Merab Dvalishvili delivered yet another masterclass in relentless pressure and grappling dominance at UFC 316, successfully defending his bantamweight title with a third-round submission win over Sean O'Malley. From the opening bell, the reigning champion smothered O'Malley with takedowns, control time, and relentless ground-and-pound, neutralizing the challenger’s striking and pace. Despite a more competitive second round from O'Malley, Dvalishvili overwhelmed him in the third, finishing the fight with a north-south choke at 4:42 to improve his record to 20–4. The win marked his third consecutive title victory and his 10th straight UFC win, further solidifying his #2 spot on the pound-for-pound rankings and his place atop the 135-pound mountain.
Next up for Merab Dvalishvili should be a bantamweight title defense against Cory Sandhagen. Currently ranked #4 in the division, Sandhagen is coming off a TKO win over former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC on ESPN 68. Despite a setback against Umar Nurmagomedov in a previous title eliminator, Sandhagen remains one of the most dangerous and technical strikers in the division, with a dynamic and creative offense that includes knockouts over Frankie Edgar and Marlon Moraes. His slick movement, takedown defense, and unorthodox angles would present a fresh stylistic puzzle for Dvalishvili’s grind-heavy approach.
A Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen bout would not only be a high-level chess match between grappling and striking specialists but also a fan-friendly matchup with significant implications for the legacy of both fighters. With contenders like Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong rising fast, a win over Sandhagen would keep Dvalishvili’s championship momentum intact and cement his claim as one of the greatest bantamweights in UFC history.
Last Five Fights (Merab Dvalishvili):
1. Win over Sean O'Malley – Submission (north-south choke), UFC 316 (June 7, 2025)
2. Win over Umar Nurmagomedov – Decision (unanimous), UFC 311 (January 18, 2025)
3. Win over Sean O'Malley – Decision (unanimous), UFC 306 (September 14, 2024)
4. Win over Henry Cejudo – Decision (unanimous), UFC 298 (February 17, 2024)
5. Win over Petr Yan – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili (March 11, 2023)
Last Five Fights (Cory Sandhagen):
1. Win over Deiveson Figueiredo – TKO (knee injury), UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo (May 3, 2025)
2. Loss to Umar Nurmagomedov – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov (August 3, 2024)
3. Win over Rob Font – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font (August 5, 2023)
4. Win over Marlon Vera – Decision (split), UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen (March 25, 2023)
5. Win over Song Yadong – TKO (doctor stoppage), UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song (September 17, 2022)
