Merab Dvalishvili is on the verge of achieving a truly unique feat in UFC history during his upcoming bout. The bantamweight champion is gearing up for his third title defense at UFC 320. He solidified his position as the bantamweight king in 2025, having claimed the coveted belt from Sean O`Malley approximately a year prior.
Following a significant victory over Umar Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili went on to secure a submission win against O`Malley in their highly anticipated rematch. This triumph effectively thwarted O`Malley`s aspirations for a second championship reign. These impressive results have propelled the Georgian fighter to the forefront of a significant UFC record, providing him with a monumental opportunity to further solidify his lead and reach an unprecedented milestone at UFC 320 on October 4th.
Merab Dvalishvili Targets 100 Takedowns Against Cory Sandhagen
For Dvalishvili to maintain his championship status and extend his reign, he must overcome Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320. Their highly anticipated matchup is set to serve as the co-main event in Las Vegas, forming one of two championship encounters before the main event featuring light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev against Alex Pereira.
While discussions about impactful takedowns will undoubtedly be a prominent theme leading up to the main event, the fighter who currently holds the all-time record in that regard will also be stepping into the T-Mobile Arena. Dvalishvili currently boasts the most takedowns in UFC history with a total of 97, and the exceptional Georgian athlete is now setting his sights on reaching a triple-digit total at UFC 320.
“I think I will have 100 takedowns after this fight,” Dvalishvili confidently shared with MMA Junkie. “I’m not going to focus on that because I’m going to focus more on striking, but I think it will come naturally, you know? When I finished Sean O’Malley at the end of the third round, I was missing something. I wanted to do more takedowns, more fighting.”
Anticipating his upcoming bout at UFC 320, Dvalishvili concluded, “Let’s see how our fight goes. If we fight five rounds, easy, I will get three takedowns — easy. I will hit the 100 takedowns. No problem.”
Merab Dvalishvili Surpassed Georges St-Pierre`s Takedown Record
Previously, the fighter closest to achieving 100 takedowns in the UFC was the legendary welterweight icon Georges St-Pierre, who accumulated 90 successful takedowns before eventually retiring after his middleweight title victory in 2017.
Dvalishvili officially surpassed St-Pierre`s long-standing record earlier this January during his compelling bout against Nurmagomedov. This fight notably served as the co-main event for the UFC 311 pay-per-view in Los Angeles. Throughout his five-round victory over Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili successfully landed seven takedowns, increasing his overall count to an impressive 92 at that time.
An additional six takedowns secured against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 in June have further propelled `The Machine` to within tantalizingly close reach of becoming the first fighter to achieve 100 takedowns in the sport`s premier organization, solidifying his place in UFC history.
