No person lives as much as their nickname higher than Merab Dvalishvili as “The Machine.”
The reigning bantamweight champion showcased relentless stress, wrestling and improved hanging and he drowned Cory Sandhagen throughout 5 rounds to win a unanimous choice within the UFC 320 co-main occasion Saturday evening.
Dvalishvili almost scored a knockout end after he blasted Sandhagen with punches within the second spherical and it seemed just like the battle could be over. By some means, Sandhagen survived however he simply couldn’t gradual Dvalishvili down regardless of his greatest efforts.
When it was over, the judges scored the competition 49-45, 49-45 and 49-46 with Dvalishvili securing the third protection of his title — all in 2025.
“I’m a machine,” Dvalishvili stated after his newest win. “I maintain getting higher. I practice exhausting. I really feel like I’m simply starting, I’m simply beginning. The approach, I’m simply studying. My fashion was bizarre and I’ve to alter all my fashion. Now I’m a full time fighter and I maintain getting higher. I used to be stunned, keep in mind I stated my plan is to knock him out. Virtually. I feel now individuals will respect my hanging, too.”
It was one other basic efficiency from Dvalishvili in opposition to a sport opponent in Sandhagen, who clearly did his homework main into the battle however it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient to get the job completed.
Sandhagen discovered early success together with his hanging as he saved the champion at a distance whereas choosing and selecting his pictures. It was a powerful begin as Sandhagen was slick together with his mixtures with out getting too aggressive however it was solely a matter of time earlier than Dvalishvili slipped inside to seize his first takedown.
To his credit score, Sandhagen stayed affected person and labored his manner free to reset on the ft the place he continued to pepper Dvalishvili with lengthy, rangy strikes from the skin. That led to extra aggression from Dvalishvili as he bum rushed Sandhagen in search of a takedown however he couldn’t fairly get full management earlier than the battle bought again up once more.
However that’s when Dvalishvili rushed ahead once more with a barrage of punches that had Sandhagen dazed and confused as he dropped to the canvas. Dvalishvili was unloading pictures making an attempt for the end and Sandhagen was pressured to cowl up simply so he may survive the onslaught.
Because the battle moved into the third spherical, Dvalishvili continued to hunt for takedowns whereas Sandhagen was making an attempt to punish the physique. The relentless wrestling from Dvalishvili was simply by no means ending as he saved pressuring ahead however Sandhagen was nonetheless bouncing again to his ft each time.
No matter Sandhagen getting up, Dvalishvili simply saved tossing him again down once more.
That very same technique continued paying dividends with Dvalishvili closing the space, grabbing onto the physique and dealing for the takedown. The specter of the wrestling made Sandhagen largely abandon his kicking sport and as a substitute concentrate on his boxing however he nonetheless couldn’t maintain Dvalishvili off him.
With time ticking away within the fourth spherical, Sandhagen lastly discovered some offense after he snapped off a stiff straight punch that snapped Dvalishvili’s head again. He adopted that up with a slick uppercut however Dvalishvili was fast to grab one other takedown and maintain onto a head lock till the horn sounded.
On the urging of his coaches to go after Sandhagen’s neck once more, Dvalishvili uncorked some stable punches earlier than dragging the battle to the ground once more. A scramble ended with the fighters in an odd place, which pressured a get up however Dvalishvili stayed on the assault earlier than touchdown his 18th takedown within the battle.
The grappling assaults continued till the ultimate horn sounded as Dvalishvili unleashed an enormous smile to rejoice his newest win whereas Sandhagen was understandably disenchanted developing brief in his first alternative to turn into undisputed champion.
Regardless of an already loopy schedule in 2025, Dvalishvili saved his promise to name for yet another battle earlier than the yr is over with the UFC nonetheless needing to fill the ultimate pay-per-view card in December.
“I feel Petr Yan seemed good,” Dvalishvili stated. “He’s prepared and I all the time maintain saying, I need to keep busy. You probably have a spot December, I might like to make a fast turnaround.”
