Bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili will return to action on October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, putting his title on the line against top contender Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC 320. This marks the Georgian’s third defense of the belt, and he enters the bout as the betting favorite.
Still, Dvalishvili is not overlooking the challenge in front of him.
“I know a lot of people think I’ve got this fight easy, but no, definitely no because it’s a new fight for me. Cory is a dangerous opponent. I have so much respect for him as a fighter and human being,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie.
Praise for Sandhagen’s Skill Set
Dvalishvili has built his reputation on relentless pressure, elite wrestling, and iron cardio, but he acknowledges that Sandhagen’s diverse game makes him a serious threat.
“Cory Sandhagen is a dangerous opponent. It’s hard to stop him. He has submission games. He has knockout games. He has good cardio, good takedown defense, good footwork, and I can go on and on.”
Sandhagen, ranked No. 4 in the division, has already proven himself with wins over the likes of Marlon Vera and Rob Font, making this one of the most anticipated bantamweight showdowns of 2025.
Looking for His First Knockout
Dvalishvili has made a career out of grinding his opponents down, but this time he wants to deliver a finish with his hands.
“I’m looking for a first knockout because I’m working on my striking, and we’ll see. I’m working on my striking and this fight most is going to go on the feet,” the champ explained.
“Of course I’m going to exchange some punches with him, and that’s the goal, but it’s an MMA fight and we have to be ready for everything.”
If successful, it would mark the first knockout of Dvalishvili’s career under the UFC banner, showing a new wrinkle in his evolution as champion.
Dvalishvili is also planning for a busy schedule if he gets through Sandhagen. He’s pushing for an ambitious turnaround before the end of the year.
“I want to ask them (UFC) the favor to fight fourth time this year. If I win. First I have to win this fight, and I’m very focused because I don’t think it’s going to be an easy fight for me,” he said.
And he already has a name in mind:
“If I win this fight, I want to come back quick and give Petr Yan his fight because he’s like the clearest choice.”
A December title defense would make 2025 one of the most active championship runs in UFC bantamweight history.
