 13 of his 17 MMA victories coming by way of decision (76.47%). However, he has only submitted one opponent (but none in the UFC) and won three fights via knockout, so finishing opponents clearly isn’t his strong point.

🎁 O'Malley vs Dvalishvili Betting Offers

However you choose to wager with Ireland’s best betting sites, it’s important that you take steps to maximise your starting bankroll. To achieve this, I’d recommend that you check out the very best and latest free bet offers, the details of which are laid out below!

	100% deposit Match Up to €100 Sports Welcome Bonus	Get Offer
	Bet at least €15 on any sport and Get €10 Free Bet	Get Offer
	Get a 100% Deposit Match up to the Value of €500	Get Offer
	100% Matchup Up to €100 Sports Welcome Bonus	Get Offer

• GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction

❓ Frequently Asked Questions