We’re just weeks away from the bantamweight title clash between champion Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen, set as the co-main event of UFC 320 on Oct. 4 in Las Vegas. For Dvalishvili, this marks his third title defense, coming off his first finish in four years, a third-round submission over Sean O’Malley at UFC 316. With relentless wrestling, endless cardio, and an iron will, ‘The Machine’ remains one of the toughest puzzles in the bantamweight division, especially over five rounds. And according to his coach, the best version of Dvalishvili is still ahead.

Critics have often pointed to Merab Dvalishvili’s decision-heavy resume and takedown-heavy approach, but after submitting Sean O’Malley in New Jersey, it looks like the champ has added a far more dangerous edge to his game. “That man is on a tear in the gym,” Dvalishvili’s head coach John Wood told Home of Fight. “I can’t even express or explain how much better he is and how much better he’s getting in this camp, it’s almost jaw-dropping.” And with that kind of evolution underway, Wood believes Merab Dvalishvili could be in prime position not only to defend his belt again but to punch his ticket to the White House UFC card in June 2026.

Merab Dvalishvili ready to bring a banger to the octagon

Yesterday, as John Wood discussed Merab Dvalishvili and his preparation for his upcoming title defense against Cory Sandhagen on October 4, the conversation wrapped with a quick round of rapid-fire yes-or-no questions. Host Jake Noecker asked the Syndicate MMA head coach, “Georgian machine at the White House. Yes or no?” Without hesitation, Wood replied, “Yes.”

The host followed up, saying, “That would be a banger. I don’t think it would be against us.” Wood then elaborated, “I think that Merab [Dvalishvili] is probably one of the bigger stars in the UFC right now and a fan favorite. So why wouldn’t you? If you’re trying to do something special like the White House, you want to have a banger of a card, something huge. That’s probably where you might start to see the whole Pantoja-Merab talk come in.”

Interestingly, with 20-plus bouts rumored for the White House UFC card, the lineup already sounds stacked, especially with the possibility of a Conor McGregor appearance. Next week also marks four years since Dvalishvili last scored a knockout, a TKO win over Marlon Moraes in their back-and-forth battle at UFC 266 in 2021. While knockouts aren’t typically his calling card, as his grappling and cardio are, fans still remember the picture-perfect 15-second spinning backfist knockout of former Bellator champ Raufeon Stots back in 2017 that put Dvalishvili on the map. So now, if he secures a KO against the No. 4-ranked Sandhagen next month, it would only boost the excitement for his potential White House appearance.

What’s surprising, however, is that Merab Dvalishvili wasn’t even planning to compete on the White House card. Instead, he had initially agreed to help Conor McGregor prepare for his bout on the same card. Still, with the momentum he’s building, the question is, can Merab Dvalishvili deliver a power performance next?

Merab Dvalishvili sets his sights on finishing every opponent

UFC fans know Merab Dvalishvili for his relentless grappling and suffocating pressure, powered by a gas tank that never seems to run out. But knockouts were never his calling card, until now. According to his coach, the reigning bantamweight champion is done settling for decisions and is ready to hurt opponents.

In the same interview, Syndicate MMA’s John Wood explained, “It really is just Merab [Dvalishvili] believing in himself in a different fashion now. He’s not just this grinder who’s going to take you down a thousand times. He’s looking to hurt you. He’s looking to finish you. He’s looking to create devastating, entertaining fights.” That’s a major shift in mindset for a fighter long criticized for his lack of striking power.

So now, with the rank 4 UFC bantamweight contender next, the stakes are even higher than ever. All eyes will be on whether Merab can prove he’s evolved into a more dangerous finisher at UFC 320, or if an upset is waiting to unfold. So, will Merab Dvalishvili truly unleash a new version of himself, or is there a surprise brewing? What do you think?