Merab Dvalishvili has established himself as a dominant presence in the UFC bantamweight division, holding the title and riding a 13-fight win streak as of 2025. His impressive run has sparked discussions about his place among the greatest 135-pound fighters in MMA history. Speaking with EssentiallySports, Dvalishvili’s head coach, John Wood, shared insights into the fighter’s current status, his future prospects, and the challenges he may face, including the upcoming bout against Cory Sandhagen. Wood also discussed the likelihood of anybody, including Umar Nurmagomedov, posing a serious threat to Dvalishvili’s reign.

Wood drew a comparison to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s career, referencing how even the undefeated lightweight legend acknowledged that no fighter can remain unbeaten indefinitely.

“Nobody can be the same long time… no Khabib, nobody, and one day, someone’s gonna beat you,”

Khabib had said before his final fight. Wood expressed a similar outlook on Dvalishvili’s career, acknowledging the realities of MMA’s volatile and unpredictable nature.

Despite Dvalishvili’s exceptional performance, Wood admitted it would be unrealistic to claim he is unbeatable. While he currently doesn’t see any fighter on the roster capable of defeating ‘The Machine,’ including Umar Nurmagomedov or Cory Sandhagen, Wood hinted that some youthful contenders might eventually challenge his dominance.

“It’s stupid for me to say that, ‘No, he’s never gonna lose’… It can happen. Do I think it’s gonna happen? Not anytime soon. I don’t see anybody out there right now. There are some young bucks on the horizon that I think will eventually give us a run,”

Wood stated during his exclusive interview with Andrew Whitelaw.

Dvalishvili’s Growth Despite Age and Continuous Improvement

At 34 years old, Dvalishvili has not shown any signs of slowing down, according to Wood. Instead, the coach emphasized that his fighter continues developing his skills and improving in the cage. Wood explained that while time inevitably affects every athlete, Dvalishvili is still ascending in his capabilities.

“Father time always catches up with everybody at some point, but I don’t think there’s any chance that Merab’s slowing down anytime soon… the guy is only getting better,”

Wood said. He added further encouragement regarding Dvalishvili’s potential, noting,

“He’s got so much further to go as far as improving. His ceiling, it just keeps getting higher and higher and higher. So, I do not see anybody taking that title off of him anytime soon.”

Upcoming UFC 320 Title Fight: Evaluating the Challenge from Cory Sandhagen

Merab Dvalishvili is set to face Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, marking their first encounter. This fight presents Sandhagen with his first opportunity to claim the bantamweight title and compete directly with the reigning champion in uncharted territory. Wood expressed admiration for Sandhagen as a fighter, highlighting his excitement whenever ‘The Sandman’ competes. However, Wood remains confident that Dvalishvili’s experience with similar opponents will allow him to navigate the challenge successfully.

John Wood described Sandhagen as a difficult and unpredictable opponent, yet assured that Dvalishvili’s preparation would allow him to adjust as needed.

“I think that’s a great matchup [between Sandhagen and Dvalishvili]. He’s a tricky guy. He’s a guy I really like to watch as a fan,”

Wood remarked, followed by,

“But I just think we’ve been in that fight before, and I think Merab will adjust and adapt.”

This reflects Wood’s belief that Dvalishvili’s skill set and fight IQ will give him the advantage in this title bout despite Sandhagen’s respected abilities.

Merab Dvalishvili’s Rising Profile Beyond the Octagon

Merab Dvalishvili has gained significant recognition not only for his fighting success but also for his engaging personality, which has attracted a growing social media following. Known for his entertaining comedy skits, the Georgian athlete has built a multi-dimensional presence that resonates with fans worldwide. While his popularity extends outside the cage, his coach’s reflections underscore a focused mindset on continuing his evolution as a fighter and maintaining his grip on the bantamweight belt.

As Dvalishvili prepares for UFC 320, the mixed martial arts community will closely watch how he handles Sandhagen’s challenge and if any emerging talents will eventually disrupt the champion’s trajectory. John Wood’s confidence in Dvalishvili’s ability to retain his title frames the upcoming fight as a pivotal moment rather than a potential turning point in his reign.