Sean O’Malley recently shared his perspective on the highly anticipated title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen scheduled for UFC 320 this October. O’Malley, known as “Suga,” expressed that he was not taken aback by Dvalishvili’s quick return to the octagon after his last bout, while praising Sandhagen as one of the UFC’s most talented fighters.
Dvalishvili enters this championship contest following a decisive third-round submission victory over O’Malley in their rematch at UFC 316 in June. The Georgian contender is riding a remarkable 13-fight winning streak, which includes triumphs over elite fighters such as Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Jose Aldo.
On the other side, Sandhagen recently secured a second-round knockout against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines in May, bringing his recent record to four wins and one loss in his last five fights.
O’Malley’s analysis of Dvalishvili and Sandhagen’s strengths and vulnerabilities
In an interview with MMA Junkie, O’Malley dissected the matchup between Dvalishvili and Sandhagen, highlighting the toughness of the former and the skill level of the latter.
“The dude [Dvalishvili] jumped into a frozen lake on top of his head; not surprised that he’s fighting back-to-back-to-back times. He’s a savage. He’s built for fighting, and why not take advantage of it? Not surprised at all… He’s sloppy in certain positions, and he’s beatable. He’s definitely beatable, and you can’t count Cory out.”
— Sean O’Malley, UFC Fighter
He elaborated on Sandhagen’s abilities:
“Cory is one of the most skilled guys in the UFC, not just in the bantamweight division. You can’t count Cory out. I’m very curious to see how that fight plays out, what happens if Merab gets a hold of Cory. Merab felt super strong, so I’m curious to see what kind of scrambles Cory can create and if he can give him any trouble.”
— Sean O’Malley, UFC Fighter
O’Malley’s confidence in a potential third fight with Dvalishvili
O’Malley also expressed confidence about a hypothetical trilogy fight against Dvalishvili. Last month, the Montana–native admitted he remains optimistic about overcoming the bantamweight champion despite past losses.
In a YouTube discussion reflecting on Dvalishvili’s strengths and Sandhagen’s challenge, O’Malley drew parallels to Max Holloway’s comeback after two losses to Dustin Poirier at UFC 318:
“I think Cory’s going to be surprised how strong that little Georgian feels. But also, I could be completely wrong. Cory could go out there and hit some beautiful scrambles and completely make Merab look silly. I truly believed I was going to go out there and make Merab look stupid. I am still so delusional that I still believe I can do that. Max Holloway beat Dustin in his third fight. Lost the first two. So never say never.”
— Sean O’Malley, UFC Fighter
The significance of UFC 320’s bantamweight title fight and what lies ahead
The upcoming bout between Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen promises to be a compelling contest, pitting a relentless grappler on a long win streak against a highly skilled striker with recent knockout power. O’Malley’s insights illustrate the complexities and uncertainties of the fight, given Dvalishvili’s relentless pace and Sandhagen’s technical proficiency.
This title clash at UFC 320 could reshape the bantamweight hierarchy, either cementing Dvalishvili’s reign or crowning Sandhagen as the new champion. Fans and analysts alike await the outcome, aware that this fight might spark new narratives in a fiercely competitive division.