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Cory Sandhagen Explains Why A Title Eliminator With TJ Dillashaw ‘Makes Sense’

UFC bantamweight contender, Cory Sandhagen has noted his intentions to move closer to a shot at undisputed division gold in his next Octagon outing, and following his stunning knockout win over ‘Magic’ Marlon Moraes in October, has suggested a title-eliminator with the soon returning, T.J. Dillashaw. Rebounding from his first promotional defeat recently, Elevation Fight […]

Rebounding from his first promotional defeat recently, Elevation Fight Team trainee, Sandhagen returned to the win column in spectacular fashion, via a second-round wheel kick knockout of one-time title challenger, Moraes.

Headlining the UFC Fight Island 5 event on Yas Island, Sandhagen made good on his first main event under the UFC’s banner following a shocking first-round rear-naked choke defeat to upcoming UFC 256 title challenger, Aljamain ‘Funk Master’ Sterling in June at UFC 250.

Sandhagen had been linked with clashes opposite former lightweight champion, Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar in his next Octagon walk, following the latter’s successful division bow against Pedro ‘The Young Punisher’ Munhoz earlier this year.

While he remains in prime position to challenge for the bantamweight crown via his shocking stoppage win over then #1 ranked, Moraes, Sandhagen has suggested a title-eliminator with former two-time division gold holder, Dillashaw, who is eligible to return to active competition following a two-year suspension, in January coming.

“I think that I’m maybe one fight away from being that #1 guy,” Sandhagen told MMA Fighting recently. “When you kind of look at the division, (Cody) Garbrandt is hurt [bicep tear] and he’s at 125(-pounds) now so that’s not really a possibility. Then you have Frankie (Edgar), who came off a win against (Pedro) Munhoz, which isn’t like as good a competitor as Marlon (Moraes). Then you have T.J. (Dillashaw) that’s coming back in January, who is known as one of the best bantamweights in history.“

“I definitely think my #1 contender fight should be against T.J. just because it makes the most sense. I think that I have a pretty strong case now, and when T.J. comes back, he’s going to have a pretty strong case. I’d love to fight him and then right after that when the winner of (Petr) Yan and (Aljamain) Sterling are ready to go, fight one of those guys in the spring or sometime.“

Bang Muay Thai ace, Dillashaw last featured at UFC Fight Night Brooklyn in January of 2019, in an unsuccessful attempt to pry the flyweight throne from then-champion, Henry ‘Triple C’ Cejudo, hoping to become a two-weight world champion.

In the weeks following his quickfire loss, Dillashaw had been informed by USADA of an “adverse” finding in his post-fight drug-test, before he relinquished the bantamweight crown after he had been slapped with a two-year, retroactive suspension having returned a test sample which had tested positive for the banned substance, EPO.

While on the sidelines, Cejudo would go on to claim the vacant bantamweight title against Moraes before scoring his sole title defence against common-foe, Dominick Cruz. With Cejudo’s subsequent vacation and shock retirement, Yan scored the vacant crown. Dillashaw has, however, stated that a bantamweight title shot would await him upon his Octagon return next year.

Cory Sandhagen Has No Issue Being Backup For Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling Title Fight

Cory Sandhagen is preparing to be the backup fighter for the upcoming bantamweight title fight in December. Sandhagen is coming off an impressive second-round TKO win over Marlon Moraes earlier this month to all but cement himself as the next in line to challenge for the title. Meanwhile, Petr Yan is set to defend his […]

Cory Sandhagen is preparing to be the backup fighter for the upcoming bantamweight title fight in December.

Sandhagen is coming off an impressive second-round TKO win over Marlon Moraes earlier this month to all but cement himself as the next in line to challenge for the title.

Meanwhile, Petr Yan is set to defend his bantamweight crown against Aljamain Sterling in the co-main event of UFC 256 which takes place December 12.

And provided he is not booked against an opponent until then, Sandhagen plans on being the alternate fighter just in case either competitor is unable to compete on the night.

“Yeah, definitely that’s my plan,” Sandhagen told MMA Junkie Radio. “Moraes landed one really good low kick on me, so I’m trying to do my best to keep it moving so that it doesn’t get weak, and I don’t let my body get too weak. But I mean, that’s the plan.

“Right when I can get back to not the hardest training in the world, but if I could be 80 percent for the next month-and-a-half and kinda feel out whether or not these guys are gonna fight, especially today with the coronavirus and all that jazz. Weird stuff is gonna happen all the time, so I mean, I’m definitely gonna stay at about 80 percent.”

Sandhagen has not been approached by the UFC to be the alternate as of yet. However, he will keep himself prepared in case the opportunity presents itself.

“I understand that I’m the No. 1 guy that would jump into that spot, so I’m not gonna be stupid and just blow that away because I don’t wanna train,” Sandhagen added. “I’m gonna definitely keep myself prepared. I have no issue, or my ego has no issue, with being an alternate for that fight.”

Of course, Sandhagen could find himself booked in a fight in the meantime as Frankie Edgar has reportedly asked for a fight with him. Perhaps that fight could take place on the UFC 256 card as well?

What do you think of Sandhagen being the backup?

Report: Frankie Edgar Has Asked For Cory Sandhagen Fight

We may have our next bantamweight title eliminator fight in Cory Sandhagen vs. Frankie Edgar. Sandhagen is coming off an impressive second-round TKO win over Marlon Moraes earlier this month. Following the victory, he declared his title intentions while stating the only two fights that made sense for him were Edgar or TJ Dillashaw. It […]

We may have our next bantamweight title eliminator fight in Cory Sandhagen vs. Frankie Edgar.

