From a construction worker to one of the most dominant UFC champions on the current roster, the story of Merab Dvalishvili is one of perseverance and discipline. After losing his first two fights in Dana White‘s promotion, the bantamweight champion went on to amass a massive 13-fight winning streak, beating the likes of Sean O’Malley, Umar Nurmagomedov, Henry Cejudo, and Petr Yan. Now, he’s defending his belt against Cory Sandhagen, and on paper, people are leaning towards Dvalishvili to win at UFC 320. However, ‘The Machine’ has been advised to proceed with caution by Michael Bisping.

Cory Sandhagen, widely regarded as one of the most creative fighters in the UFC, has finally gotten his shot at undisputed UFC gold after almost four years since he lost the interim title fight to Petr Yan. Known for his sharp insights, Michael Bisping believes there is a chance that Sandhagen succeeds this time against Merab Dvalishvili. If you’re wondering how ‘The Sandman’ does that, the answer is a secret weapon in his arsenal.

Merab Dvalishvili warned about Cory Sandhagen’s secret move

Cory Sandhagen may have great skills on the ground, but it’s in the standup where he shines the most. “Now, Cory, listen, if he gets taken down, he’s very complicated on the ground. He’s got a dangerous ground game. On the feet, he’s got beautiful striking, and he does know how to set traps,” Michael Bisping stated in a clip on his YouTube channel. A UFC legend learned exactly why Sandhagen’s striking is rated highly back when they fought in 2021.

One of Cory Sandhagen’s most high-profile wins came against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. When the legend made his move down to 135 lbs, his second fight as a bantamweight took place against ‘The Sandman’ in what was his shortest fight ever. He surprised Edgar with a flying knee to end the fight in 28 seconds. This is what Merab Dvalishvili has been advised to watch out for because the champ’s game plan always involves taking down his opponent.

“Look at what he did to Frankie Edgar, where he backed up, he lulled Frankie into a false sense of security. He had Frankie chasing him, and then he changes direction, leaps into the air, flying knee, knocks him out cold,” Michael Bisping added. “So Merab’s got to be careful of that. Merab is a shorter guy, and flying knees; they are going to be an option for Cory Sandhagen all day long.”

Michael Bisping had previously praised Cory Sandhagen’s fight IQ as well, so Merab Dvalishvili may not have it easy against the challenger. ‘The Sandman’ recently shed some light on his preparation for the bantamweight title fight at UFC 320 and claimed that he’s in the prime of his fighting career.

Sandhagen praises the coach for helping him develop to his peak

Cory Sandhagen will come with a sense of purpose when he steps inside the Octagon on Saturday. His recent statements indicate that his coaches have extensively supported his purpose because, according to ‘The Sandman’, this fight camp has been different than the ones he had in the past. There’s no doubt how cerebral Sandhagen is as a fighter since he’s high on technique and also adjustment. He claims that his coaches, Trevor Wittman and Carrington Banks, have helped him develop his analytical approach to the extent that now he feels like he’s in his prime.

“If you have people around you who know what they’re doing, you just need to listen. That’s what I do now, and it’s been a game-changer,” Cory Sandhagen stated in an interview that took place at his High Altitude Martial Arts in Denver. “Good coaches can teach moves. Great coaches make you believe in yourself. That’s what Carrington does—he pushes me, but he also makes me trust myself.”

Merab Dvalishvili and his coach have also spoken highly about the threat Cory Sandhagen poses. But can he really dethrone the indomitable bantamweight champion? We will find that out this weekend, but in the meantime, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.