UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is known for having one of the most dominant grappling arsenals in mixed martial arts – but he says that he will utilise a different type of gameplan in his upcoming title defence against Cory Sandhagen.

Georgian fighter Dvalishvili takes on the third defense of his 135-pound championship at this weekend’s UFC 320 event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena but despite career record showing just 3 victories by way of KO or TKO, he is confident that he can extend his seven-year, 13-fight win streak with a striking-heavy gameplan.

“John Wood [his coach], whatever I do he will support,” Dvalishvili said, per MMA Fighting.

“I don’t think he will be mad because we’re really working at my hands… the fight starts standing and I think this fight 90 percent will be striking, so that’s why.”

He added that while his recent performances in the cage have showcased his grappling and, perhaps more importantly, his outstanding cardiovascular health, Dvalishvili added that earlier in his career he was predominantly a striker.

“I have nine fights, which are not on my record, I have nine fights in Georgia and most of fights I was striking before I even came to the U.S.,” he explained. “I go to the UFC, I was a striker. I mean, not striker, but I was going crazy.”

And against Sandhagen, a fighter that he clearly respects, Dvalishvili says he may need to empty his toolbox.

“He has a flying knee, he knocked out Frankie Edgar so bad,” Dvalishvili stated.

“Spinning kick, Marlon Moraes. He submitted Mario Bautista and he cut bad Song Yadong. He’s dangerous. He broke T.J. Dillashaw’s knee, he blew up Figueiredo’s knee, the guy hurts people and he’s dangerous, for sure. He’s changing stance, he has good cardio, he’s dangerous.”