Sandhagen is coming off an impressive second-round TKO win over Marlon Moraes earlier this month. Following the victory, he declared his title intentions while stating the only two fights that made sense for him were Edgar or TJ Dillashaw.

It looks like he will get one of those wishes as Edgar has reportedly asked the UFC for a fight with Sandhagen as per his manager Ali Abdelaziz (via ESPN’s Brett Okamoto).

“Per his manager Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00), Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) has asked the UFC to fight Cory Sandhagen (@cors_life) next. Nos. 2 and 5 in the division. Sandhagen, coming off that big Moraes TKO, hasn’t really discussed his next move with UFC yet, I’m told.”

Per his manager Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00), Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) has asked the UFC to fight Cory Sandhagen (@cors_life) next. Nos. 2 and 5 in the division. Sandhagen, coming off that big Moraes TKO, hasn’t really discussed his next move with UFC yet, I’m told.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 22, 2020

Edgar made his bantamweight debut in August when he defeated Pedro Munhoz via split decision. A win over Sandhagen would more than likely guarantee the former lightweight champion the next crack at bantamweight gold. The same can be said for Sandhagen who would also be adding a legend to his resume with a potential win.

Funnily enough, the pair were slated to fight in January earlier this year for Edgar’s bantamweight debut. However, “The Answer” took a short-notice December fight with the Korean Zombie at featherweight which led to their bout being called off.

Maybe now it will happen with much more title implications this time.

What do you think of this matchup?

Sandhagen: Sterling Deserves Yan, But I’ll Be Ready for Title Shot

Cory Sandhagen does not expect to be the first challenger to Petr Yan’s bantamweight title reign, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be ready to be. Following Cory Sandhagen’s spectacular finish of Marlon Moraes at UFC on ESPN+37, there seems to be nowhere…

The post Sandhagen: Sterling Deserves Yan, But I’ll Be Ready for Title Shot appeared first on MMA News.

Marlon Moraes: Stoppage In Defeat To Cory Sandhagen Was ‘Little Early’

Marlon Moraes felt the stoppage in his second-round TKO defeat to Cory Sandhagen was a little premature. Sandhagen returned to the win column with an impressive spinning wheel kick that dropped Moraes in the UFC Fight Island 5 headliner last night. The referee stopped the bout soon after as Sandhagen pounced to land ground and […]

Marlon Moraes felt the stoppage in his second-round TKO defeat to Cory Sandhagen was a little premature.

Sandhagen returned to the win column with an impressive spinning wheel kick that dropped Moraes in the UFC Fight Island 5 headliner last night. The referee stopped the bout soon after as Sandhagen pounced to land ground and pound on the Brazilian.

While many had no problems with the stoppage, some observers felt the fight could have gone a bit longer and Moraes certainly agrees.

“I thought we had a very good first round. But I thought I won the round,” Moraes said during the post-fight show on ESPN+ (via Sherdog). “And then he started the second and I don’t know, I think he kind of catch me with a kick and bloodied my eye a little bit and right after he surprised me. He didn’t come this way, he came the other way and that’s it.

“Probably a little early stoppage but whatever. I thought I was [OK to continue] but the ref just jumped on me. I didn’t have time enough to get up.”

Regardless of how he felt about the stoppage, Moraes made no excuses about the defeat and believes it just wasn’t his day as he was simply caught.

“I just got caught,” Moraes added. “He catch me. I was doing good the first round, it was a good fight. I was very excited for this fight. I knew we were going to do the ‘Fight of the Night’ for sure.

“But unfortunately, I got caught. I caught a lot of guys before but that was my day.”

What did you think of the stoppage?

Cory Sandhagen Will Feel Bad If He Gets Title Shot Over Aljamian Sterling

Cory Sandhagen thinks it would be cruel if the UFC opted to give him a title shot over Aljamain Sterling but nonetheless it’s an opportunity he would jump at. ‘The Sandman’ propelled him into the title picture with his highlight-reel spinning heel kick knockout win over long-time contender Marlon Moraes last night. Speaking to media […]

Speaking to media members at the UFC Fight Island 5 post-fight press conference Sandhagen admitted he would take a shot a bantamweight king, Petr Yan if offered despite the fact he thinks it would be harsh on Sterling who quickly beat him last time out.

“I would feel really bad if they did me and Yan and did that to Sterling,” Sandhagen said. “That said, it’s a dog-eat-dog sport, so if they give me that shot, I’m taking that shot. But I think it should be Sterling and Yan.”

The 28-year-old insists he will stay ready even if Yan is booked to face Sterling next in case either man falls out. A bout against the Russian gives him chance to win UFC gold, while a rematch against ‘Aljo’ presents a chance at redemption.

“When that gets booked, honestly, I’ve been doing that for a year or two now,” Sandhagen said. “Where it’s like this is a big fight coming up, I don’t have a fight coming up, I’m going to keep my weight low and I’m going to stay ready. I’ve been doing that in camp. I’ve been doing it almost the whole time I’ve been in the UFC.

“I’m definitely going to do that of course now, because I think that I’m probably the No. 1 guy if one of those guys gets hurt.”

In his post-fight interview with Dan Hardy, Sandhagen called for fights with former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw and ex-lightweight titleholder Frankie Edgar but he doesn’t really have a preference between the two.

“Whichever one’s going to get me closer,” Sandhagen said. “I don’t really know how the mind of the UFC matchmakers works 100 percent. I just know win fights, get good finishes and they’ll give you good fights.

“It makes no difference to me. I only said those two names, because they’re the only two in my head that have an argument [for a title shot] and so just one of those two.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Who do you want to see Cory Sandhagen fight next?