Cory Sandhagen vs Merab Dvalishvili — Fight recap

Merab Dvalishvili defeated Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision over five rounds on October 4, 2025, in a bantamweight clash that showcased contrasting fight philosophies. Dvalishvili's wrestling prowess proved decisive, landing 20 takedowns on 37 attempts for a 54% success rate while controlling the cage for 10:02 total.

Sandhagen managed 80 significant strikes from 184 attempts at 43% accuracy but could not establish offensive rhythm, attempting zero takedowns and accruing no control time. Both fighters landed 114 and 80 significant strikes respectively, with nearly identical striking percentages, yet Dvalishvili's grappling dominance and ground control separated the scorecards across all three judges under referee Marc Goddard.

The victory reinforces Dvalishvili's position as a top contender in the division while raising questions about Sandhagen's ability to neutralize elite wrestling at this level.