Merab Dvalishvili plans to throw his hands with Cory Sandhagen.
Returning to the Octagon for a second time in 2025, “The Machine” aims to secure a third Bantamweight Title Defense when it put Gold on for a glove against Sandhagen at the UFC 320 Co-Main event.
Sitting on a 13-match winning streak, Dvalishvili is best known for his wrestling-heavy attacks that brought him from competitors to the world champions. But this weekend, the Georgian plans to show the world that his stand-up game is just as dangerous as his work on the mat.
“The training camp is very good. I’m focused on strike and am excited to reach for Cory Sanhagen,” Dvalishvili said in the first episode of UFC 320 Embedded. “We need to keep the belt in Las Vegas this October 4th. All challengers present some type of problem to Morab. His style is really hard to stop. Collie presents the problem, but we’re ready to him and ready.
It’s been more than four years since Dvalishvili KOed his opponent. It’s back at Marlon Moraes and UFC 266.
Meanwhile, Sandhagen entered the much-anticipated 135-pound title shot with six KOS against 11 finishes under the UFC banner. In fact, it was that victory that won him “Sandman” with Dvalishvili this Saturday night.
Dvalishvili is a heavy favorite that takes less than a week from the night of the fight, with some sportsbooks giving him a 4-for-1 odds over his +300 Challenger.