![Merab Dvalishvili shares thoughts on potential bantamweight title clash against Alexandre Pantoja [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/06/0738f-17495010326629-1920.jpg)
![Merab Dvalishvili shares thoughts on potential bantamweight title clash against Alexandre Pantoja [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Reigning UFC bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili recently shared his thoughts on a potential bantamweight title clash against UFC flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja. Dvalishvili noted that he would welcome the challenge, but would depend on Pantoja moving up to 135 pounds.
Dvalishvili and Pantoja have cleared out their respective divisions, defeating several contenders before becoming champions, and then defending their titles against the top contender available. In Pantoja's case, he has even competed against fighters ranked outside the top 10 and promotional debutants because they were opponents he hadn't already defeated.
In his latest appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Dvalishvili expressed interest in possibly defending his bantamweight championship against Pantoja if that is the direction the UFC wants to go.
Trending
'The Machine' also praised 'The Cannibal' and mentioned that he wouldn't have any issues with the Brazilian receiving an immediate title shot. Dvalishvili said:
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
"Yes, if [Pantoja] will move up in my weight class and UFC [are] interested with that, no problem. That would be [a] fight I'm sure a lot of people will be interested in. I respect Pantoja, he would be a tough opponent for me and if Pantoja wants this and UFC wants this, I have no problem with that."
Check out Merab Dvalishvili's comments below:
Merab Dvalishvili shares thoughts on Cory Sandhagen being next bantamweight title challenger
Merab Dvalishvili also shared his thoughts on Cory Sandhagen being the next challenger for his bantamweight championship. Sandhagen was shown on the broadcast during Dvalishvili's post-fight interview at UFC 316, and it was revealed he would likely receive the next title shot.
In the aforementioned appearance, Dvalishvili mentioned that Sandhagen poses a different challenge to him compared to past opponents due to his unorthodox fighting style. 'The Machine' said:
"[Sandhagen is a] new style, we never fight each other and we know there is no MMA math. You know, styles make fights and Cory Sandhagen, he's a different style and it will be a test for me."
Check out Merab Dvalishvili's comments regarding Cory Sandhagen below:
