May Merab Dvalishvili be in for a letdown in his subsequent title protection?
Dvalishvili has regarded the a part of an elite fighter each time he steps contained in the Octagon. He additional added to his aura by submitting Sean O’Malley of their UFC 316 rematch on Saturday. “The Machine” has lived as much as his nickname, using a 13-fight successful streak. He now has two profitable UFC Bantamweight Championship defenses. He hasn’t misplaced a professional MMA battle since 2018.
Whereas Dvalishvili has been on a tear all through the years, will his subsequent title protection put his run in danger?
RELATED: MERAB DVALISHVILI’S COACH IS CONFIDENT REGARDING POSSIBLE CORY SANDHAGEN FIGHT
Merab Dvalishvili’s Run in Jeopardy?
A former opponent of Merab Dvalishvili, Henry Cejudo, just lately took to the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast to weigh in on “The Machine” probably going through Cory Sandhagen subsequent. Cejudo wouldn’t be stunned if a brand new bantamweight champion is topped by the top of that potential conflict (h/t MMAFighting).
“If he beats Cory Sandhagen on this battle, sure,” Cejudo mentioned. “I’m going to place him at pound-for-pound the most effective fighter on the planet. 100%.”
“However that being mentioned, verify this out, as a lot as I complimented Merab, I don’t suppose he beats Cory Sandhagen. … The one cause why I really feel the individual I might give that’s essentially the most problematic for a man like Merab Dvalishvili, it’s Cory Sandhagen as a result of Cory Sandhagen brings much more thump than a man like Sean O’Malley and he’s a submission risk much more than O’Malley, and he’s large,” Cejudo later added. “The opposite factor, too, Cory Sandhagen can rise up to his ft. He’s proven that towards a man like Umar Nurmagomedov. He throws knees up the center, the one which he caught Frankie Edgar with, the dude is freaking harmful throughout.”
Sandhagen has lengthy been on the cusp of UFC gold, however the 33-year-old has but to shatter the glass ceiling. He’s made a powerful case for a title alternative, going 4-1 in his final 5 outings with wins over Deiveson Figueiredo, Rob Font, Marlon “Chito” Vera, and Tune Yadong. The lone loss was to Umar Nurmagomedov.
