Merab Dvalishvili has been on a run of a lifetime in the UFC, as he holds the bantamweight belt on a 13-fight winning streak. UFC legend Michael Bisping admitted that the Georgian national “is slowly becoming one of the biggest stars in the UFC.” However, ‘The Count’ believes that ‘The Machine’ could be up for a steep task when he locks horns with Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320.

Michael Bisping had nothing but praise to share for Merab Dvalishvili in a recent video on YouTube. He agrees that the bantamweight champion’s wins over Sean O’Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov were pretty dominant. But the story may not be the same at UFC 320, as Bisping warned Dvalishvili about the dangers of fighting Cory Sandhagen.

Cory Sandhagen will be a tough one for Merab Dvalishvili, claims UFC legend

Cory Sandhagen has a couple of wins less than Merab Dvalishvili and a loss more than the reigning champion in his overall record. He’s got a pretty impressive resume with wins over Marlon Vera and Deiveson Figueiredo. Michael Bisping claims that the level of intelligence that Sandhagen showcases inside the Octagon is a bit more than others in the division. “I do believe that Cory Sandhagen does provide some unique problems. His fight IQ is just off the scale. He’s a very, very smart and calculated guy. He has a very cerebral approach in there. He has beautiful footwork,” Bisping stated on YouTube.

To explain his argument, Michael Bisping recalled Cory Sandhagen’s fight against fellow legend Frankie Edgar. That fight saw him showcase his striking prowess, as he earned a KO win. However, Sandhagen also has a great ground game in him, which makes him a formidable opponent for Merab Dvalishvili. Meanwhile, Bisping also believes that a win over the challenger will cement ‘The Machine’s legacy in the 135lbs division, which could, in turn, create problems for Dana White to find a fresh opponent for the Georgian ace.

“He was lulling Frankie Edgar into a false sense of security. Backs up and leaps into the air. Flying knee, knocked him out cold. Face-planted him… And of course, on the ground as well. The man’s ground game is phenomenal,” Michael Bisping added. “So, all in all, that’s a great fight and I do believe that if Merab Dvalishvili does beat Cory Sandhagen, and that’s a big if… but if he can beat Cory Sandhagen, I’m telling you. I don’t think there’s anyone in this division right now that can beat him.”

Despite how dominant he’s been, Merab Dvalishvili may need to hear what Michael Bisping has to say about his opponent. MMA is a crazy sport after all, so there’s always a chance of him losing the fight. But in the same way, Cory Sandhagen should also take a look at what the champ’s coach has to say ahead of their title fight.

Dvalishvili’s coach claims he had the toughest camp ahead of UFC 320

Coach John Wood recently appeared in a few interviews ahead of UFC 320, and he’s got some good news for Merab Dvalishvili’s fans, which may not be the case for Cory Sandhagen’s fans. ‘The Machine’s coach has already revealed that he’s training with an 18-year-old, but he also added that the champion’s camp for this fight has been a pretty rough one. Claiming that Dvalishvili has only gotten better, Wood added that the focus of his training camp has been on developing the ability to finish Sandhagen rather than just gas him out.

“That man is on a tear in the gym. I can’t even express or explain how much better he is or how much better he’s getting in this camp. It’s almost jaw-dropping. Everybody in the gym is buzzing about it,” Merab Dvalishvili’s coach told Home of Fight. “He’s not just working to outpace you anymore. He’s now looking to hurt you. He’s looking to finish you.”

Well, we are not too far from the PPV, and we’ll find out who gets the better of the other. Merab Dvalishvili has a chance to extend his winning streak to climb up the ranks in the record book in terms of the longest active win streak, but on the other hand, Cory Sandhagen has a chance to realize his lifelong dream. Who do you have winning at UFC 320? Let us know in the comments section below.