Merab Dvalishvili stands on the brink of an extraordinary accomplishment in his next fight, potentially becoming the first athlete in UFC history to reach a unique milestone that even the legendary Georges St-Pierre couldn`t attain.
The reigning bantamweight champion is rapidly approaching his third title defense, scheduled for UFC 320 on October 4. Dvalishvili swiftly cemented his dominance in the bantamweight division in 2025, having decisively dethroned Sean O’Malley just over a year ago.
Following a dominant performance against Umar Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili further solidified his reign by submitting O’Malley in their highly anticipated rematch. These pivotal victories have positioned the Georgian at the forefront of a significant UFC record, an achievement he aims to extend and etch into history at UFC 320.
Dvalishvili Targets 100 Takedowns Against Cory Sandhagen
To continue his championship reign, Dvalishvili is set to defend his belt against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320. This compelling matchup will serve as the co-main event in Las Vegas, preceding the light heavyweight title fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.
While takedown discussions will be prominent throughout the event, the all-time leader in this aspect, Merab Dvalishvili, will undoubtedly command attention inside the T-Mobile Arena. He currently holds the record for the most takedowns in UFC history with an impressive 97, and the Georgian powerhouse has his sights firmly fixed on reaching the triple-digit mark at UFC 320.
“I think I will have 100 takedowns after this fight,” Dvalishvili revealed to 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?”
Reflecting on his previous bout, Dvalishvili added, “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.”
Expressing unwavering confidence for his upcoming title defense, Dvalishvili asserted, “Let’s see how our fight goes (at UFC 320). If we fight five rounds, easy, I will get three takedowns — easy. I will hit the 100 takedowns. No problem.”
Merab Dvalishvili`s Journey to Surpassing Georges St-Pierre`s Record
Before Dvalishvili`s meteoric rise, the closest fighter to achieve 100 takedowns in the UFC was the iconic welterweight legend Georges St-Pierre. GSP amassed 90 takedowns during his illustrious career before retiring in 2017 after securing two-division title glory at middleweight.
Merab Dvalishvili officially surpassed St-Pierre’s remarkable record earlier this year in January during his crucial contest against Umar Nurmagomedov. That fight notably co-headlined the UFC 311 pay-per-view event held in Los Angeles.
During his dominant five-round victory over Nurmagomedov, the tenacious Georgian executed seven successful takedowns, elevating his overall tally to 92 at the time. An additional six takedowns against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 in June have brought ‘The Machine’ within tantalizing reach of becoming the very first takedown centurion on MMA’s biggest stage.
