Dvalishvili Vs. Sandhagen Odds, Predictions, Picks

The UFC is back. The fight promotion returns to pay-per-view action on Saturday, October 4, with UFC 320. The Las Vegas fight card features two title fights.

In the UFC 320 main event, current UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev puts his title on the line against the man he took the belt from, Alex Pereira. Ankalaev defeated Pereira at UFC 313 in March, winning the UFC 205-pound crown via unanimous decision.

In the co-main event of UFC 320, the promotion’s bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, looks to become the eighth UFC champion to successfully defend their crown three times in a calendar year. Dvalishvili faces one-time UFC interim bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen on Saturday night.

UFC 320 takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC 320 pay-per-view card streams on ESPN+ PPV at 10:00 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ and early prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.

Below, we look at the picks, predictions and betting odds for the UFC 320 fight card co-main matchup between Dvalishvili and Sandhagen.

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UFC 320 Fight Card Co-Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Cory Sandhagen Opening Betting Odds And Line Movement

When BetOnline first announced the betting line for the upcoming bantamweight title fight, Dvalishvili opened as the -335 favorite over the +275 Sandhagen. Since then, the champ has moved to -400, while Sandhagen is currently the +300 betting underdog.

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UFC 320 Fight Card Co-Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Cory Sandhagen

Merab Dvalishvili (20-4), a long-time training partner of former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling stepped into the spotlight of the promotion’s 135-pound division in September 2014 when he scored a unanimous decision win over then-champion Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306.

The 33-year-old Dvalishvili joined the UFC in 2017 as much-hyped prospect. At the time, Dvalishvili was 7-2 and had won and defended the Ring of Combat bantamweight crown.

Dvalishvili did not have a smooth start to his UFC run, losing his first two fights. Falling to Frankie Saenz by decision, and the second, to Ricky Simon, via submission. In September 2018, things clicked in place for the Serra-Longo Fight Team product, and he has not lost since.

Heading into UFC 306, Dvalishvili was on a 10-fight winning streak. Prior to his matchup against O’Malley, Dvalishvili had defeated Marlon Moraes, Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. The win over O’Malley stretched his winning streak to 11 straight. Dvalishvili extended that streak to 12 when he defended his title with a unanimous decision win over the previously unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.

Dvalishvili faced O’Malley in a rematch at UFC 316. O’Malley had not fought since he lost his title to Dvalishvili at UFC 306. Despite making wholesale changes to his life and training heading into UFC 316, Dvalishvili easily dispatched O’Malley in their second meeting, ending the fight in the third round via submission.

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Cory Sandhagen (18-5) joined the UFC in 2018 with a 7-1 record. He went unbeaten in his first five fights with the promotion. That run, culminating with decision wins over John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao, earned the then 28-year-old the No. 4 ranking in the UFC’s 135 weight class and a matchup against the No. 2 ranked Aljamain Sterling.

The slick Sterling submitted Sandhagen in the first round, earning himself a shot at the UFC bantamweight title, a belt he won in his next outing. As for Sandhagen, the submission setback did not hurt him in the rankings, as he remained at No. 4.

Following his first UFC loss, the UFC booked Sandhagen against the No. 1 ranked Marlon Moraes. Sandhagen won that fight and a “Performance of the Night” bonus with a highlight-reel spinning wheel kick KO.

That stunning stoppage earned Sandhagen the No. 2 ranking in the division and a fight against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Sandhagen dispatched Edgar with a vicious flying knee 28 seconds into that bout. He again earned a “Performance of the Night” bonus for his effort.

A decision loss to former UFC bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw followed Sandhagen’s win over Edgar. He then faced ex-135-pound champ Petr Yan for the interim UFC bantamweight belt in October 2021. The scrap was “Fight of the Night” on the UFC 267 pay-per-view card, but Yan picked up the victory and the belt via unanimous decision.

Following that setback, Sandhagen, who is now 33, was on a three-fight winning streak with victories over Song Yadong, Marlon “Chito” Vera, and Rob Font. Sandhagen saw that run come to a halt in August 2024 when he dropped a decision to Umar Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight title eliminator.

In May, Sandhagen rebounded from his loss to Nurmagomedov with a TKO win over former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.

Sandhagen is the No. 4 fighter in the official UFC bantamweight rankings.

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UFC 320 Fight Card Co-Main Event Tale Of The Tape: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Cory Sandhagen

Merab Dvalishvili:

Age: 34
Height: 5’ 6”
Reach: 68”
Stance: Orthodox

Cory Sandhagen:

Age: 33
Height: 5’11”
Reach: 70”
Stance: Switch

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UFC 320 Fight Card Co-Main Event Stats: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Cory Sandhagen

Merab Dvalishvili:

Significant Strikes Landed per Minute: 4.31
Striking Accuracy: 42%
Significant Strikes Absorbed per Minute: 2.48
Striking Defense: 56%
Takedowns per 15 Minutes: 5.84
Takedown Accuracy: 35%
Takedown Defense: 82%

Cory Sandhagen:

Significant Strikes Landed per Minute: 5.06
Striking Accuracy: 45%
Significant Strikes Absorbed per Minute: 3.34
Striking Defense: 56%
Takedowns per 15 Minutes: 1.28
Takedown Accuracy: 34%
Takedown Defense: 63%

UFC 320 Fight Card Co-Main Event Predictions and Picks: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Cory Sandhagen

Since losing his first two fights under the UFC banner, Dvalishvili has been an unstoppable force. He has the best cardio in the UFC and that gas tank allows him to keep moving forward and pressuring his opponents with non-stop takedowns and wrestling pressure. He is overwhelming. Despite a takedown accuracy of just 35 percent, Dvalishvili holds the UFC all-time record with 97 successful takedowns. Against Umar Nurmagomedov he attempted 30 takedowns, securing seven. That pressure is the reason he will beat Sandhagen on Saturday.

Sandhagen is an excellent fighter, and he is well-rounded with good striking. However, he tends to get a little reckless with his strikes, which help the champ land takedowns. Sandhagen should give Dvalishvili some troubles, but he doesn’t have a route to victory if Dvalishvili’s cardio holds.

The pick is Dvalishvili to beat Sandhagen via decision at UFC 320.

We will have more on the UFC 320 fight card as fight night nears.