Merab Dvalishvili may have not gotten the knockout, but showed an all-around performance at UFC 320.
Dvalishvili (21-4 MMA, 14-2 UFC) retained his bantamweight title when he defeated Cory Sandhagen (18-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) by unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46) in Saturday’s co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The champion set a UFC record for most takedowns in a title fight with 20. He needed three takedowns to become the first fighter in UFC history with 100 in a career – and blew past that with 17 more.
Sandhagen was finding his mark on the feet early, as he connected with various clean hooks. Two minutes into the round, Dvalishvili decided to grapple and got Sandhagen down, but couldn’t keep him there. Sandhagen landed a nice leg kick, followed by a jab, prompting Dvalishvili to grab a hold of him. Sandhagen broke free and kept the fight on the feet for the rest of the round.
Dvalishvili immediately shot for a takedown to start off Round 2, and succeeded to trip him. However, Sandhagen popped back up and disengaged. A frustrated Dvalishvili lunged forward with a combination and hurt Sandhagen badly with an array of punches which dropped him. Dvalishvili swarmed Sandhagen, and took him down. Every time Sandhagen got up, Dvalishvili dragged him back down to definitively win Round 2.
Sandhagen appeared recovered going into Round 3. Dvalishvili connected with a left hook then shot for another takedown. Sandhagen defended well and started attacking the body. Dvalishvili went for the single leg takedown, but couldn’t get Sandhagen down. Dvalishvili shot again and briefly got Sandhagen down. Sandhagen started to press forward with strikes before Dvalishvili shot again and stacked him against the fence.
The pair exchanged leg kicks to start Round 4. Sandhagen landed a good combination, but Dvalishvili landed an overhand right and pushed Sandhagen down. Sandhagen continued to get up every time. Sandhagen connected with a left, but Dvalishvili went right back for the takedown. Sandhagen landed a big right, as Dvalishvili continued to press forward. Dvalishvili took Sandhagen down and attempted a D’arce choke submission, but ran out of time.
Dvalishvili pressed forward aggressively with strikes, as Sandhagen countered with a knee to the body. Dvalishvili landed another takedown, but back up was Sandhagen. Dvalishvili landed two big rights and a takedown yet again. Sandhagen landed a spinning back kick to the body, but was taken down again. Both fighters got tangled up in a weird position momentarily, but got back up. Sandhagen pressed forward, but was taken down for the 18th time in the fight. Sandhagen attempted to throw the kitchen sink at Dvalishvili and appeared to get his attention with one of his shots, but it was too little, too late.
Dvalishvili asked for a quick turnaround in December for a chance to defend his title a fourth time in 2025. He mentioned former champion Petr Yan as a potential opponent.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 320 results:
- Merab Dvalishvili def. Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46)
- Jiri Prochazka def. Khalil Rountree Jr. via KO (punches) – Round 3, 3:04
- Youssef Zalal def. Josh Emmett via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:38
- Joe Pyfer def. Abus Magomedov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:44
- Ateba Gautier def. Treston Vines via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:41
- Daniel Santos def. JooSang Yoo via KO (punches) – Round 2, 0:21
- Jakub Wiklacz def. Patchy Mix via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Muniz via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:58
- Punahele Soriano def. Nikolay Veretennikov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Yana Santos def. Macy Chiasson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Farid Basharat def. Chris Gutierrez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ramiz Brahimaj def. Austin Vanderford via submission (guillotine) – Round 2, 2:24
- Veronica Hardy def. Brogan Walker via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
