Merab vs Sandhagen Full Analysis: An Eyewitness Account
My name is Mohit, and for the better part of the last decade, I’ve had the privilege of covering some of the most electric nights in mixed martial arts. I’ve seen champions rise and fall, underdogs pull off miracles, and atmospheres so thick with tension you could cut them with a knife. But let me tell you, the energy inside the arena for the bantamweight clash between Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen was something else entirely. From my seat, just a few feet from the octagon, I knew this wasn’t just another fight. This was a collision of styles, a test of wills, and a potential title eliminator that had the entire division holding its breath.
The lead-up to this fight was a narrative of contrasts. On one side, you have Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili, a relentless force of nature whose gas tank seems to defy human biology. His game plan is no secret: he wants to grab you, drag you to the mat, and grind you into dust for 15 or 25 minutes. He’s a hurricane of forward pressure, a puzzle that very few have come close to solving.
Then you have Cory “The Sandman” Sandhagen. He’s the antithesis of Merab’s style. A surgical striker with some of the most creative and fluid movement in the sport. He’s a thinking man’s fighter, using angles, feints, and a diverse arsenal of kicks and punches to pick his opponents apart from a distance. The central question everyone was asking was simple but profound: Could Sandhagen’s slick striking and footwork keep the unstoppable force of Dvalishvili at bay?
As the fighters made their walks, the crowd was buzzing. Every seat was filled, and the roar was deafening. You could feel the anticipation build with every step they took toward the cage. This was more than just a main event; it was a high-stakes chess match with championship implications. Watching the Merab vs Sandhagen full fight unfold was about to be a masterclass in contrasting martial arts philosophies.
Round 1: The Pace is Set
The horn for the first round sounded, and the dynamic was established almost immediately. Sandhagen came out light on his feet, circling the octagon and using his length to establish range. He flicked out his jab, tested the waters with low kicks, and tried to create the space he needed to operate. His movement was crisp, his head constantly off the centerline. He was doing everything right to deter a wrestler.
But Merab is not just any wrestler. He stalked forward, completely unfazed by the strikes coming his way. His pressure was immediate and suffocating. Within the first minute, he shot in for his first takedown attempt. Sandhagen’s defense was on point, showcasing the work he’s put into his grappling. He used the fence to stay upright, controlled Merab’s head, and managed to break free. The crowd roared in approval of the defensive stand.
This became the story of the round. Merab would press forward, throw a few looping punches to close the distance, and then dive for a leg. Sandhagen would defend, circle out, and try to land a clean shot. While Cory was landing the cleaner strikes, the sheer volume of Merab’s pressure was undeniable. He wasn’t just trying to take Sandhagen down; he was trying to exhaust him, to make him carry his weight, and to drain that gas tank. From my vantage point, you could see the physical toll each takedown defense was taking. It was a war of attrition from the opening bell.
Round 2: The Machine’s Unrelenting Pressure
If anyone thought Merab might slow down after a high-paced first round, they were sorely mistaken. He came out in the second with the exact same intensity, if not more. He seemed to have made a read on Sandhagen’s timing and began shooting for takedowns with even more conviction. This is where the fight started to shift.
Sandhagen was still moving well, but the constant need to defend was limiting his offensive output. Instead of setting up his patented flying knees or spinning attacks, he was forced to focus almost entirely on staying on his feet. Merab successfully completed his first significant takedown early in the round, and though Sandhagen popped back up quickly, it was a sign of things to come.
What’s so impressive about watching Merab live is the chain wrestling. He doesn’t get discouraged by a failed attempt. He simply transitions to another, then another. He’ll switch from a single leg to a double leg to clinching against the fence without missing a beat. He made Sandhagen work for every inch of space. By the end of the second round, you could see the frustration mounting on Cory’s face. The clean, technical striking exchanges he thrives in were being replaced by grueling, ugly grappling battles against the cage.
Round 3: A Glimmer of Hope for Sandhagen
The third round offered a glimpse of the fight Sandhagen wanted. He seemed to find a better rhythm, using his footwork to create more distance than he had in the previous two rounds. He started landing his jab more consistently and followed it up with sharp right hands. One particular right hand snapped Merab’s head back, drawing a collective gasp from the audience. For a moment, it looked like the tide might be turning.
Sandhagen also showed incredible takedown defense in this round. He stuffed several of Merab’s attempts with authority, sprawling hard and punishing Merab with short elbows and punches as he tried to get back up. This was the Cory Sandhagen everyone expected to see—a fighter capable of neutralizing a wrestler and implementing his own striking game.
However, even when Sandhagen was having success, Merab’s pressure never waned. He ate the shots and kept coming forward. He might have lost the striking exchanges in this round, but he was still the one dictating the pace and location of the fight. The question in my mind, and likely on the judges’ scorecards, was whether Sandhagen’s cleaner strikes were enough to outweigh Merab’s overwhelming control and aggression. The full scope of the Merab vs Sandhagen full encounter was proving to be a complex scoring puzzle.
Round 4: The Championship Rounds and the Will to Win
As we entered the fourth round, the championship rounds, the fight’s narrative became crystal clear. This was a battle of endurance. Sandhagen, despite his success in the third, was visibly breathing heavier. The constant wrestling, the pressure against the cage—it was all adding up.
Merab, on the other hand, looked like he could do this all night. His cardio is truly on another level. He came out and immediately went back to his bread and butter: the takedown. This round saw Merab have his most success on the ground. He managed to secure a takedown in the center of the octagon and maintain top position for a significant portion of the round.
While on top, Merab wasn’t just resting. He was active, landing short punches and elbows, and constantly working to improve his position. Sandhagen, a skilled grappler in his own right, did a good job of controlling Merab’s posture and preventing major damage, but he was spending precious energy carrying Merab’s weight and fighting off submission attempts. The clock was becoming his enemy. Every second spent on his back was a second he wasn’t scoring points on the feet. This round was a clear victory for “The Machine” and a testament to his relentless game plan.
Round 5: Sealing the Deal
Going into the final round, Sandhagen’s corner knew he likely needed a finish. They urged him to let his hands and feet go, to take risks. And to his credit, Cory came out looking for that finish. He threw a beautiful spinning wheel kick that just grazed Merab’s head, a reminder of the danger he possesses at all times.
But taking risks against Merab Dvalishvili is a dangerous game. As Sandhagen opened up his offense, he also opened himself up for the takedown. Merab timed a perfect shot under a kick and planted Sandhagen firmly on his back. For the final three minutes of the fight, Merab was in complete control.
From my cageside position, I could see the sheer determination on Merab’s face and the look of resignation on Sandhagen’s. Merab smothered him, peppering him with ground and pound, and ensuring there would be no last-second miracle. The final horn sounded with Merab on top, posturing up and raining down punches. It was a definitive end to an incredible display of pace, pressure, and wrestling dominance.
The crowd gave both men a standing ovation. Sandhagen showed immense heart and incredible takedown defense, but on this night, the machine was simply too much. Reviewing the Merab vs Sandhagen full fight, it was a classic tale of a grappler imposing his will on a striker.
The Aftermath and What’s Next
When the scorecards were read, it was no surprise. Merab Dvalishvili was awarded a clear unanimous decision victory. In his post-fight interview, he was all energy and respect, thanking Sandhagen for the tough fight and, as always, calling for a title shot. His performance left no doubt that he is the number one contender in the bantamweight division.
For Sandhagen, it’s a tough setback, but his stock doesn’t drop much. He proved that his takedown defense is among the best in the division, and he had moments of real success. He will remain a top-five bantamweight and is only one or two impressive wins away from being back in the title conversation. He simply ran into an opponent whose style is his kryptonite.
Looking at the bantamweight landscape, the path forward is exciting. A championship fight between the reigning titleholder and Merab Dvalishvili is the only fight that makes sense. It would be another fascinating clash of styles. Could Merab’s relentless pressure overcome the champion’s well-rounded skillset and knockout power? After watching him completely neutralize a striker as skilled as Cory Sandhagen, many are starting to believe he is an unsolvable problem. The entire Merab vs Sandhagen full event served as a powerful statement to the rest of the 135-pound division.
Final Thoughts from Cageside
Leaving the arena that night, the main takeaway was the sheer force of will that Merab Dvalishvili possesses. It’s one thing to watch it on TV, but to see it live—to see the sweat flying, to hear the impact of the bodies hitting the mat, to feel the desperation of a fighter trying to get back to his feet—is another experience entirely. He doesn’t just beat his opponents; he breaks their spirit with a pace that seems superhuman.
This fight wasn’t a highlight-reel knockout or a slick submission. It was a gritty, grueling, and tactically brilliant performance. It was a showcase of what happens when an unstoppable force meets a highly skilled, but ultimately movable, object. The Merab vs Sandhagen full bout will be studied for years as a prime example of game planning and execution. As a journalist, it’s fights like these that remind me why I love this sport. It’s the ultimate test of human spirit, skill, and endurance, and on this night, Merab Dvalishvili proved he has those qualities in abundance. The bantamweight throne is in his sights, and it’s going to take a monumental effort to stop him from claiming it.
