Getty Images

Sean O'Malley Makes Major Personal Announcement Before UFC 316

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 4:38 PM ET

Anticipation is high for Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, as UFC 316 features a stacked card headlined by two bantamweight title fights.

In the co-main event, Juliana Peña faces off against Kayla Harrison in a much-anticipated clash. But all eyes will be on the main event—a high-stakes rematch between reigning champion Merab Dvalishvili and fan favorite Sean O'Malley.

In their first meeting, O'Malley was caught off guard by Dvalishvili’s unorthodox style and relentless grappling. This time, however, O’Malley has made it clear he’s prepared for whatever the champ brings to the cage.

"To beat Merab you've got to be focused. You've got to be dialed, have the correct preparation," O'Malley said. "They call him 'The Machine' for a reason. He's a machine, so I've got to go out there and break the machine. That's been the goal this whole camp is go out there and break 'The Machine,'"

O'Malley continued, "I'm prepared for a 25 minute war. I wouldn't be surprised I get my hand raised, and new, first-round KO, second-round KO. I know I can put his lights out. I know I can. He's sloppy. He's mastered his style. He's really good at it, but it takes one mistake."

While the fight will take center stage Saturday night, Sean O'Malley also made headlines this week for personal reasons. He revealed that his father—who turns 60 this weekend—will be in his corner for the title bout. Even more notably, O’Malley shared that he and his partner recently welcomed their second child, a baby boy, just 10 days ago.

“Rumor has it, you are father of a son,” O'Malley’s trainer, Tim Welch, said during a recent podcast episode.

“That is true... 10-day-old,” O’Malley replied. “I thought it was a girl and I was wrong,” he added, explaining that they chose not to find out the gender until birth. “It’s been good. It’s so peaceful—like every time I’m here and I go home, I get so excited that I get to hold him. The most peaceful thing ever.

Sean O’Malley reveals he had a baby boy 10 days ago, just two weeks before his fight with Merab at #UFC316

@SugaSeanMMA ▫️ pic.twitter.com/vqFr9Lw6Ek
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 4, 2025

All of this means O’Malley enters Saturday’s fight with plenty of emotion—fighting with his father in his corner, fresh off the birth of his son, and now aiming to reclaim the bantamweight title. But standing in his way is Merab Dvalishvili, a relentless athlete with a 19-4 record and the most takedowns in UFC history.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: