Continuing his dominant run through bantamweight elites at UFC 320, Merab Dvalishvili may have pastures new awaiting him.
Adding to his spectacular run in the division over the weekend, Georgian star Merab Dvalishvili made light work of perennial contender Cory Sandhagen in another dominant decision win over the course of five rounds.
And already gearing up for a potential return as soon as December at an end-of-year flagship card, the Tbilisi star has a couple of options awaiting him.
However, amid links to a pair of specific rematches next, one member of Team Merab has suggested a rather exciting title prospect for him next.
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Merab Dvalishvili linked with Alexander Volkanovski super fight
Tying close friend and long-time training partner Aljamain Sterling as the most prolific bantamweight champion in promotional history, Dvalishvili defended his title for the third time since his ascension just over a year ago.
And with rematches against both Umar Nurmagomedov and Petr Yan floated next, Dvalishvili would become the most winningest bantamweight champion of all time with a fourth title defense.
However, as far as his coach, John Wood, is concerned, there’s a certain appeal to a super fight for Dvalishvili, a division higher at featherweight, against Alexander Volkanovski.
“I love that fight,” Wood said of a clash between Volkanovski and Dvalishvili during an interview with Submission Radio. “You know Volkanovski might have a little more clean standup, but we’re getting there, man.
“The pace of Merab, even in a bigger weight class, is just so hard to deal with,” Wood explained. “It’s a really interesting match because they’re both so goddamn tough and both so goddamn good.”
Merab Dvalishvili set new record with UFC 320 win
Comfortably clearing 100 takedowns in his overall Octagon run with his dominant showing against Sandhagen, Dvalishvili managed to set another stunning record in his latest defense of gold.
Chalking up a staggering 20 separate successful takedowns against the challenger, Dvalishvili comfortably smashed through the prior record of 16 set by Sean Sherk against Hermes Franca.
And just narrowly failing to tie the overall record of takedowns in a single fight, Dvalishvili came one shot shy of matching Khabib Nurmagomedov’s record of 21 successful takedowns against Abel Trujillo.