Two weeks out from UFC 320 and the spotlight isn’t just on the main event. The co-main in Las Vegas could end up stealing the show. Merab Dvalishvili, the bantamweight kingpin on a 13-fight tear, is set to defend his crown against the ever-dangerous Cory Sandhagen. On paper, it’s a clash of styles, but inside the gym? That’s where the real story has been brewing.

Fresh off choking out Sean O’Malley in a performance that had fans comparing him to Khabib himself, Merab looks unstoppable. But according to those closest to him, we haven’t even seen the best version yet. One of his most trusted training partners has quietly revealed the real secret behind Merab’s rise—and let’s just say, it’s not what you’d expect from a guy who already looks like a machine built in a lab.

Of course, champions don’t stay sharp by coasting. They need pressure, and they need someone who can push them when the lights aren’t on. “We’ve sparred hundreds of rounds, we’ve grappled hundreds of rounds,” said Patchy Mix, who has shared countless sessions with Merab Dvalishvili at Syndicate MMA and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Las Vegas. “When I first moved to Vegas four years ago, we started training together. … We’re very familiar with each other.” And as much as Mix benefited from those battles with ‘The Machine,’ Dvalishvili himself gained just as much. How, you ask?

Merab Dvalishvili’s drive to win amazes his coach

For Merab Dvalishvili, the move to Las Vegas has paid off in a big way. Now training full-time with John Wood at Syndicate MMA, the bantamweight champion has been able to sharpen his game with a variety of new training partners while still staying loyal to his longtime New York coaches Ray Longo and Matt Serra. According to Wood, Vegas provides the perfect environment for a fighter at the top of his game.

Speaking with James Lynch of MiddleEasy yesterday, Wood explained that the depth of talent in Las Vegas has been a major benefit. “The awesome part about Vegas is that there is always great people coming through … world champion kickboxers, strikers, and really well-rounded guys that have been able to emulate Cory [Sandhagen] and his footwork,” he said. The influx of talent, he added, has given Dvalishvili fresh looks and new challenges in camp.

Wood highlighted how valuable it’s been to have “big, tall, rangy guys” in the gym pushing the 20-4 fighter in ways he hasn’t been tested before. The champion has not only handled those challenges but excelled, with his coach noting, “He is passing all the tests.” For Wood, the goal isn’t to overhaul Dvalishvili’s style, but to keep building on what already works. “We don’t change Merab,” Wood said. “We just add building blocks.”

That means introducing new wrinkles to his game while staying true to his relentless wrestling base. As Wood explained, “Now that we are dominating so much in this area, let’s start to look for these options … start to add these wrinkles into your game.” The process has been about enhancing Merab Dvalishvili’s finishing ability and broadening his overall skill set, without taking away the weapons that got him to the belt.

Above all, Wood praised the Georgian star’s growth, health, and resilience heading into UFC 320. “Every camp he shocks me with how much he learns, how much he builds on from the last camp,” he said. The coach admitted the only thing that worries him is how healthy the 34-year-old has been during this camp, noting that despite the grueling sessions, “he makes it look easy.” For Wood, it’s the best possible position to be in, having a fighter who not only thrives under pressure but constantly finds ways to get better. And if that wasn’t enough, Coach John Wood dropped a bit of good news about what’s coming for Merab Dvalishvili once he gets through his fight with Cory Sandhagen.

Merab Dvalishvili ready to bring fireworks

Now, let’s talk aftermath—because if Merab gets past Sandhagen, the whispers about him are about to hit another level. During a recent interview, coach John Wood got asked a cheeky question: “Georgian Machine at the White House. Yes or no?” His answer? A flat-out “Yes.”

The host followed up, “That would be a banger. I don’t think it would be against us.” the 46-year-old elaborated, “I think 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 a banger of a card, something huge. That’s probably where you might start to see the whole Pantoja-Merab talk come in.”

If Merab Dvalishvili secures a KO against the No. 4-ranked Sandhagen next month, it would only add to the excitement surrounding a potential White House appearance. What’s surprising, however, is that Merab Dvalishvili wasn’t even planning to compete on that card, as he had originally agreed to help Conor McGregor prepare for his bout instead. Still, with his momentum surging, the question is, can Merab Dvalishvili deliver a power performance next? What do you think?