Why Cory Sandhagen thinks he can beat UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili

Cory Sandhagen is assured that he has the reply to UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili’s recreation.

Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) retained his title when he rallied to defeat Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) by unanimous determination this previous Saturday at UFC 311 from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. Sandhagen is coming off a five-round principal occasion loss to Nurmagomedov at UFC on ABC 7. Whereas he is aware of he received’t be subsequent in line for a title shot, he likes how he matches up in opposition to Dvalishvili.

“Umar’s positively a extremely good fighter,” Sandhagen mentioned on his YouTube channel. “He beat me. He’s higher than I’m stylistically. That being mentioned, types make fights. In case you’re going to be a man that fights in opposition to Merab, it’s a must to have actually, actually, actually good footwork and be capable to defend the takedowns in an vitality environment friendly means. Merab has fought O’Malley, beat him fairly decisively. Yan, beat him fairly decisively. Umar, beat him fairly decisively. These are the three guys which might be forward of me. I ought to be subsequent in line.”

Regardless that Sandhagen is aware of higher than to name for the subsequent title shot, that doesn’t imply he isn’t assured that he might be the one to dethrone Dvalishvili.

“I do know that that’s sort of a tricky promote, so I’m not going to attempt to promote you guys on that since you guys know I don’t like doing that,” Sandhagen mentioned of a callout. “… I do assume that if there’s a type that beats Merab, it’s one that may management the area one of the best. And say no matter you need about my type, what it’s a must to say about it’s I in all probability have one of the best footwork within the division. If not one of the best, means, means up there. I maintain area, hold area, shut it, open it higher than anybody else within the division for my part. That’s what’s going to beat Merab. So after I get to struggle him, I’m actually excited to see how that will get to seem like.”