UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has taken an unconventional strategy to his coaching camp preparations for UFC 320, incorporating Stake.com’s newly launched Hen recreation into his preparation routine for his October 4 title protection towards Cory Sandhagen on the T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas.
Merab Dvalishvili Chases a Chicken Ahead of UFC 320
The Georgian champion recently began unique training methods. In a video, Dvalishvili was seen chasing a real chicken around a yard, drawing comparisons to the iconic Rocky Balboa training scenes. In a recent Instagram post on stake.com the ambassador was seen chasing a rooster to assist prepare for his championship match at UFC 320. As ‘The Machine’ defined: “If you happen to can catch a rooster, you’ll be able to catch something.”
Camp Transformation Beneath John Wooden
Regardless of the playful coaching additions, Dvalishvili’s preparation beneath coach John Wooden has reached new ranges of depth. Wooden just lately described the champion’s present type as “jaw-dropping,” noting a major evolution in Dvalishvili’s strategy to combating.
“That man is on a tear in the gym,” Wood said in an interview “I can’t even express or explain how much better he is and how much better he’s getting in this camp. It’s almost jaw-dropping. Everybody in the gym is buzzing about it.”
The coach emphasized that Dvalishvili has evolved beyond his traditional grinding style. “He’s not just this grinder, he’s not just this guy who’s going to take you down a thousand times. He’s now looking to hurt you. He’s now looking to finish you. He’s now looking to create just entertaining, devastating fights.”
Performance Metrics and Health Status
Entering UFC 320, Dvalishvili sits just three takedowns away from becoming the first fighter in UFC history to reach 100 career takedowns. The champion currently holds 97 takedowns in the octagon, having already surpassed Georges St-Pierre’s previous record of 90 takedowns earlier this year.
Dvalishvili expressed confidence about reaching this milestone against Sandhagen: “I anticipate achieving this milestone of 100 takedowns after this fight. However, I won’t concentrate solely on that; my primary focus will be on striking.” The Georgian fighter has indicated plans to showcase improved placing expertise whereas sustaining his wrestling basis.
The Sandhagen Problem
Regardless of his dominant latest performances, together with back-to-back victories over Sean O’Malley and a submission win over Umar Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili faces a official challenge in Cory Sandhagen. The champion enters as a major betting favourite, with odds starting from -350 to -410 throughout varied UFC 320 betting odds.
“Cory Sandhagen is a harmful opponent,” Dvalishvili acknowledged. “He has submission video games. He has knockout video games. He has good cardio, good takedown protection, good footwork, and I can go on and on.” Sandhagen, ranked fourth within the division, presents a unique stylistic problem together with his unorthodox placing and ending potential.
Stakes and Momentum
A victory over Sandhagen would make Dvalishvili the eighth champion in UFC historical past to attain three title defenses inside a single calendar 12 months. The Georgian fighter has maintained an lively schedule all through 2025, demonstrating his dedication to conserving the bantamweight division shifting ahead.
With less than two weeks remaining until UFC 320, Dvalishvili’s unique blend of serious preparation and creative marketing content has generated significant buzz for what promises to be a compelling title defense in Las Vegas.
