Merab Dvalishvili is keeping his eyes firmly on the prize.
Since winning the UFC bantamweight title a year ago, Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) hasn’t taken his foot off the gas. “The Machine” is set to defend his belt for the third time in 2025 when he faces Cory Sandhagen (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in the co-main event at UFC 320 next week — a strength of schedule that would put many champions to shame.
Although the Georgian has had a full year to adjust to life as the king of the 135-pound division, he admits he still hasn’t fully settled into the role.
"No, I'm definitely not comfortable," Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie this week. "Every fight in (the) UFC is very important for me even (when) I was not fighting for the belt or now I'm fighting for belt. Every fight, doesn't matter. Even my first fight in the UFC or my third fight, I'm treating every fight same. I have same goal and same motivation.
"I'm even more motivated, but it's just when you're the champion, you become popular. You've got more distractions, more people. You have more opportunities, and of course, I have family, I have friends, I have teammates, coaches, neighbors. You have to split the time for everyone, which is hard, and I'm trying to deal with this, figure it out."
After dethroning Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 last September, Dvalishvili went straight back to work. He outpointed Umar Nurmagomedov over five rounds at UFC 311 in January, then submitted O’Malley in their rematch at UFC 316 in June.
Even with the upcoming clash against Sandhagen marking his fourth title fight in just over twelve months, Dvalishvili has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
"I want to ask (the UFC) favor to fight fourth time this year if I win," Dvalishvili said. "First, I have to win this fight. I'm very focused because like I said, I don't think it's going to be an easy fight for me. If I win this fight, I want to come back quick and give Petr Yan his fight because he's like the clear contender right now, and he's the most deserving guy in my weight class."
