LAS VEGAS – Despite Cory Sandhagen’s warning, UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili insists he’s not pulling any punches when they step into the octagon.

Dvalishvili will look to make his third consecutive title defense at 135 pounds when he meets Sandhagen in the UFC 320 co-main event next Saturday, Oct. 4, at T-Mobile Arena. Dvalishvili has been a machine during a 13-fight winning streak in which he’s mostly used wrestling to take down and smother his opponents. But heading into UFC 320, Dvalishvili has said he’s looking to knock out Sandhagen, which got a stern response from the challenger.

“I know that he’s been saying that he’s gonna strike,” Sandhagen said in a recent interview with the New York Post. “That’s not true. And if that is true, that’s a horrible idea. Don’t do that, Merab.”

Sandhagen’s words apparently are not a deterrent.

“He must know that I hit hard,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie and other reporters Friday after an open workout at Syndicate MMA. “He will see. … If Cory Sandhagen will stop my takedowns, I will knock him out.”

Whether Dvalishvili is being truthful about his intent or simply employing some gamesmanship ahead of fight night remains to be seen. But the champ knows he has a lot to be wary of against Sandhagen.

“It’s not only one thing (that he’s good at),” Dvalishvili said. “Cory Sandhagen does lot of things. You see how he knocked out Frankie Edgar with a flying knee. That’s special. He knocked out Marlon Moraes with a spinning kick. He submitted Bautista. … He’s tricky. He’s smart. He does a lot of things.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 320: Merab Dvalishvili won’t pull punches vs. Cory Sandhagen

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