Merab Dvalishvili, UFC 320 media day interview

LAS VEGAS – Merab Dvalishvili thinks his 2025 resume will be undeniable with a UFC 320 win.

Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defends his bantamweight title against Cory Sandhagen (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in Saturday's co-main event (pay-per-view, FX/ESPNews/Disney+, ESPN+) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Dvalishvili handed Umar Nurmagomedov his first-career loss at UFC 311 in January, then submitted Sean O'Malley in their rematch at UFC 316. If he beats Sandhagen, he can become the eighth fighter in UFC history to notch three title defenses in a calendar year.

"If I win, I should be Fighter of the Year, but I'm not focusing on this," Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie and other media at Wednesday's media day. "I want to do more. I'm healthy, I'm hungry, I'm super-motivated, I love fighting. I want to do my best always, and that's what I'm focusing on – to do my best, and whatever the record or resume will come with that, I will take it. I always have a next goal, and do my best always."

With Sandhagen's striking and jiu-jitsu game, could he be Dvalishvili's biggest threat to date?

"Yes, absolutely," Dvalishvili said. "Cory Sandhagen has a dangerous game, like flying knee, spinning kick, submission attack, good cardio. He escapes takedowns, and then he's getting up easy, quick, and a lot of experience. But he's fighting me, and I'm an even better version this time.

"At the same time, it's a new opponent and a new date. We all know that one punch, one submission can change everything. So I recognize all the danger from Cory Sandhagen, but at the same time I'm going to do what I was training for, and it's going to be a good night for me. I believe that."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Merab Dvalishvili: Win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 should make me 'Fighter of the Year'

Reporting by Farah Hannoun and Ken Hathaway, MMA Junkie / MMA Junkie

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