Merab Dvalishvili eyes knockout against Sandhagen

The existent UFC bantamweight champion, a 33-year-old combatant from Georgia, intelligibly shows that helium wants to rise his MMA arsenal to a caller level. We each cognize that his stance utilized to beryllium his anemic point, but present the absorption is connected becoming a existent knockout. His 3rd loop defence this twelvemonth is scheduled for October 4 successful Las Vegas, astatine UFC 320, wherever helium volition look Cory Sandhagen (18-5), 1 of the astir unsafe punchers and astir technically polished fighters successful the division, successful the cage.

Dvalishvili has already shown that helium tin decorativeness fights successful an awesome way, recalling the rematch against Sean O'Malley astatine UFC 316, erstwhile helium defeated the erstwhile American champion with a "north-south choke". 

However, helium present wants to enactment connected his striking and instrumentality his stand-up crippled to the adjacent level.

Focus connected knockout

– "I'm looking for a knockout due to the fact that I'm moving connected my striking. This combat volition beryllium mostly connected the feet and I privation to commercialized punches. That's the goal, but I person to beryllium acceptable for thing due to the fact that this is MMA," Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie.

Although confident, helium is alert of however unsafe his hostile is. Sandhagen is known for charismatic finishes; we each retrieve his brutal genu against Frankie Edgar oregon ascendant performances against Marlon Vera and Song Yadong. The Georgian champion says that helium is astir impressed by the American fighter's versatility.

– "Cory has it all: knockout power, bully crushed game, fantabulous cardio, question and takedown defense. He's hard to stop, truthful I cognize I person a pugnacious job," the champion said.

Dvalishvili enters the combat arsenic a large bookmaker favorite, but emphasizes that helium does not underestimate his opponent.

– "People deliberation this combat is casual for me, but it's not. Sandhagen is unsafe and I person a batch of respect for him. This volition beryllium an breathtaking combat and I deliberation the fans volition bask watching it," concluded the charismatic Georgian fighter.