UFC - UFC 320
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by Devesh Jaganath | in UFC Predictions
The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host one of the best cards of the year - UFC 320 - with the co-main event seeing Merab Dvalishvili taking on Cory Sandhagen for the bantamweight title. The Machine has a pro record of 20-4-0, while the Sandman is 18-5-0 at present. Check out our match prediction below!
Merab Dvalishvili is well known for his light-heartedness and friendly personality outside of the Octagon, but once he steps inside the cage, he is one of the most relentless fighters you have ever seen. The Georgian has taken on all-comers over the last seven years and enters this bout riding a 13-match win streak dating back to September 2018.
As for Cory Sandhagen - he may not have been everybody’s first choice to take on Dvalishvili for the belt, but he is as deserving as they come, and arguably, unlike anyone else the champ has faced. The number four-ranked contender has waited almost four years for another crack at the belt and is one of the toughest in the division to finish. Let’s get into the key stats!
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Merab Dvalishvili - Cory Sandhagen: Form Analysis
Merab Dvalishvili is returning to the Octagon for the first time since UFC 316 in June, when he picked up a submission victory over Sean O’Malley in what was his second title defence.
The Machine had beaten O’Malley for the belt by unanimous decision in September 2024 and secured his first title defence by outlasting Umar Nurmagomedov over five rounds in a thrilling bout at UFC 311.
The Georgian lost his first two UFC fights back in 2017, but has won 13 in a row since then. His greatest asset is his cardio, which allows him to maintain relentless pace and aggression which few fighters can match.
Dvalishvili can become the eighth fighter in UFC history to produce three title defences in a calendar year!
However, this is anything but a straightforward fight for the champ, as Cory Sandhagen is among the most unique (some may say awkward) fighters around, making him exceptionally difficult to prepare for fully.
Indeed, the Sandman does not possess the heaviest hands in the division, but he is able to turn the lights off with high knees, as we saw when he put Frankie Edgar to sleep in February 2021.
The American arrives in this match off the back of a KO/TKO victory over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Fight Night in May. However, he was unable to beat Nurmagomedov last August, which ultimately earned the Russian his title shot in January this year.
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Merab Dvalishvili & Cory Sandhagen Squad Analysis
Dvalishvili steps into his third attempt at defending his title, weighing in at 135 lbs, 5ft 6 inches, and with a reach of 68 inches. He fights with an orthodox stance.
The Georgian connects 4.31 significant strikes per minute with a 42% success rate, while absorbing 2.48 and defending 56% of significant strikes thrown his way.
On to grappling and the Machine is easily the better wrestler, taking opponents to the mat 5.84 times every 15 minutes with a 35% success rate, while defending takedowns at 85%.
Dvalishvili has never been knocked out since joining the UFC!
As for Sandhagen, he comes into this bout at 135lbs as well but is the taller fighter at 5ft 11 inches, while also possessing a slightly longer reach by two inches over his opponent.
The Sandman has a 45% success rate with significant strikes and lands 5.06 of them per minute. He absorbs 3.34 significant strikes and curbs 56% - the same as Dvalishvili.
While the challenger is no slouch on the mat, he does have a significantly lower takedown defence than the champ at 63% and goes for 0.3 finishes per 15 minutes.
Merab Dvalishvili - Cory Sandhagen Key Points
- Dvalishvili is on a 13-match win streak in the UFC.
- Dvalishvili’s 12-match win streak at this weight class is the longest in the division’s history.
- Dvalishvili’s 11 wins via decision is the most in the division’s history.
- Dvalishvili beat Nurmagomedov in January, while Sandhagen lost to the same opponent last August.
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Our Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen Prediction
Merab Dvalishvili has been incredible for several years now, but since winning the title, he has elevated himself into the discussion around being considered one of the greatest bantamweights of all time.
Few can compare to the Georgian’s engine, while his precision and timing are also unmatched. Cory Sandhagen thoroughly deserves this title shot, but we doubt he will be able to get the better of the champ in this one. Our Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen prediction is Merab Dvalishvili wins the match.
Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen - Other Interesting Predictions
Fight to go the distance
Merab Dvalishvili has won 11 of his last 13 fights by unanimous decision and has never been knocked out in the UFC, while five of Sandhagen’s last seven bouts have gone to the judges' scorecards.
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All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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