Nobody lives up to their nickname better than Merab Dvalishvili as “The Machine.”
The reigning bantamweight champion showcased relentless pressure, wrestling and improved striking and he drowned Cory Sandhagen
across five rounds to win a unanimous decision in the UFC 320 co-main event.
Dvalishvili nearly scored a knockout finish after he blasted Sandhagen with punches in the second round and it looked like the fight might be over. Somehow, Sandhagen survived but he just couldn’t slow Dvalishvili down despite his best efforts.
When it was over, the judges scored the contest 49-45, 49-45 and 49-46 with Dvalishvili securing the third defense of his title — all in 2025.
“I am a machine,” Dvalishvili said after his latest win. “I keep getting better. I train hard. I feel like I’m just beginning, I’m just starting. The technique, I’m just learning. My style was weird and I have to change all my style. Now I’m a full time fighter and I keep getting better. I was surprised, remember I said my plan is to knock him out. Almost. I think now people will respect my striking, too.”
It was another classic performance from Dvalishvili against a game opponent in Sandhagen, who clearly did his homework leading into the fight but it still wasn’t enough to get the job done.
Sandhagen found early success with his striking as he kept the champion at a distance while picking and choosing his shots. It was a strong start as Sandhagen was slick with his combinations without getting too aggressive but it was only a matter of time before Dvalishvili slipped inside to grab his first takedown.
To his credit, Sandhagen stayed patient and worked his way free to reset on the feet where he continued to pepper Dvalishvili with long, rangy strikes from the outside. That led to more aggression from Dvalishvili as he bum rushed Sandhagen looking for a takedown but he couldn’t quite get full control before the fight got back up again.
But that’s when Dvalishvili rushed forward again with a barrage of punches that had Sandhagen dazed and confused as he dropped to the canvas. Dvalishvili was unloading shots trying for the finish and Sandhagen was forced to cover up just so he could survive the onslaught.
As the fight moved into the third round, Dvalishvili continued to hunt for takedowns while Sandhagen was attempting to punish the body. The relentless wrestling from Dvalishvili was just never ending as he kept pressuring forward but Sandhagen was still bouncing back to his feet every time.
Regardless of Sandhagen getting up, Dvalishvili just kept tossing him back down again.
That same strategy continued paying dividends with Dvalishvili closing the distance, grabbing onto the body and working for the takedown. The threat of the wrestling made Sandhagen largely abandon his kicking game and instead focus on his boxing but he still couldn’t keep Dvalishvili off him.
With time ticking away in the fourth round, Sandhagen finally found some offense after he snapped off a stiff straight punch that snapped Dvalishvili’s head back. He followed that up with a slick uppercut but Dvalishvili was quick to snatch another takedown and hold onto a head lock until the horn sounded.
At the urging of his coaches to go after Sandhagen’s neck again, Dvalishvili uncorked some solid punches before dragging the fight to the floor again. A scramble ended with the fighters in an odd position, which forced a stand up but Dvalishvili stayed on the attack before landing his 18th takedown in the fight.
The grappling attacks continued until the final horn sounded as Dvalishvili unleashed a huge smile to celebrate his latest win while Sandhagen was understandably disappointed coming up short in his first opportunity to become undisputed champion.
Despite an already crazy schedule in 2025, Dvalishvili kept his promise to call for one more fight before the year is over with the UFC still needing to fill the final pay-per-view card in December.
“I think Petr Yan looked good,” Dvalishvili said. “He’s ready and I always keep saying, I want to stay busy. If you have a spot December, I would love to make a quick turnaround.”
