Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili via Decision
Merab’s wrestling is the obvious advantage and why most people are leaning his way. But Cory’s not the same fighter who used to get bullied on the mat. His size, length, and technical growth have made him way harder to control, and that’s a big deal in this matchup. If Merab can’t just glue himself to Cory the way he has with others, then he’s forced to strike more than he’d like and Sandhagen has a massive edge on the feet.
Cory’s striking is fluid, creative, and punishing. He’s one of the few guys at bantamweight who can mix volume with accuracy, and he doesn’t panic when pressured. That improved grappling awareness lets him stay calm, defend better, and reset instead of folding. And if this fight spends big chunks on the feet, Cory will have moments because even though Merab’s striking has improved with timing and mixing in the threat of the shot, it’s still chaotic, looping, and nowhere near as clean as what Cory brings.
Despite that, Merab is built different. His cardio is literally freakish. Nobody else in the UFC can keep that kind of pace for five rounds. That’s why he can absorb punishment and just keep forcing his game on people. Cory might have early success, maybe even win moments that make it look scary if you’re on Merab—but over time, the pressure, the grind, the constant chain wrestling, it breaks people. Cory’s good, but matching that kind of pace for five straight rounds is nearly impossible.
So while this fight is way trickier than the line suggests and Cory’s definitely live because of the striking gap. The cardio, durability, and relentless pressure of Merab should still carry the day. Even if he has to eat some clean shots, he’ll keep coming, and eventually, Cory won’t be able to match that insane gas tank.