Merab Dvalishvili is already eyeing his next title challenger.
In October, Dvalishvili puts his bantamweight title on the line for the third time this year when he defends it against Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320. Dvalishvili’s incredible run in 2025 — which also includes wins over Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O’Malley — already has some fans calling him the bantamweight GOAT.
A win over Sandhagen only adds fuel to that fire, and possibly cements his status as the 2025 Fighter of the Year. But just in case it doesn’t, Dvalishvili wants to leave no doubt.
Speaking with the Full Send podcast recently, Dvalishvili announced that despite competing in October, he hopes to get one more fight in this year even after that.
“I want a quick turnaround,” Dvalishvili said. “I don’t overlook Cory Sandhagen. It’s going to be a tough fight. But, God willing, I’m going to do my best to win this fight, and if I win, I want to comeback quick, turnaround, and I want to fight in December. I will ask the UFC a favor to give me another fight in December. Or even November. I don’t care. I can come back.
“Because Petr Yan is clear contender right now. He deserves it. I don’t want to make him wait too long. I can make a quick turnaround and fight him, and after, we will see who will be next contender.”
Dvalishvili already faced Yan once before, winning a dominant decision over him in 2023. The bout was not especially competitive, but since then, Yan has won three in a row, including a unanimous decision win over Marcus McGhee in July.
If Dvalishvili accomplishes his goal, he would set a record as the first UFC champion to defend a belt four times in one year (seven champions have done it three times, most recently Alex Pereira in 2024). Before he can celebrate that achievement, first he must get past Sandhagen.
And as much as it might seem that he is looking past his upcoming challenger, Dvalishvili promises he’s not.
“We know styles make fights and it’s going to be a hard style for me,” Dvalishvili said. “He moves a lot on his feet. Also, if you take him down, he attacks the legs. He popped TJ Dillashaw’s knee, and he popped [Deiveson] Figueiredo’s knee, and Figueiredo gave up. After that Figueiredo tapped out. So yeah, I have to be smart. That’s my job, to prepare good. On paper, I should win, but me, I want to be the best version of myself.”
UFC 320 takes place on Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, headlined by a light heavyweight title fight rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.
