Merab Dvalishvili Promises a Knockout when He Meets Cory Sandhagen for the UFC Title
Current Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili was recently seen in a video apologizing to #4-ranked contender Corey “The Sandman” Sandhagen, saying, “I’m going to knock out Corey Sandhagen. Sorry, Corey – you’re going to sleep,” before showing off his hands while hitting mitts.
Merab Dvalishvili originally came from the Serra-Longo camp based in Long Island, New York — a team known for producing grapplers with exceptional striking. Most recently, former champion Aljamain Sterling secured a five-round co-main event victory over Brian “T-City” Ortega at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang in Shanghai, China – a bout that featured mostly striking.
Another former champion from the same camp, wrestler Chris Weidman, famously won the middleweight title by knocking out Anderson Silva — widely considered one of the slickest strikers in UFC history.
Since relocating to Las Vegas, Merab has switched up his training partners and now has daily access to the UFC Performance Institute – a move that has elevated his overall game.
Is a KO finish likely? Let’s look at the numbers.
Merab Dvalishvili (“The Machine”)
- Total Wins: 20
- Knockout Wins: 3
- Knockout Rate: 15%
Merab is known for his relentless wrestling and cardio-heavy pace. Though not typically viewed as a knockout artist, he does hold 3 KO/TKO victories in his 20 career wins, giving him a 15% knockout rate. Only one of these KO wins comes inside the UFC octagon. His approach overwhelms opponents through pressure, but finishes via strikes remain relatively rare.
Cory Sandhagen (“The Sandman”)
- Total Wins: 18
- Knockout Wins: 8
- Knockout Rate: 44.4%
Sandhagen is a creative, dangerous striker with a well-rounded attack. With 8 knockouts in 18 wins, he boasts a 44.4% KO rate. Six of these victories come inside the UFC octagon. His unorthodox movement and sharp striking have led to highlight-reel finishes and consistent danger on the feet. As Corey prepares for his first attempt at undisputed UFC gold, many fans and experts are eager to see what game plan he will implement against such a relentless and dangerous champion.
