Merab Dvalishvili knows how dangerous Cory Sandhagen is, but that won’t stop him.
The UFC Bantamweight Champion looks to tie the record for most title defenses in the division when he returns in the co-main event of UFC 320 next weekend against top contender Sandhagen.
Merab Dvalishvili has looked unstoppable in his last 13 fights, winning all but two by unanimous decision, utilizing his high-level grappling and cardio to his advantage.
Cory Sandhagen poses a bigger threat when it comes to finding the finish. The well-rounded striker is coming off a second-round TKO over former two-time champ Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines in May.
Sandhagen has knocked out the likes of former world champs Frankie Edgar and Marlon Moraes, and he has also finished streaking contenders Mario Bautista and Song Yadong.
While Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen could be looked at as a striker vs. grappler matchup, ‘The Machine’ has other plans for his next title challenger after submitting Sean O’Malley at UFC 316.
Merab Dvalishvili plans to KO Cory Sandhagen in ‘90% striking’ fight
Weeks ago, Dvalishvili’s head coach John Wood teased we were getting a more violent and brutal Dvalishvili than ever before.
Speaking to CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Dvalishvili reiterated that he will be the first fighter to knock out Sandhagen, even claiming that 90% of the fight will take place in the stand-up.
“I’m planning to strike with Cory Sandhagen,” said Dvalishvili.
“I’m looking to knock him out…
“Whatever I do, he will support,” Dvalishvili said of his coach John Wood.
“We’re really working my hands.
“The fight starts standing, and then, I think this fight, 90% will be striking,” Dvalishvili added.
That’s a pretty bold statement considering Dvalishvili is three takedowns away from 100 in the UFC.
Wrestling has been the Georgian’s bread and butter in the UFC and Dvalishvili currently holds the record for most takedowns in UFC history.
Dvalishvili hasn’t won by knockout in four years.
Fans rip Merab Dvalishvili’s ‘dumbest game plan of all time’ ahead of UFC 320
This isn’t the first time a champion has said they’re going to beat their challenger at their own game.
Going into his UFC 315 title defense against Jack Della Maddalena, then champ Belal Muhammad was so confident in his striking skills that he went against his original game-plan and decided to strike with Della Maddalena for five rounds, ultimately losing his belt by decision.
When it comes to Dvalishvili saying he plans to knock out Sandhagen, not many fans are believing the prolific wrestler.
“This dude says this every fight and then goes in there and wrestles 100% of the fight,” one fan said of Dvalishvili’s latest comments.
“If Merab genuinely does this and isn’t trolling this has to be the dumbest game plan of all time,” another fan said.