Cory Sandhagen`s team is prepared to challenge Merab Dvalishvili directly in the UFC bantamweight champion’s strongest areas, particularly grappling, at the upcoming UFC 320 event.
Having previously fallen short of an interim title in 2021, Sandhagen now has his inaugural opportunity to contend for the undisputed 135-pound championship at this Saturday’s pay-per-view.
With a commendable record of four wins in his last five fights, including a headline victory over Deiveson Figueiredo in May, Sandhagen is scheduled to face champion Dvalishvili in the co-main event on October 4th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
While `The Sandman` is widely recognized for his striking prowess, he is considered a more versatile fighter than Sean O’Malley, Dvalishvili’s recent opponent. However, even those who acknowledge Sandhagen`s solid ground game might be surprised by recent comments from his coach, Trevor Wittman.
Trevor Wittman Hints at a Pro-Grappling Approach for Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320
Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his title for the second time by submitting Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, extending his impressive winning streak to 13 consecutive fights. `The Machine` is notorious for overwhelming opponents with his relentless wrestling and exceptional cardio.
Despite Dvalishvili`s grappling dominance, Sandhagen has consistently rejected any suggestion that he would be outmatched on the ground. This confidence is clearly shared by his coach, Wittman, who indicated that Sandhagen not only welcomes wrestling exchanges against Dvalishvili but might even initiate them.
“I don’t think a lot of guys do it against Merab,” Wittman stated during the UFC 320 Countdown episode. “They go out there and they’re just, ‘Hey, don’t get taken down.’ And then when they get taken down, they’re on plan B.”
Wittman stressed a proactive strategy: “I don’t want (Sandhagen) to think like that. Can we sweep him? Can we take him down?” He concluded, “That mindset is what it takes to be a champion.”
Cory Sandhagen Looks Beyond UFC 320, Naming Future Opponents
Even with an immense challenge looming at UFC 320 — facing an opponent undefeated since 2018 — Sandhagen is already planning his future in the division.
Beyond the upcoming pay-per-view, `The Sandman` has already identified two bantamweight contenders he wishes to fight next, both of whom he has faced before.
Speaking with New York Post Sports, Sandhagen expressed his desire to control his career path. “I really like the feeling of, I will be in charge of who I fight next and where it’s gonna be,” he said. He specifically mentioned not wanting to fight Umar (Nurmagomedov) and Petr Yan in the Middle East again, preferring to face them “stateside where they can deal with the travel and all of that stuff.”