Merab Dvalishvili wants December return afterwin vs. Cory Sandhagen
UFC 320 winner Merab Dvalishvili spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters post-fight after his historic bantamweight title defense over Cory Sandhagen
LAS VEGAS – Merab Dvalishvili is no stranger to breaking records in the UFC, and there’s a new one he’s set his eyes on: most UFC title defenses in a year.
Dvalishvili (21-4 MMA, 14-2 UFC), champion at 135 pounds, has defended his belt three times this year: January vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, June vs. Sean O’Malley, and now October vs. Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili defeated Sandhagen (18-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) in a unanimous decision this past Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 320 at the T-Mobile Arena.
“The Machine” is hoping to get booked again for the December pay-per-view in Las Vegas, and he wants it to be against his most heated rival to date, Petr Yan.
“Yeah, I would love to fight in December because otherwise I have so many other opportunities to travel somewhere,” Dvalishvili said. “It is good, I love it. I enjoy everywhere I go, but it’s going to take away my fights and the most I enjoy this feeling, fighting. I want to be busy, and I don’t want to make wait too much the next contenders. I think Petr is three-fight win streak, and he’s a former champion, and I think he deserves the title fight. I think so. If UFC wants, I’m ready to fight in December.”
Dvalishvili and Yan (19-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) fought back in 2023, with Dvalishvili winning a dominant unanimous decision. Yan is currently on a three-fight winning streak with victories over Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo, and, most recently, Marcus McGhee.
Dvalishvili, who’s arguably the greatest bantamweight in the history of MMA, sees the Dec. 6 event as an ideal return. He’s also down to compete in January like he did this year, but he hopes that’s not the case due to the logistical issues the holidays present.
“I would love to fight December, no problem,” Dvalishvili said. “Whoever they think deserves it more. I’m ready, I just want to tell them I’m ready. If they want to give me this favor, that would be nice. I can fight in January, too, but January is a little challenge for me when I fought Umar this year because we have Christmas, and then we have New Year, and we have Georgian Christmas because we celebrate 14 days later of Christmas. Also, there is my birthday, January 10. Christmas, New Years, UFC PI is closed, gym is closed, sparring partners they all drink and having a good time with families, and some are in the mountains. It’s also a little bit cold, so January is a little but tough, but that’s fine.”
