After stumbling through an underwhelming event in Perth—plagued by a thin undercard and sluggish ticket sales—the UFC roared back to life in the “fight capital” of the world. This time, UFC 320 in Nevada delivered everything its predecessor didn’t: energy, action, and edge. The matchmaking clicked, producing a night that reminded fans why this sport thrives on chaos and craft.

Even though the early prelims offered just one finish, the card’s intensity never faded. By the end of the prelims, fans inside T-Mobile Arena had already witnessed four emphatic stoppages by knockout. Still, all of that set the stage for the night’s true spectacle—the co-main event. Reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili clashed with Cory Sandhagen in a battle that pitted relentless wrestling against surgical striking. From the opening bell, ‘The Machine’ seized control and never let go, earning a decisive victory over Cory Sandhagen by decision.

What’s next for Merab Dvalishvili?

Just as expected, he controlled the crowd’s energy and dictated every exchange. For five suffocating rounds, the Georgian machine not only rag-dolled Sandhagen but also made history in the UFC by becoming the first fighter to reach 100 career takedowns, shutting down his opponent’s rhythm and space. His dominance mirrored the same calculated brutality he used to dismantle Sean O’Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov. Merab Dvalishvili maintained distance early, forced Sandhagen to burn energy, and then broke him apart in the championship rounds.

Dvalishvili extended one of the longest win streaks in UFC bantamweight history and notched his third title defense—tying his close friend, Aljamain Sterling. Sterling had already predicted Merab Dvalishvili’s legacy, saying on his YouTube channel, “I think he’s the greatest bantamweight of all time.” That night, ‘the Machine’ didn’t just defend his title—he fulfilled his friend’s prophecy. Three defenses, fourteen straight wins, and total control of the division have turned the ‘The Machine’ into a symbol of dominance.

Now, the victory will likely push Merab Dvalishvili  higher in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Georgian now stands as the man to beat. For his fourth defense, he has already targeted No. 3-ranked Petr Yan—the Russian sniper he outclassed in 2023. Dvalishvili made his intentions clear last month: “I can come back, because Petr Yan is [a] clear contender right now. He deserves it, I don’t want to make him wait too long.” Dvalishvili continues to push for a quick turnaround, showing the mindset of a champion who never slows down.

However, MMA guarantees nothing. Beyond Yan, Merab Dvalishvili may soon crave new challenges after nearly eight years of ruling the bantamweight trenches. He has already beaten rising prospects like Umar Nurmagomedov and legends like José Aldo and Henry Cejudo. Naturally, speculation continues that he could chase a new path—either moving up to featherweight like his countryman Ilia Topuria or cutting down to flyweight for a new test.

Even then, Merab Dvalishvili has already shut down talk of a move to 145 pounds. “I’m good, I don’t want to [fight Volkanovski],” he said. That statement leaves one intriguing possibility—dropping to 125 to challenge flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. Both men have dominated their divisions with quiet precision, and both seek bigger challenges. Pantoja has shown interest in the matchup, saying, “Money talks.” He also pitched a creative idea: “Make a BMF [belt] and make it 10 pounds. Me, Merab, why not? I don’t need to vacate my [flyweight] belt, and it makes it more fair.”

Pantoja’s eight-fight streak and four defenses make him the perfect foil for a cross-division clash—a meeting of two machines running at full speed. But for now, one name still lingers—Umar Nurmagomedov. The No. 2-ranked contender remains the only man MerabDvalishvili  refuses to entertain. His rivalry with Umar began when the Dagestani received a title shot after only one win over a top contender. Merab accused the promotion of favoritism, calling Umar’s fast-track to a title shot “nepotism” tied to his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Dvalishvili sets conditions for Umar Nurmagomedov’s rematch

At first, Merab Dvalishvili repeatedly turned down a fight with Umar Nurmagomedov, questioning whether the Dagestani contender was ready for a title shot. Yet, when the two finally clashed at UFC 311, ‘The Machine’ faced one of the toughest challenges of his career against the undefeated rising star. Surprisingly, defying the odds, the Georgian powerhouse shattered Nurmagomedov’s aura, snapped his 18-fight unbeaten streak, and handed him his first professional loss.

The judges’ cards—49-46, 48-47, and 48-47—reflected a closely fought battle, but they were enough to ignite whispers of a rematch. Before that can happen, Umar must prove himself against Mario Bautista at UFC 321. If he wins there, the path back to Dvalishvili would reopen. Still, for the champion, even that win won’t automatically earn him a title shot. After submitting Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, Dvalishvili has already locked onto #4-ranked contender Cory Sandhagen as his next challenger.

When asked on Friday about a possible rematch with Umar Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvili didn’t shy away: “Umar has to fight one more,” Dvalishvili said at a UFC Baku Q&A, “Or maybe two more… “Maybe three more,” the champion added. “We’ll see.” “Whenever UFC will give him a title fight, I’m here,” Dvalishvili said.

What do you make of Merab Dvalishvili’s position? If Umar triumphs over Bautista, will he secure another shot at the bantamweight crown? Share your thoughts below.