Merab Dvalishvili once again dominated last week at UFC 320 in the co-main event. The Georgian powerhouse executed a wrestling masterclass against precision striker Cory Sandhagen, showcasing unmatched cardio and controlling the fight strategically to outclass his opponent. As a result, he secured a decisive decision victory, defending his title for the fourth time. Inside the roaring T-Mobile Arena, Dvalishvili’s triumph over ‘The Sandman’ allowed him to be tied up with his close friend Aljamain Sterling for the most title defenses in the division.

This milestone firmly cements Merab Dvalishvili as a “living legend” of the Octagon. After more than six years in the UFC, he has etched his name among the division’s elite, becoming the first UFC fighter to land 100 career takedowns. With no challenger threatening his reign, ‘The Machine’ stands untouchable as the bantamweight champion. Now, with the division firmly behind him, he is setting his sights on challenges beyond his 135-pound class.

Merab Dvalishvili’s team welcomes potential clash with Alexandre Pantoja

In his latest appearance on Submission Radio, Merab Dvalishvili’s coach, John Woods, dubbed Alexandre Pantoja the “Merab” of the flyweight division. Meanwhile, the flyweight scene has stagnated, with ‘The Cannibal’ holding the belt for two years with no new challengers emerging. Woods expects Pantoja to move up to the 135-pound division. He explained, “You know, what I would say is that if he comes up, I love the fight…Think it’s a great fight for us. I think it’s a typical Merab fight. I think that Pantoja is a great champion, very dangerous, and very well coached. You know, I’m a huge fan of his coach and his team, and it’d be an honor to fight him.”

Just like Merab Dvalishvili, Brazilian powerhouse Alexandre Pantoja commands the Octagon with authority. He rides an eight-fight win streak, outclassing stars like Steve Erceg and Brandon Royval, leaving challengers in his wake. Even last year, when Dana White tried to inject fresh competition with Japanese star Kai Asakura, Pantoja still overwhelmed the former RIZIN champion.

With four successful title defenses, he had firmly cemented his place at the pinnacle of his division. A few months ago, Alexandre Pantoja expressed his desire to face the Georgian standout in the bantamweight division, stressing “Money talks.” However, the Brazilian champion refused to risk his belt, instead setting his sights on the “crazy” BMF title while keeping his flyweight crown firmly in his possession.

When will Merab Dvalishvili return after UFC 320?

34-year-old Merab Dvalishvili is racing against time in the bantamweight division. He knows his window as champion won’t last forever, yet he is determined to stay as “busy” as possible and defend his title as often as he can. Last year, ‘The Machine’ outlined a bold plan: four fights in a single year. Having already stepped into the Octagon three times in 2025, he now targets a final, high-stakes clash as UFC 320 wraps up in October, with just a couple of thrilling cards left in the calendar year.

In fact, he wants a rematch against Petr Yan. Previously, Merab Dvalishvili dominated their encounter, landing 49 takedowns and securing a unanimous decision victory in 2023. Since then, Yan has built a three-fight win streak, defeating Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo, and Marcus McGhee.

“I think Petr Yan looked good and he’s ready,” Yan told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview. “Like I keep saying, I wanna be busy. And Hunter Campbell please and Dana White, if you have a spot [in] December, I would love to make a quick turnaround. If not then I’m gonna keep getting better and then somebody is in big trouble,” Merab Dvalishvili said.

The big questions now loom large: should Merab Dvalishvili move up or down a division to face Alexandre Pantoja, or should he cement his legacy with a rematch against Petr Yan? Share your thoughts and drop your pick below.