UFC 316 main event winner Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili solidified his position as a dominant force in the bantamweight division, submitting Sean O’Malley in round three. With this victory, Dvalishvili extended his winning streak to six fights, leaving him one win away from tying Aljamain Sterling’s divisional record.
Joe Rogan questioned whether anyone can stop Dvalishvili’s reign during the UFC 316 broadcast. However, Cory Sandhagen, who was cageside at the event and set for his first undisputed title shot, thinks he has a way to beat the Georgian champion.
Sandhagen believes that Merab Dvalishvili is unbeatable in most scenarios, but he sees an opportunity to take him down with a knockout victory. “You’ve gotta knock that guy out,” Sandhagen said when asked how to stop ‘The Machine’. This strategy is not unprecedented for Sandhagen, who has successfully knocked out opponents in the past.
Despite being considered the underdog, Sandhagen’s confidence is high ahead of his potential title shot against Dvalishvili. The 33-year-old has been on a roll lately, with four wins in his last five fights. His next challenge will likely be a tough one, but if he can execute his gameplan and land a knockout blow, it could be a memorable upset.
Source: https://bloodyelbow.com/2025/06/09/merab-dvalishvilis-next-challenger-has-simple-answer-after-joe-rogan-questioned-how-he-beats-the-champ