Merab Dvalishvili found himself in an unexpected rematch against Sean O`Malley at UFC 316, primarily because no other clear top contender had emerged in the bantamweight division. However, this situation is expected to change after Saturday night`s fights conclude.
Since the announcement of O`Malley getting an immediate rematch without a preceding win after his September loss to Dvalishvili, new potential challengers have started gaining attention. This includes veteran contender Cory Sandhagen, who defeated Deiveson Figueiredo in May. Sandhagen has frequently been on the verge of a title shot, and his recent victory, combined with the fact that he has never faced Dvalishvili, likely positions him as the top candidate for the next title challenge.
“Right now, the clear contender appears to be Cory Sandhagen, especially since we haven`t fought each other,” Dvalishvili stated during the UFC 316 media day. “He has a good style and is a good fighter. He has beaten many strong opponents in this division.”
“I`m sure MMA fans want to see this fight,” he added. “But what the UFC wants is most important. I am the champion now, and whoever the UFC gives me, I will fight the next contender, the next best fighter in the division.”
Sandhagen holds a 4-1 record in his last five outings, with his sole loss being a decision against Umar Nurmagomedov, whom Dvalishvili already defeated in January. Given his strong record and lack of previous encounters with Dvalishvili, Sandhagen seems likely to step into a title shot if the Georgian champion is victorious at UFC 316.
Another potential contender who could significantly climb the ranks this Saturday is former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, who is making his highly anticipated UFC debut.
Mix is scheduled to face Mario Bautista in a crucial matchup between two 135-pounders who collectively boast a 14-0 record in their last 14 fights. The winner is expected to make a significant leap forward in the division standings.
However, Mix and Dvalishvili also share a connection, having trained together extensively over the past few years. At the time, Mix was competing in a different organization, so there was no potential conflict. Now, he is signed with the UFC and aiming for the championship, while Dvalishvili holds the title.
Despite being teammates and friends, Dvalishvili asserts he will not repeat the situation he had with Aljamain Sterling, where they refused to fight each other when both were top contenders.
“Patchy Mix is a great fighter,” Dvalishvili stated. “Yes, we train together a lot. He is one of the best, and I respect him. I`m happy for him that he is in the UFC now. I wish him all the best. It`s good for the UFC and good for the division to have another top fighter like him. He told me he was coming to the UFC, we talked about it, and we are cool, we are friends, we train together.”
“It`s not the same situation as it was between me and Aljo,” he clarified. “If the time comes, we will fight each other. There`s nothing personal about it. He`s fighting for his family, I`m fighting for my family and my team. That`s completely fine. I wish him good luck in his fight, and hopefully, I will win this fight against Sean O`Malley, and then we`ll see what happens.”
Another name mentioned to Dvalishvili was the current flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja, who has hinted at a potential move up to the bantamweight division in the future.
Currently, Pantoja has his own challenge ahead at UFC 317, where he faces Kai-Kara France in the co-main event. However, if the Brazilian decides to move up a weight class, the reigning bantamweight champion is prepared to welcome the challenge.
“Yes, he is a respectful champion,” Dvalishvili commented regarding a potential fight with Pantoja. “If he moves up and the UFC allows him to fight for the belt, that`s no problem. I am the champion now. I will fight whoever the UFC chooses for me.”
First and foremost, Dvalishvili must defeat O`Malley for a second time. He states he is more than ready for this, especially now that he expects to face a healthier and more focused challenger.
“He should be 70 percent better because he quit a lot of things,” Dvalishvili remarked about O`Malley. “He quit social media, he quit smoking weed, and I`m sure he was more focused on wrestling, getting better knockout power. I want to test all of that. I am ready for the best version of Sean O`Malley.”
