Merab Dvalishvili has emerged as a powerhouse in the bantamweight division, proving nearly unstoppable. His relentless style handed Team Khabib their first loss in a long time, making him one of the toughest contenders. However, Cory Sandhagen believes he has the perfect strategy to take on Dvalishvili. Confident in his unique skills, particularly his exceptional footwork and ability to create space, Sandhagen feels he has what it takes to exploit Dvalishvili’s weaknesses in a future fight.
During a recent MMA on SiriusXM appearance, Sandhagen, who went the distance with Nurmagomedov, talked about how the Dagestani fighter exhausted himself early in the fight. Sandhagen believed Nurmagomedov took it personally, defending the takedowns with intense effort. While his defense was impressive, Sandhagen pointed out that it used up a lot of energy, which may have played a part in Nurmagomedov’s loss to Dvalishvili.
Sandhagen shared that he thinks his style is more dangerous to Dvalishvili than any other bantamweight. He also feels that he’s only a couple of fights away from a title shot. Sandhagen confidently stated that his footwork is among the best in the sport and that he can create space like no one else. He added that he knows how to exploit Dvalishvili’s weaknesses, calling it his kryptonite.
“You can say whatever you want about my style. But I do believe that I have some of the best footwork in the sport. And I can create space better than anyone… I think that I have his [Dvalishvili’s] kryptonite,” he said.
"Not be clickbaity, but I do think that I have the style to beat Merab."@corysandhagenx gives his assessment of Merab vs Umar at #UFC311 & explains why his style could be 'kryptonite' for the champ
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) January 24, 2025
Source: MMA Today w/@RJcliffordMMA pic.twitter.com/bNhy8MnGc3
Cory Sandhagen Slams Sean O’Malley’s Star Power In UFC Matchmaking
Sandhagen recently shared his thoughts on Instagram, calling out O’Malley for asking for a rematch with Merab, saying it doesn’t make sense given how badly he was beaten in their first fight. He emphasized that no one is excited for that fight. And expressed his own frustration, saying he’s itching to fight and is “so damn bored.”
Sandhagen even offered to give O’Malley as much time as he needs, just like Aljamain Sterling did, but he wants the UFC to give fans the fight they actually want—him versus O’Malley—sooner rather than later.
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Adding to that, Sandhagen said O’Malley has no valid reason to avoid fighting him besides his large social media following. He urged O’Malley to stop making excuses and just show up to fight.
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