LAS VEGAS – Cory Sandhagen is not backing down from the challenge of dethroning UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili.
Sandhagen (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) is expected to be next in line for Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) after finishing Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC on ESPN 67 headliner in May.
Nobody’s had an answer for Dvalishvili’s relentless pace, grappling, and cardio, with his resume including wins over Sean O’Malley twice, Umar Nurmagomedov, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and more. However, Sandhagen says he won’t fear taking the fight to Dvalishvili – even in the grappling exchanges.
“I mean, everyone has holes,” Sandhagen told MMA Junkie Radio of Dvalishvili. “I’m going to be better than him, that’s how I’m going to do it. I’m going to go out, and I’m just going to be better everywhere. I’m not going to be afraid to wrestle him. I’m not going to buy into this narrative that Merab is this unbeatable thing. In all of his fights, he’s had moments where he’s looked beatable, and I’m going to go out there and make Merab deal with me.”
Sandhagen, who’s beaten contenders such as former flyweight title holder Figueiredo, Song Yadong, and Marlon Vera, is confident that his skillset has rounded up well enough to become UFC champion.
“I’m really good right now,” Sandhagen said. “I train a lot, man. I train a lot, a lot, and that pays off after a long time. I know that everyone says they train a lot, but I know what they mean when they say that, and I know what I mean when I say it. I train a lot, I’m always getting better, I’m always adding in new things.
“One of my favorite things about the sport is adding new weapons, and I know not everyone is like that, but I’m built that way. So, yeah, I’m pumped. I get to go out and look different in six months or whenever it is that we fight and be the best version of myself and a world champ.”
