While many UFC fans believe Cory Sandhagen should be next for bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili, his head coach has a very different opponent in mind for his fighter.
Merab Dvalishvili is one of the least flashy fighters in the UFC. He isn’t an electric striker or even a dangerous submission artist. In his 23-fight career, he has only three knockout victories and just one lone submission. Yet, the Georgian has become an unstoppable force in the UFC’s 135-pound division.
- Why does Merab Dvalishvili wear a wig? The papakha Dvalishvili is a wool and sheepskin hat he wears to celebrate his home country, Georgia, and its culture
If there were any doubters about how good Dvalishvili is, they have been quieted in his last four fights. In that time he has racked up wins over former champion Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Sean O’Malley, and elite contender Umar Nurmagomedov. And in many of those fights, he won decisively.
Having won 12 straight inside the Octagon he has earned calling the shots on his opponents. However, the 34-year-old is a humble fighter willing to take on any challenger. That is why head coach Ray Longo has decided to take the lead in his fighter’s booking. And instead of facing a fighter like Cory Sandhagen next, Longo has a super fight in mind for Dvalishvili’s UFC return.
Related: Who is behind Merab Dvalishvili in our latest UFC bantamweight rankings?
Will Alexandre Pantoja be next for Merab Dvalishvili?
“I’d like to see Merab vs. Pantoja,” Longo said on the Anik & Florian Podcast recently [h/t Sports Illustrated. “[Alexandre] Pantoja should come up and fight him. He’s basically cleared out the division.”
UFC flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja is on a similarly dominant run in his division. Having won seven straight, including three title defenses. He is rumored to face Kai Kara-France at UFC 314 in April. He has little to prove in the weight class so a move up to challenge for a second belt does make a lot of sense.
There is more to lose in a bout for Merab Dvalishvili. However, Longo knows it is a very winnable fight, and having a flyweight champion on his fighter’s resume will just bolster his case for a Hall-of-Fame spot in the future. Cory Sandhagen is one of the few elite bantamweights the champ has not yet faced. However, his August loss to Nurmagomedov damages his case for a title fight next.
- Who has Merab Dvalishvili lost to? In the UFC, Dvalishvili has lost to Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simon
