Merab Dvalishvili has sounded the war bugle. If it takes a fight to defend his precious bantamweight belt, then so be it. Like most, Cory Sandhagen may expect him to unleash his supreme wrestling and takedown skills. But the fate of the UFC 320 co-main will not be settled on the ground, Dvalishvili believes. Rather, it will be a standing slugfest, toe-to-toe. He will prove that he’s not only an ace grappler but also, when the time comes, an adept striker.
But it may not be as easy as it appears. Coming off a loss to Umar Nurmagomedov, Cory Sandhagen knocked out former champion Deiveson Figueiredo to get back into title contention. He has smartened up to realize the daunting task ahead. Still, with Merab Dvalishvili hinting at a full-throttle rumble, concerns for Sandhagen’s prospects still linger. After two previous attempts at title eliminators, this is the best chance the 33-year-old Coloradan has received in recent times. And to keep himself motivated, he’s seeking inspiration.
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Cory Sandhagen taps into Tyson’s timeless advice
At the UFC 320 media day, Cory Sandhagen surprised many. He recalled Mike Tyson‘s famous words when a reporter highlighted Merab Dvalishvili’s recent statement. According to the Georgian, the upcoming title defense will be largely restricted to strikes rather than turn into a ground engagement. So when the reporter asked, “We’ve heard, you know, Merab say this is going to be 90% striking in this fight. So, do you think he’s going to present something that you can showcase all of your skills on?” Sandhagen replied, “I think everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
He would rather wait and see if Dvalishvili is still interested in trading punches once the initial rounds unfold unfavorably. Widely attributed to Iron Mike, the quote dates back to 1987, when the boxing great was about to face Tyrell Biggs. “Everyone has plans until they get hit for the first time,” he’s reported to have said.
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Cory Sandhagen spoke about the challenges he faced during the match against Umar Nurmagomedov. “I kind of got something with wrong with my brain, which I’m sure a lot of you guys can tell, but it makes me like super hyper-focused on stuff sometimes,” he said.
Instead of focusing on improving his skills, he was more concerned about what his opponents planned to do. So, the preparation for the UFC 320 co-main event largely centered on fixing his shortcomings.
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When ambitions face bold claims
Recalling his last bout against Deiveson Figueiredo, Cory Sandhagen said, “I’m really excited to show just more of my skills than I got to in the Figgy fight. Like Figgy fought weird, you know, and I didn’t really get to, like, showcase some of the stuff that I like. I wanted more of, like, a back-and-forth against Figgy because that’s where I can, like, really shine, but I didn’t get to do that. ”
Earlier, when Merab Dvalishvili spoke with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, he claimed that he was looking to be the first fighter to break Sandhagen’s zero KO loss record. “I’m planning to strike with Cory Sandhagen,” he said. “The fight starts standing, and then, I think this fight, 90% will be striking.”
That’s a tall claim from a fighter who excels in the ground-and-pound game, breaking down his opponents over the rounds.
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The proof of the pudding lies in eating. Fans will have to wait and see whether Cory Sandhagen can channel his inner Mike Tyson. Or whether Merab Dvalishvili breaks out of the mold, delivering a memorable knockout for fans to remember.
Do you think Dvalishvili could actually knock out Sandhagen?