Before his upcoming fight against Sean O`Malley at UFC 316, Merab Dvalishvili is aware of several top contenders vying for a shot.
The rematch between Dvalishvili and O`Malley is set to headline the pay-per-view event at Prudential Center in Newark on June 7th.
Granting O`Malley an immediate rematch against `The Machine` has sparked discussion among fans and analysts.
Many believed a rematch with Petr Yan would have been a more suitable next opponent for Dvalishvili.
However, a former two-division UFC champion suggests a different formidable opponent awaits the Georgian fighter after UFC 316.
Henry Cejudo backs Cory Sandhagen to give Merab Dvalishvili problems
Cory Sandhagen is another top contender, alongside Yan, pushing for a title shot.
`The Sandman` recently put on an impressive display in early May, defeating former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. This victory solidifies his position high in the bantamweight rankings and marks his fourth win in his last five fights.
Reacting to Sandhagen`s performance alongside Jake Shields, Henry Cejudo argued that Sandhagen deserves the next title shot against the winner of the UFC 316 main event.
Cejudo, a former champion at 135 pounds, believes Sandhagen would pose a significantly greater challenge to Dvalishvili compared to Sean O`Malley in their upcoming June 7th bout.
Cejudo commented on Sandhagen`s performance: “Look at what Sandhagen did… how good he looked against Figueiredo. He`s good, man. If Merab can get past Sandhagen, the winner of this fight should automatically be pound-for-pound top three.”
He added, “That`s the next fight for the champ, dude… Cory`s f—ing good, man, Cory`s good. Merab, to me, he will get past O`Malley. But this dude [Sandhagen] is the real deal, man.”
Cejudo highlighted Sandhagen`s versatility: “Not just submission [threat if taken down], but elbows, fighting off the bottom. A lot of people don`t know how to fight; they separate.”
Cory Sandhagen pleaded with UFC for a title shot after latest triumph
Sandhagen will likely welcome the support from a notable figure like Cejudo regarding his pursuit of a second UFC title shot.
Following his win over Figueiredo in Des Moines, `The Sandman` passionately appealed to UFC executives for a chance to compete for the championship.
He specifically requested, “Look, I`ve dreamed of being a world champion for more than half my life now. UFC, *please*, give me an opportunity to show how great I am to the whole world. Please!”
Sandhagen`s initial opportunity for a UFC title came in 2021 in Abu Dhabi, where he was defeated by Petr Yan in an interim bantamweight championship bout.
Rupert Hartwell