Cory Sandhagen becoming undeniable
Sitting at the number two spot in the UFC’s hardest division, Cory Sandhagen is taking on a nonsensical fight. Umar Nurmagomedov has all the risks and none of the rewards that a number two contender looks for in the midst of a title run. Taking on a tenth ranked fighter, it could all come crashing down for the 32-year-old Sandhagen.
But that’s not how Cory Sandhagen is wired. He does not turn down challenges. He fights anyone, anytime, anywhere.
Cory Sandhagen: Creating opportunity
Cory Sandhagen has come up short three times in his UFC career. The worst was being choked up in less than a round by future champion Aljamain Sterling. Sandhagen also dropped a fight to Petr Yan and TJ Dillashaw following that fight. But those two fights were incredibly close and saw Sandhagen’s stock rise.
Now, Sandhagen will face Umar Nurmagomedov on a three fight winning streak. Cory Sandhagen has been the man in his last three fights. He’s not been invincible but every fight saw Sandhagen be a different, and improved version of himself.
Song Yadong has massive power. Sandhagen came out in his singlet and put on a wrestling clinic. Chito Vera is a low-output heavy hitter, Sandhagen overwhelms him with volume. He was supposed to fight Umar Nurmagomedov in August 2023. Nurmagomedov pulled out and he took on Rob Font on short notice, showing the world he was, once again, preparing for the Nurmagomedov wrestling approach.
With a win, Cory Sandhagen is making another step to being undeniable.
Becoming undeniable
There are no two ways about it. Sean O’Malley, the bantamweight champion, is a superstar. He’s already slated to face off with the top contender, Merab Dvalishvili, in September headlining the card at the Sphere. If Cory Sandhagen wins, he thwarts the Dagestani Dynasty and knocks off a contender that many are high on.
Bantamweight is the deepest division in the UFC. O’Malley has knocked off third ranked Petr Yan on his way to the title and is on a 1-3 run. He’s avenged his loss to Chito Vera. Cejudo is coming off of a loss. Figueiredo doesn’t have a marquee win at bantamweight yet. Sandhagen has beat Yadong. I could go on and on.
The UFC wants to give Umar Nurmagomedov a title shot if he wins this weekend. That should go both ways. With a win, Cory Sandhagen could have an overwhelming case to face the winner of O’Malley and Dvalishvili. To become undeniable, Sandhagen just needs to keep winning. This weekend, in the UAE, he will get that chance once again.
