May 3, 2025; Des Moines, Iowa, UNITED STATES; Cory Sandhagen (red gloves) fights Deiveson Figueiredo (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

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Grappler Turns Striker, Striker Turns Grappler – Unexpected Twist Ahead Of Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen UFC 320 Clash

The fight game has always been about playing to a fighter’s strengths. If you are a wrestler, you take people down. If you are a striker, you keep it standing. It is as simple as it comes. Well, not when it comes to the upcoming UFC 320 bantamweight title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen. In what might be the most ironic twist of 2025, both fighters seem ready to abandon their bread and butter. The grappler wants to strike, and the striker wants to grapple.

Dvalishvili has built an entire empire on relentless wrestling and cardio. The Georgian powerhouse defended his title for the second time at UFC 316, submitting Sean O’Malley and extending his winning streak to thirteen straight fights. His gameplan has been crystal clear: take you down, wear you out, and break your spirit with pressure that never stops. Meanwhile, Sandhagen has made his name as one of the division’s most technical strikers, with slick movement and creative attacks that have troubled everyone he has faced. But heading into UFC 320, both men are singing a very different tune. This unexpected approach from both fighters has everyone scratching their heads!

Merab Dvalishvili Wants A Striking Battle

Merab Dvalishvili, the man who has suffocated opponents with his wrestling for years, suddenly wants to throw hands. In a recent interview with Shak MMA, the champion dropped a bombshell that left fans stunned.

“This fight is going to be 90% striking. I want a knockout.”

The wrestler who has built his reputation on takedowns and ground control now wants to turn this into a kickboxing match. But why would Dvalishvili abandon the very thing that got him the belt? Maybe he’s been working on his striking and feels confident enough to test it. Or perhaps he’s playing mind games, trying to lull Cory Sandhagen into a false sense of security before shooting for takedowns anyway.

Cory Sandhagen’s Coach Hints At Wrestling Gameplan

On the flip side, Cory Sandhagen’s camp is preparing for something nobody expected either. Trevor Wittman, one of the most respected coaches in MMA, revealed that Sandhagen might actually seek out grappling exchanges against Dvalishvili. During the UFC 320 Countdown episode, Wittman explained that most fighters face Merab with a defensive wrestling mindset. They focus entirely on stuffing takedowns and panic when they hit the mat. But Sandhagen? He’s thinking offense!

“I don’t think a lot of guys do it against Merab. They go out there and they’re just, ‘Hey, don’t get taken down.’ And then when they get taken down, they’re on plan B.”

Wittman wants Sandhagen thinking differently. This aggressive grappling approach from a primarily striking-based fighter shows championship mentality. Instead of playing defense and hoping to survive the wrestling, Sandhagen might actually try to beat the Georgian at his own game. It’s a risky strategy, but it could pay off big. If Cory Sandhagen can surprise Merab Dvalishvili with takedowns or sweeps, it might throw the champion off his rhythm completely. Whether this translates to actual success against a wrestling machine like Merab Dvalishvili remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: UFC 320 just got a whole lot more interesting!

(Image Credit: Reese Strickland – Imagn Images)

Cory Sandhagen

Merab Dvalishvili

UFC 320

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!