Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili looked to defend his title for the third time in 2025 when he took on Cory Sandhagen in the UFC 320 co-main event.
Sandhagen had found himself in interim title fights in years past, but was getting the real deal on Saturday, against one of the most dominant 135lb’ers in UFC history.
Early on, the champ looked to work his way inside, where he could employ his machine-like wrestling — though Sandhagen worked his jab and used his length to keep Dvalishvili at bay. Still, Merab eventually made his way inside, and got a body lock in place. It took some effort, but he would eventually get Sandhagen down, albeit not for long. And back on the feet, Sandhagen was again able to use some crisp striking to keep Dvalishvili outside. The challenger would fire a jump knee late, though it fell just short.
Between rounds, Sandhagen’s corner urged him to press the champ. Yet it was Dvalishvili going out, catching a leg, and pursuing a takedown early in the second. Sandhagen fought it off, but Merab stayed on him like glue. Yet again, when Dvalishvili finally got the challenger down, Sandhagen was quickly back up.
Just under two minutes into the round, however, Merab found his range, and began unloading on Sandhagen! Sandhagen was hurt, down, on his knees, eating punch after punch but somehow got back up. Even back on his feet, however, he ate a knee, and eventually was dragged to the ground again. Back up, and dragged down again, back up, and dragged down a third time. Sandhagen was compromised and now being ragdolled by the champion. A near finish for Merab in round two and multiple takedowns put a 10-8 round in play, as Cory Sandhagen had no answer for the champ, and essentially no offense.
Sandhagen was moving forward early in round three, but inside of a minute, Dvalishvili had a body lock in place. He wouldn’t complete the takedown, but would be back in on another soon enough. Sandhagen was still having some success on the feet, but a kick attempt saw Dvalishvili going after a high-crotch single leg takedown. For the bulk of the round, Sandhagen was pretty much on the defensive, and while he stayed standing, he’d lost the frame.
The championship rounds arrived with Dvalishvili looking like the fresher fighter. He worked his hands, flashed a high kick, and inside of a minute dragged Sandhagen to his knees. He caught a leg off a kick while firing a right hand to do so. Sandhagen was starting to look a little lost. He seemed to spend more time hopping on one foot than with both feet under him, and while the odd right hand might sneak through, it was Merab pressing the action. The champ would finish the round with a key takedown, tying up Sandhagen’s neck in a d’arce and pinning him in place.
Cory Sandhagen needed a finish in round five to have any hopes of securing his first UFC title. Merab Dvalishvili, however, was still looking fresh as a daisy. Undeterred on the feet, and dominant in the grappling exchanges. Cardio unmatched, Merab was smiling at points in the round; at one point, he had Sandhagen down, with Cory staying out of a worse position mostly by grabbing the fence with his toes.
Sandhagen ripped the body with just over 90 seconds to go, but moments later, Dvalishvili landed yet another takedown, well away from the fence. Sandhagen, now showing damage around his eyes, was flat on his back and exhausted. He’d make it back up and even clip the champ one last time, but not enough to make a difference.
Twenty takedowns for Merab Dvalishvili in the fight, as announced by the UFC, is a new record for a championship bout.
Official Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46)
