Merab Dvalishvili lived up to his promise, showcasing his Georgian wrestling prowess by dismantling an opponent from a team renowned for building a lasting legacy. We are of course talking about his legacy-defining triumph over Umar Nurmagomedov who had boldly claimed that ‘The Machine’ was ducking him.

After securing his first title defense victory, Dvalishvili jokingly declared he would need just seven days to heal before jumping back into the Octagon. The big question now is: who will the 135lbs kingpin face next? Luckily, fans won’t need to speculate blindly, as former UFC champ and analyst Michael Bisping has already suggested an intriguing solution.

Michael Bisping offers his 2 cents on Merab Dvalishvili’s next opponent 

Michael Bisping weighed in on who Merab Dvalishvili should face next. Interestingly, he dismissed the idea of a rematch with former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. Sharing his thoughts on his YouTube channel, Bisping said:

“Merab vs. Ilia—I mean, that would be Merab going up, and yeah, maybe. I mean, he has had one defense. He has had one defense. I think he should fight Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen again. Cory Sandhagen should be the next fight, in my opinion. He has already beaten Sean O’Malley, but I understand there might be a lot of people that want to see O’Malley back in there, so.”

Sean O’Malley, the current #1 bantamweight contender, lost his crown to Dvalishvili at UFC 306. Naturally, it positions him as a prime candidate for a rematch. During the post-fight press conference for UFC 311, Dvalishvili acknowledged the possibility of facing O’Malley again, stating:

“I think also [Sean] O’Malley, he was complaining about something, and he has a chance. We know he can knock people out. If he lands on you, he has a big chance. I see him as a challenge too.” However, as Bisping pointed out, other potential challengers in the mix could get their shot before O’Malley. So, the big question remains: who will get the first crack at Dvalishvili?

Who will get the crack at Dvalishvili next?

As the reigning king of the bantamweight division, Merab Dvalishvili has no shortage of options for his next fight. Among the potential contenders are 125lbs god-king Alexandre Pantoja, Cory Sandhagen, and Umar Nurmagomedov—each presenting unique challenges. The Brazilian, who has already staked his claim by calling dibs on the winner of Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov, promises an electrifying showdown.

A matchup between Dvalishvili and Pantoja would be a grappling-heavy clash worth the wait. However, Aussie phenom Robert Whittaker believes Pantoja would be biting off more than he could chew if he moved to the bantamweight division, especially with Dvalishvili reigning supreme.

“I love Pantoja, but Merab murders him, murders him,” Whittaker said during an MMA Arcade interview. Cory Sandhagen also enters the conversation as a top contender. In a discussion with MMA on SiriusXM, Sandhagen analyzed how Dvalishvili outlasted Nurmagomedov in their grueling five-round battle, suggesting the Dagestani’s early exertion paved the way for the Georgian’s victory.

Confident in his own skill set, Sandhagen believes he poses the greatest threat to Dvalishvili in the division. “Not to be clickbaity, but I do think that I have the style to beat Merab,” Sandhagen said. “You can say whatever you want about my style, but I do believe that I have some of the best footwork in the sport, and I can create space better than anyone.”

As for Umar Nurmagomedov, he is undoubtedly eager to avenge his first-ever UFC loss. While a rematch with Dvalishvili is a tantalizing prospect, an immediate rematch seems unlikely at this stage. So, who should ‘The Machine’ face next? With a stacked field of contenders, the decision is far from easy. Share your thoughts in the comments below!